study on H-4

[dzxing]

hi,

I wonder if it is now possible to pursue full-time study on H-4. About three months ago, our university IES (office that deals with international students) sent out a notice with lots of recent changes regarding people on F-1 and F-2. Among other things, it was said that F-2 holders are no longer allowed to study full-time in a degree program; they have to change to F-1 to study. I wonder if it's the same for H-4, or H-4 still can study (without getting paid) without changing to F-1.

thanks a lot,
/dzxing

 

[tt tt]

yes you can.

There are many many folks at my university that do the same.

 

[avtmr]

I heard that tution fee is 3 times if you want to study on H-4 visa, when compared with F-1 visa. Is it true ?

 

[bharad1]

No! Tuition rates are not tied to your visa status. You either pay resident or non-resident tuition depending on if you are considered a resident or a non-resident of the state in which the univ. is located. However university financial aid in the form of fee waivers/TA/RA/Fellowships is not available for H4. An appoved F-1 is required for this.

 

[avtmr]

Thanks for the reply bharad1. Do you know when, a person entered on H-4 will be considered resident of the state?

 

[bharad1]

Varies by state

This varies by state. I know that in WA state H-4s (or H-1s) are never considered residents. I think in CA, A year's residence in the state is enough to be considered a resident. The best way to find out is to find it out from the univs website.
Here's an example (for U. Washington):
http://www.washington.edu/students/reg/residency2.html

 

[Bic_1702]

RE H4 study

Yes, you can study full-time on H4. In California you are considered reesident if by the time the semester starts you had been living in the state for 1 year. The advantage is that you pay resident tuition which is about three times less than non-residents. When I registered they asked for a copy of my husbands H1B.
BUT, you are not allowed to do a paid internship on H4. I don't know about sholarsips and fellowships.
Good Luck!

 

[jaxen]

No on scholarships unless you qualify based on the entrance exams

 

[Bic_1702]

What do you mwan by that? Could you be more specific and indicate the source, please?

 

[sssharma]

1 YR FOR WHOM- h1 or h4

1 yr residency is based on whom. For example i am on H1 in NJ for 2 yrs. Will my wife on H4 be considered resident on NJ even though she is in NJ for 5 months?

 

[Bic_1702]

sssharma: if the laws are the same as in California, she can claim residency only after she had stayed in NJ for 1 year.
Before enrolling at the university, I wanted to take some classes at a community college, before I had stayed for 1 year here and the asked for non-resident tuition al thouhg my hysband had been paying taxes for a long time.
But if you want to know for sure, ask the university she's planning to apply to. Since all the deadlines for the fall semeser are gone by now, I assume she will apply for the spring term and by that time she would have been a resident.
Good luck!

 

[jaxen]

I said scholarships not tuition waivers Bic. And yeah NJ is not same as CA...Each school have their own policy in NJ!

 

[avtmr]

What is the proof that one is living in a state for more than a year to claim that he/she is resident. Let us say for a woman who enters US on H-4 visa.

 

[Bic_1702]

Driver's licence and I really don't remember the other documents they asked for. But they are not strict, so if she doesn't have a DL she will have the credit cards or whatever other docs to prove it.