Those stuck in retrogression and having kids ready to go to college

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sbolla67

Registered Users (C)
I know this is not an appropriate forum but excuse me for posting this here, the only reason I posted here as I can see some knowledgeable individuals like UN, Saras76 and many more who are active in this forum. I looked at the ‘Education in USA” forum but thought that this would be a good place as the issue is tied with retrogression.

Let me explain my concern (and I assume (sadly) there will be others with this same concern). From my signature, you can see I’m also stuck in retrogression with a PD of April, 2002 (EB3-India) and I don’t think there is any light at the end of the tunnel.

I have a sophomore son and will be going to college in 2009. I’m not really sure if I can get my GC by then. If I can, that would be great otherwise he (myself) has to pay international student fee for his bachelors. One would be surprised to note that in Michigan (where I live) if you’re undocumented/illegal, you can pay in state tuition fee while you have to pay intl student fee if you don’t have a GC. So my son has to pay the international student fee even after studying here for about 9 years.

Coming to the core issue, if we don’t get the GC by then, how do I manage his college studies here? What are the different options to minimize the cost of study? This is what I’m looking primarily from this discussion. I know we can manage this fee while doing Masters here by working etc. But is it possible for him to do the same while doing Undergrad studies? Any hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also any resources regarding Scholarships would be helpful (I don't think we need to discuss about the study aid as that is for PR or Citizen).

Please share your thoughts on this and it would be really helpful to listen from those who have done Undergrad studies here in USA without GC/Citizenship.

Thanks
EB3 - India
PD: April'2002
Current Status: Waiting for visa availability according to the replies for my enquiry from both the Michigan senators - NC cleared.
 
sbolla67 said:
I know this is not an appropriate forum but excuse me for posting this here, the only reason I posted here as I can see some knowledgeable individuals like UN, Saras76 and many more who are active in this forum. I looked at the ‘Education in USA” forum but thought that this would be a good place as the issue is tied with retrogression.

Let me explain my concern (and I assume (sadly) there will be others with this same concern). From my signature, you can see I’m also stuck in retrogression with a PD of April, 2002 (EB3-India) and I don’t think there is any light at the end of the tunnel.

I have a sophomore son and will be going to college in 2009. I’m not really sure if I can get my GC by then. If I can, that would be great otherwise he (myself) has to pay international student fee for his bachelors. One would be surprised to note that in Michigan (where I live) if you’re undocumented/illegal, you can pay in state tuition fee while you have to pay intl student fee if you don’t have a GC. So my son has to pay the international student fee even after studying here for about 9 years.

Coming to the core issue, if we don’t get the GC by then, how do I manage his college studies here? What are the different options to minimize the cost of study? This is what I’m looking primarily from this discussion. I know we can manage this fee while doing Masters here by working etc. But is it possible for him to do the same while doing Undergrad studies? Any hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also any resources regarding Scholarships would be helpful (I don't think we need to discuss about the study aid as that is for PR or Citizen).

Please share your thoughts on this and it would be really helpful to listen from those who have done Undergrad studies here in USA without GC/Citizenship.

Thanks
EB3 - India
PD: April'2002
Current Status: Waiting for visa availability according to the replies for my enquiry from both the Michigan senators - NC cleared.
Click to expand...

sbolla67,

I have kind of the same situation - I am from Michigan but EB3 World(the rest see my signature) And I have sophomore daughter. Unfortunately MI is not the best place to provide tution scholarships to foreign people.

Per my knowledge Oakland University can make an exception and to treat your son as Michigan State Resident in case if you have property here (house). The other universities kind of Univ of Mich does not have a exceptions they require green cards.

The best place regarding tution benefits is CA. There is an option that you can technically consider. Your son can enter CA college not the decent one but that one which has fair rate and after one year of staying in CA he can move to other decent CA college to get huge discount as CA resident.

The other option is to consider some private Universities they may have kind of flexible exceptions in case if they like your son and want him to be their student.

As for Univ of MI, per my knowledge they can give your son 5000$ scholarship as a foreign student.

I was told that technicaly you do not have to have green card physicaly in hands to get scholarship in MI. You need to get SSN for your son, so even if you have EAD and after that SSN you can start to negotiate with University administration (to tell them that is in process)
 
sbolla67 said:
Thanks sfmars.

Appreciate your inputs. So if I apply EAD for my Son, can he get SSN?
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I think so, EAD is the condition to get SSN. But again I was told about it and did not check it myself I mean that University can accept SSN/EAD without physical green card. Anyway having SSN/EAD for your son is the goot point to start negotiation with University administration.
 
