stuff needed by fiance

[JBForever 12]

As we are waiting for the elusive NOA2, we are figuring out all the things that might be needed by my fiancee once she comes over.

Somebody told me she needs to get a GED in the US even if she already has a high school diploma and college degree/transcripts back in the Philippines?

Can someone here confirm if this is true? Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous885 44]

Why does she need GED for ? is she going to study in US. Note that you can translate the transcript but I do not think US will accept her college degree. She can use that to re study.

[UK_Fan 192]

http://www.wes.org

this is what shes gonna go through should she decide to further her education.. she will have to send her transcripts in and they will evaluate it and see how many American collage credits that is equivalent to

[TBoneTX 46,151]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Case Progress forum to the Moving Here & Your New Life forum -- questions better fit that forum. ***

[JBForever 12]

Why does she need GED for ? is she going to study in US. Note that you can translate the transcript but I do not think US will accept her college degree. She can use that to re study.

she would apply for work (if need be) once she gets an EAD that is, to help me out. Otherwise, she will just upkeep the house and take care of me. I dont think she has plans to go back to school (since she already has a bachelor's degree). Her son (18 yrs old) is coming along to continue his studies. Does the GED apply to him then? but not necessarily to her? If she doesnt intend to pursue further studies or restudy? if she decides to apply for work, does she need to have a GED to be considered for the job or to be qualified?

Thanks for your input.

http://www.wes.org

this is what shes gonna go through should she decide to further her education.. she will have to send her transcripts in and they will evaluate it and see how many American collage credits that is equivalent to

thank you for the info. does this also apply if she decides to apply for work?

[Anonymous885 44]

She does not need GED to apply for work. You can translate and evaluate her bachelor degree ( Bachelor is higher than GED). That would be enough for her to get a job.

Has her son finished his high school yet?

If he did, then translate to english his diploma and apply for college ( community college). He will transfer to University after 2 years.

If he has not, he still can enroll for high school in US, even he is 18. He will finish high school in one year with a high school diploma ( not GED ). I came to US when I was 19 and I did this process.

Good Luck

[JBForever 12]

She does not need GED to apply for work. You can translate and evaluate her bachelor degree ( Bachelor is higher than GED). That would be enough for her to get a job.

Has her son finished his high school yet?

If he did, then translate to english his diploma and apply for college ( community college). He will transfer to University after 2 years.

If he has not, he still can enroll for high school in US, even he is 18. He will finish high school in one year with a high school diploma ( not GED ). I came to US when I was 19 and I did this process.

Good Luck

thanks for the very informative reply. this question came up because someone told me that her credentials (bachelor's degree) wont be accepted/recognized in the US, hence she would need to have/get a GED . But since you have cleared that up, then we dont need to worry about that.

her son is 18 and already done with highschool (he does have a diploma). He attended about a year of college (IT) one semester each at two different institutions (because we thought they would already be here by December 2012). We plan on enrolling him at a community college or university (whichever we can afford). However, someone said he may need a year of residency in the US first before he can avail of the in-state tuition rate and be eligible for any scholarships/grants, etc.

did you have to wait for a year before you started attending school in the US? or you just opted to attend highschool for a year then applied for comm college/university once you got the GED?

So does this mean, my fiance doesnt need to have a WES evaluation of her credentials to apply for a job?

Again, your response is greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous885 44]

I did study in high school for a year to have diploma ( since I did not have high school with me). Most states require student to have 1 year of residency to reduce the tuition by 1/2. Some states require 6 months.

Let says : the tuition costs for 1 semester is 1000 for residency students. You need to pay double if you are not resident in that state or consider to be out -state tuition.

It is better for him to be residency first. I was studying my high school to recall my knowledge and improve my english. BTW, it was high school diploma not GED.

It is better for him to start his college for 2 years. He does not have to pay for his tuition for 2 years at College ( Financial Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov ) and He will use his 2-3 years left of FAFSA to pay a part of tuition in University. ( Note that FAFSA gives him 4-5 years to finish his Bachelor Degree). He can ask for one more semester if he does not finish at that time, after that no more. He can apply scholarship to pay other part of tuition in University.

The reason I said College first is 2 main reasons

1) it is cheap. I assume you will pay 1K for colleger per semester. You will pay 2K for the same classes at University.

2) Maybe he does not study hard at his first year because of environment and different class in US.

His GPA is not good. Note that his GPA from college is used to compete with other students to transfer to University. Let says : he will get transfer but the GPA was not good, he does not have to worry anymore. Because when He finishs Bachelor degree, the transcript from University is the main one to apply for job ( not college).

If he enters to university right away, it is expensive for 4-5 years. Note that: FAFSA is only giving 3-5K per year ( depend on income of family, sometime it is low because of family income is high). 3-5K only can pay for 1 semester at University. But 3-5K can pay whole year in college. Assume he does not study hard for first year, his gpa will go down and use that to apply job is little harder ( I did not say high GPA is easy to find job, because it depends on experience too, but it is still have big impact)

For your fiance, I dont know what type of job are you looking for her. Assume, She got Computer Science Engineering Degree, then she could not apply to get the job for Computer S E. Because US does not accept her Bachelor Degree.

