Going back to school while i485 pending

[backtoschool]

Hello folks,

I am an F1 overstay who is currently in removal proceedings and waiting for adjudication on his i485. The adjudication could take up to several years. In the meantime, I have all the funds necessary that will allow me to go back to school and get the Bachelor's degree that I never got in the first place.

Will a school allow me to enroll and graduate? My future would not be as sordid if I managed to garner some education for myself in case my green card does not work out. Please give me some advice on where I may be able to go.

 

[okalian]

Waiting on Adjustment-of-status (AOS) in itself is a status, as far as immigration is concerned. I similarly applied for enrollment in a community college while pending my i-485 and used my I-485 case number as a greencard number (eventually that becomes your greencard number, if approved). My state even allowed me to pay in-state tuitions due to the fact that my USC wife is a resident of that state. YMMV.

I think you need to call the school and find out for yourself. And FYI you're not qualified to enroll as an international student (i.e F1) since your pending i-485 expresses immigrant intent, so they can't issue you an I-20. That may work in your favor as far as paying in-state tuitions (assuming you meet residency requirements for your state of interest). Show them the paperwork that proves you have a pending greencard application.

 

[Jackolantern]

All schools will allow you to enroll with a pending I-485 (you would show the I-485 receipt). And if your I-485 has been pending for at least a year, and you have been living in the same state for that year, most state schools will allow you to pay the in-state tuition rate.

However, your post is a bit of a contradiction, because if you have a pending I-485 they are not supposed to put you in removal proceedings. Did they deny your I-485 and you are appealing it? If that is the case, you don't really have a pending I-485; it is denied and you are trying to get the denial overturned. And if you were already in removal proceedings when you filed the I-485, it means you are not eligible for the I-485, so it will soon be denied. What is really going on???