L-2 Visas or Green Cards for Students?

The L-1 visa holder may change status to permanent residence through the EB-1 or EB-5 green card programs.  Most foreign students in the USA hold either F-1 status or J-1 status.  The child of an L-1 visa holder may attend school under the L-2 visa. The L-1 parent has a choice of having their children attend school with L-2 visas or green cards. Parents who hold L-1 status may ask: which is better for my child: L-2 status or green card status? The answer may be surprising.

Residency requirement for parents

 

The L-2 student must maintain legal status through the L-1 parent working in the US at least 50% of the year, operating the L-1 business.

 

The green card student does not need to maintain legal status through the green card parent. In other words, the parent of a green card student does not need to stay in the US for any particular period of time. The green card parent may maintain legal status by landing in the US only once every two years (by obtaining a reentry permit).

 

Public or Private primary and secondary school level (elementary school and high school)

 

Admission preference: Usually, no difference between L-2 and green card

 

Tuition: Usually, no difference between L-2 and green card

 

Public tertiary school level (college or university)

 

Admission preference: Usually, students with a green card are given a preference for admission, if there is a shortage of available slots for incoming students

 

Tuition: Usually, students with a green card pay much lower US resident tuition than L-2 students. A green card student will be eligible for certain government tuition assistance, such as low interest loans student loans and scholarships. Usually an L-2 student is not eligible for government tuition assistance.

 

Private tertiary school level (college or university)

 

Admission preference: Usually, no difference between L-2 and green card

 

Tuition: Usually, students with a green card pay the same tuition as L-2 students. A green card student will be eligible for certain government tuition assistance, such as low interest loans student loans and scholarships. Usually an L-2 student is not eligible for government tuition assistance.

 

The differences between green card and L-2 for students vary according to the level of education and whether the school is public (run by the government) or private. The categories for comparison are admission preference, tuition, and residency requirements for parents. Every school administration sets its own admission and tuition policies, so the following is very general advice. Each school administration must be consulted directly for actual comparison.