tax free type scholarship and h1b

J

jaminli

New Member
Dear all,

I'm a new member here and found this nice forum. I have a couple of questions that I appreciate any inputs on.

I'm currently enrolled in a professional school while continuing working for my company which sponsors my H1B visa. My main question is, am I eligible to receive (need and merit based) financial aid that results in reduced tuition from the school (not as any form of payment to me; nor do I need to work for the school to earn it)? Also, I understand that this form of financial aid is tax free, according to IRS's website, since it goes to tuition not to other purposes. Should I report it to the IRS? I wonder if how this implicates my visa status, or not at all.

Great thanks.
 
You need to check your eligibility from the entity that provides the aid. Most government agencies don't provide aid for international students.
You should report it to IRS, if it's tax free- you won't pay taxes on it.
 
It would not be in your best interest to misrepresent your visa status in order to obtain financial aid. Remember that holding yourself out as a USC is a permanent ban. Few schools give financial aid to part time students. As an H1B, you are a highly paid worker and not likely to qualify for need based aid.

Your employer may offer tuition reimbursement which is a benefit of employment that you should use if available.
 
Thanks the the replies. Assuming someone has H1B but not earning enough to pay total fee for schooling and assuming one does not need to have F1 to obtain such scholarship, is it okay to accept such scholarship (again only amounts to tuition reduction) if it is offered? Of course, the requirement of continuing working for the employer continues to be fulfilled while at school.
 
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