Several Univs give in-state tuition for H4

Several State Univs give in-state tuition for H4 holders. Pblm arises only when your kid turns 21, when he/she can no longer be under your H4 and if by then the AOS is not yet applied or you have opted for Consular Processing and yet to get called for the interview. MD gives in-state to H4, I remember VA gives. In fact both states extend it to those who can produce a copy of ack for I-485 filed with USCIS. You could google in-state tuition <your state name> and Attorney General, you may most likely hit the guidelines issued by the State on this issue.

If the child is bright and can get into Private Universities (say Ivy league) with good scholarships, there is no difference whether citizen or GC or martian!

My suggestion is, try to finish most of your credits or if possible the entire graduation before 21. It means taking upto 6 credits over every summer and if possible in any other break! If you are likely to be left with a few, keep 12 for the last. That way you can still retain full-time student criteria for F1, in case the need arises. USCIS gives F1 eventhogh the kid is a deriv beneficiary of a pending GC. Kid shd be extremely focused as College credits tend to be extremely demanding in most compttv colleges! Forget football or basketball or what have you.

Best of Luck. I guess you wont need all this and I certainly wish you get your GC before that.

H
 
my son in junior

My son is in junior now. He came here five years back under H-4 with his mother who is a H-1B even now. I came here after one year to join in the family under H-4.We are in OHIO. My wife applied for labor 14/4/2003. and it went to backlog center and was approved on 15/10/2005. She gotapproval for I-140 by 16/02/2006.
So far,we were paying the fee for our son's education from our own packet. No scholarship, No FAFSA, No other aid except the state residentship(1/2 fee). Now he turns 21 by coming Feb,2007.The university instructed him to apply for F-1. I dont know what kind of fee he is going to pay? either international or state residency?. we have to wait and see.the university is asking lot of documents for his financial support.All these are stupidity of this federal govt. If they would have allowed to file our papers in concurrent filing then my son would have got EAD by now,I would also be working now forgetting the GC. They stopped concurrent filling without senate or congress bill passed/ or without the signature of Bush. Now they require Bush's signature for Immigration reform bill.
This is another stupidity.
As far as my status is concerned, i am working under the table in an indian store. you can understand how they exploit the people who are here without work permit.I have been struggling for four years. I met with an accident in the store and broke my hand. The owner of the store not even compensate the loss and pain i met with. He didnt even care about it. I could not even quit the job, because of my son's education expenses.I can support my family if i work like this.
This is my tearful story. There are lot of people like me affected by this retrogression. Who is going to care about all this.Now I want to go back to India.I dont want to come back. I have properties in India. I have mother ,brother,sister in India.I can lead a happy life in india. why would i struggle here like a begger.
vandey matharam.Jaihinth
Jc-gc
 
Hi Hanuman55,

Thanks for your inputs. Actually I'm on EAD and my son has already applied for aos with I-485 petition (not in H4 status). So I believe age 21 issue won't arise for him. Please correct me if I'm wrong. But I'm not sure how his current status (with I-485 receipt) will be taken into consideration for fee. As sfmars mentioned, the other option is to apply for EAD then get SSN and try with that.

So far he's on good track in High School, took 2 AP classes in sophomore and planning another 4 AP classes in Jr and Sr years. So he will complete atleast 6 college level credits in High School.

I will definitely google for the State rules on this.
 
sfmars said:
I think so, EAD is the condition to get SSN. But again I was told about it and did not check it myself I mean that University can accept SSN/EAD without physical green card. Anyway having SSN/EAD for your son is the goot point to start negotiation with University administration.
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Thanks and I agree 100% with you to have EAD in hand to negotiate with any School.
 
sbolla

Since youy are in Michigan, why dont you apply for PR of Canada. Once your kid gets it he can go to school in Windsor (across border from Detroit) and pay in state tuition in Canada. While studying he will accumulate time towards Canadian citizenship also and can come back to US as Canadian citizen after graduation.
 
texancanadian said:
Since youy are in Michigan, why dont you apply for PR of Canada. Once your kid gets it he can go to school in Windsor (across border from Detroit) and pay in state tuition in Canada. While studying he will accumulate time towards Canadian citizenship also and can come back to US as Canadian citizen after graduation.
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Texancanadian,

Since my son has already applied for I-485, I don't think he can travel frequently in and out of USA. As I mentioned I'm on EAD, not on H1 i.e my son is not on H4. So I'm basically looking to minimize the cost of his bachelors by maintaining his AOS status and hopefully after sometime he/we get the GC.

UN/Anyone:
Can you confirm if I get EAD for my son may after couple of years, can we apply for SSN for him?

Also can anyone guide me how to identify scholarships for non PR/Citizen students for Bachelors?
 
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