Imigrating a friend from Cyprus

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Tuition depends on a number of factors, among others: the college ranking and whether or not the student can be considered in-state resident for tuition purposes.

I am not aware of a single case where a foreigner from a country 9,000 miles away would qualify for in-state tuition. Heck, even a US citizen from Las Vegas doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in California the same way a US citizen from Los Angeles doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in any neighboring state. You must know something I do not.

Educate me, please, as I know of quite a few foreigners who would love to get a college degree in the US for cheap!

[Darnell 8,479]

an international student is rarely considered for 'in-state tuition'.

It can happen, but it's extremely rare, and varies state by state, school by school.

[Harsh_77 718]

I am not aware of a single case where a foreigner from a country 9,000 miles away would qualify for in-state tuition. Heck, even a US citizen from Las Vegas doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in California the same way a US citizen from Los Angeles doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in any neighboring state. You must know something I do not.

Educate me, please, as I know of quite a few foreigners who would love to get a college degree in the US for cheap!

Certain Univ will give some students in-state option, either if they qualify based on academic excellence or if they are working in certain dept of the univ.

OP---->

In case of OP its going to be difficult, single, young guy no higher education and dreams to come and settle in US is not an easy one.

Unfortunately there are millions around the world with same qualification and dream to settle in US and it just does not work.

As you said some of us came as int. students life is not an easy one as an int. student. If he wants student visa he will have to pass the tests and show the means to pay the tuition and have a school accept him as a student.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I am not aware of a single case where a foreigner from a country 9,000 miles away would qualify for in-state tuition. Heck, even a US citizen from Las Vegas doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in California the same way a US citizen from Los Angeles doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in any neighboring state. You must know something I do not.

Educate me, please, as I know of quite a few foreigners who would love to get a college degree in the US for cheap!

It all depends on the state. Now, I never said anyone would get immediate in-state tuition. Each state/college has it's own rules about what in-state means for tuition purposes. In Colorado, where I have first hand experience, in-state among other things is related to how long you have actually been in the state with a Colorado drivers license (or have a utility bill in your name that proves you were there). It is 1 year by the way (or at least was at the time of my case). Now, at the time I had an H1B and was working in Denver. The college I went is Univ of Colorado (state system, similar to Uni of California) and I was a grad student. After I had been in the state 1 year, as shown in my driver's license; I requested the school (I can't recall what was the actual department, but there is someone there who determines in-state eligibility; they wanted to see copies of utilities, etc; send them all and they ruled I was in-state, that simple. Now, the 2 key things here are in my opinion, that I had a drivers license for more than 1 year and that I had utility bills in my name. There was some questioning about the visa I had and whether it would qualify, but there was no specific rule against it, so I 'won'.

Normally, a student on a F-1 can get a drivers license, sometimes even exchange it. Here is a tip, Colorado and Germany have an agreement to recognize and exchange drivers licenses (and Colorado is one of a handful that does, I know because I had a girl-friend in Germany several years ago, and I lived there for some time)

I do know that in some states it does not matter how long you have been, unless you have a green card, there is no in-state. I also need to disclose that this is several years ago (about 2000 if I recall correctly, but my sister (who only recently got her GC) had the same exact deal, but she finished school in 2003-2004 also grad school and she also had a driver's license though she did not have utility bills (she was living in my house).

That 1 year lapse I mention above is the main reason, many college age guys and girls moved to another state and essentially work in anything for the 1 year, to then quality as in-state. No one here would in-state tuition immediately after moving, except perhaps military personnel. There are (or were) a handful of states that recognize neighbor states as qualifying for in-state tuition and yes, I do know California is not one of them.

Finally, I was not a foreigner from a country 9000 miles away, but mine is about 4000 miles away. Bottom line, as a prospective student one must do its homework to find the situation that is best. One more thing, prior to this Colorado example, I originally came to the US on a F-1, also for grad school, and while the college I was going got me financial aid and paid my tuition as part of the deal, that tuition was as in-state level, I know because I had statements sent to me that showed that. Here the deal was that I was "working" for the college and that gave in that college, automatic in-state from Day 1. Sweet deal? You bet, again, I did my homework, because money I did not have.

Hope this helps

[Gosia & Tito 199]

an international student is rarely considered for 'in-state tuition'.

It can happen, but it's extremely rare, and varies state by state, school by school.

As I keep saying, it is very possible, and not as rare as one might think. I was an international student that had it's tuition paid by the college and it was at the in-state tuition level. While this was several years ago and things certainly might have changed, it does not mean that they have changed for the worst.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I am not aware of a single case where a foreigner from a country 9,000 miles away would qualify for in-state tuition. Heck, even a US citizen from Las Vegas doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in California the same way a US citizen from Los Angeles doesn't qualify for in-state tuition in any neighboring state. You must know something I do not.

Educate me, please, as I know of quite a few foreigners who would love to get a college degree in the US for cheap!

Added after posting original reply: I studied Computer Science (master level) in the F-1 case and International Business (also master level) in Colorado. In the F-1 case, I am not exaggerating a bit when I say that literally 90%+ of the students were foreign and that was in the Computer Science Dept. I had a girlfriend in the Chemistry Dept where I know 95%+ of students were foreign. At the time, technical degrees was the place to go if you were foreigner and wanted/needed help. Today, I think is the same cycle. Have your friends research.

Finally, when I was researching colleges, I did have an offer to join UC, but there was not a big possibility of financial aid, so I pass on that one.

[Harsh_77 718]

Added after posting original reply: I studied Computer Science (master level) in the F-1 case and International Business (also master level) in Colorado. In the F-1 case, I am not exaggerating a bit when I say that literally 90%+ of the students were foreign and that was in the Computer Science Dept. I had a girlfriend in the Chemistry Dept where I know 95%+ of students were foreign. At the time, technical degrees was the place to go if you were foreigner and wanted/needed help. Today, I think is the same cycle. Have your friends research.

Finally, when I was researching colleges, I did have an offer to join UC, but there was not a big possibility of financial aid, so I pass on that one.

Having that many international student does not mean all of them are payin in-state tution.

Lot of them pay regular int. fees, thats one way college can get some extra money as these students bring direct money for univ.

As in OPs case his friend will hav eto show the ability to pay that tuition and before that he has to show he has the qualification to be enrolled in college.

From post it seems his friend does not have the qualification to be enrolled in college, if he does not then there is no point of paying in or out of state tuition.