AOS, K-1, and in-state tuition

[Ryan1 0]

Hi all,

My question pertains to rules for non-US citizens to obtain in-state tuition for Univ. of Maryland , college park. I thought somebody may have had a similiar experience in Maryland or some other university.

To get in-state tuition for Univ. of Maryland, as in most universities of other states, one has to live in Maryland for "12 consecutive months". That is, my wife (K-1, now AOS) and me (since she is financially dependent on me) must have been in maryland for 12 consecutive months.

Fine, BUT the question is when does Maryland want to start counting my wife's "12 months". NOW OR ONLY AFTER SHE GETS HER GREEN CARD.

Some from the residency office at Maryland have told me (and quite rudely) that my wife's "12 consecutive months" won't start until she gets the green card! IN other words, we would have to wait one whole year AFTER she recieved her green card for her to get in-state tuition.

On the other hand, others at univ. of Maryland, like at the international office, have told me that my wife's "12 months" requirement starts once she arrives in US (on K-1) and starts living with me, -- which would mean that she already has almost 3 months of the 12 done.

I sure hope they start counting her months once she marries me NOT once she gets her green card.. if Maryland insists on waiting to start counting until green card, my wife, who will be transfer student, may have to wait years just to enroll in university (un. of maryland out of state is like 19,000 per year, so we have to wait until we get in-state (significantly less) to be able to go) .

anybody else have trouble getting in-state status for your foriegn husband/wife for local university.

best wishes!

[CarolineM 0]

Hmm Stewart got in state tuition here in Florida by default of being married to me. They give you a in state residency affidavit thing - and one of the options is...married to a resident of the state.

maybe it's different in Maryland?

The form used... to apply for in state status at U. Maryland.

[Ryan1 0]

thanks karo..

interesting... I thought too that once she married me (resident of MD) that she would automatically get in-state (especially since she is "financially dependent" on me right now).

it seems that MD (at least the Univ. of Maryland) system notes that it doesn't matter if she is married to maryland resident , she still needs the 12 months, i think.

it remains unclear , when that 12 months starts (once she arrived in US on k-1 and was put on my lease) or once she gets a green card? Nobody at Univ. of MD seems to know (conflicting stories) b/c they you know don't often deal with k-1 (they usually deal with student visas trying to get in-state in which case the rules are much more rigid)..