However, she can apply for cashier, manufacturing, like my parents. It does not pay good but it is a job. My parents are doing the same thing.

It is my opinion. Everyone can have theit own.

Good Luck

[TBoneTX 46,151]

In addition to educational credentials/transcripts, every immigrant should strive to bring multiple copies of birth certificates (for self & children), divorce certificates, death certificates of children or previous spouses, medical/dental/vaccination records, and in general any official paper or document that would be expensive, difficult, or impossible to obtain from the U.S.

Also, the intending immigrant's passport should be as new as possible when it's time (actual or approximate) for the visa interview, and if the immigrant doesn't have a driver's license in his/her country, he/she should do everything possible to earn one (again, as close to the projected interview date as possible). Those who have a driver's license should renew it for as long a period as possible just before coming to the U.S.

[JBForever 12]

I did study in high school for a year to have diploma ( since I did not have high school with me). Most states require student to have 1 year of residency to reduce the tuition by 1/2. Some states require 6 months.

Let says : the tuition costs for 1 semester is 1000 for residency students. You need to pay double if you are not resident in that state or consider to be out -state tuition.

It is better for him to be residency first. I was studying my high school to recall my knowledge and improve my english. BTW, it was high school diploma not GED.

It is better for him to start his college for 2 years. He does not have to pay for his tuition for 2 years at College ( Financial Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov ) and He will use his 2-3 years left of FAFSA to pay a part of tuition in University. ( Note that FAFSA gives him 4-5 years to finish his Bachelor Degree). He can ask for one more semester if he does not finish at that time, after that no more. He can apply scholarship to pay other part of tuition in University.

The reason I said College first is 2 main reasons

1) it is cheap. I assume you will pay 1K for colleger per semester. You will pay 2K for the same classes at University.

2) Maybe he does not study hard at his first year because of environment and different class in US.

His GPA is not good. Note that his GPA from college is used to compete with other students to transfer to University. Let says : he will get transfer but the GPA was not good, he does not have to worry anymore. Because when He finishs Bachelor degree, the transcript from University is the main one to apply for job ( not college).

If he enters to university right away, it is expensive for 4-5 years. Note that: FAFSA is only giving 3-5K per year ( depend on income of family, sometime it is low because of family income is high). 3-5K only can pay for 1 semester at University. But 3-5K can pay whole year in college. Assume he does not study hard for first year, his gpa will go down and use that to apply job is little harder ( I did not say high GPA is easy to find job, because it depends on experience too, but it is still have big impact)

For your fiance, I dont know what type of job are you looking for her. Assume, She got Computer Science Engineering Degree, then she could not apply to get the job for Computer S E. Because US does not accept her Bachelor Degree.

However, she can apply for cashier, manufacturing, like my parents. It does not pay good but it is a job. My parents are doing the same thing.

It is my opinion. Everyone can have theit own.

Good Luck

Thank you so much for the info. We will keep this in mind.

[JBForever 12]

In addition to educational credentials/transcripts, every immigrant should strive to bring multiple copies of birth certificates (for self & children), divorce certificates, death certificates of children or previous spouses, medical/dental/vaccination records, and in general any official paper or document that would be expensive, difficult, or impossible to obtain from the U.S.

Also, the intending immigrant's passport should be as new as possible when it's time (actual or approximate) for the visa interview, and if the immigrant doesn't have a driver's license in his/her country, he/she should do everything possible to earn one (again, as close to the projected interview date as possible). Those who have a driver's license should renew it for as long a period as possible just before coming to the U.S.

thank you for the info. my fiance and her son both dont know how to drive. I figured i'd teach them once they get here or is it better that they learn over there and get a drivers license before coming over here?

[VeeNDee 44]

I am not sure how it applies to bachelor degrees from the Philippines. I have two bachelor degrees from Canada (which is English speaking and almost equivalent university styles and requirements) which led me to have a teaching degree, and in order to be allowed to use it down here I am having to go through a complicated application process to get it validated. So while you have a degree from another country you may not be able to use it until you apply for its equivalent here, whether it's for my teaching (which involves fees, background checks, applications, background information and many tests, each with another fee, sigh), or whether it's for another degree (which may involve a certificate evaluation service like was previously mentioned). That would be where they evaluate your wife's transcripts and tell her what they are 'worth' in the US - it has a fee but there are places that will do this. I only know about the teacher part (and even then I'm still learning) so maybe someone else can pipe in on the computer science front. I would think an issue that may come up for you would be translation of the documents.

Even though I'm not planning to teach for awhile (we're expecting our first child in 3 months), I wanted to get my certificate validated now since it is easier to get in touch with my references and contact them, and my university etc instead of years down the road where the information is older. Thankfully my certificate in WA should be valid infinitely until I start using it at which point it gains an expiry and has requirements to keep it active.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

Edited July 12, 2013 by VeeNDee

[Sistersister 0]

thanks for the very informative reply. this question came up because someone told me that her credentials (bachelor's degree) wont be accepted/recognized in the US, hence she would need to have/get a GED . But since you have cleared that up, then we dont need to worry about that.

her son is 18 and already done with highschool (he does have a diploma). He attended about a year of college (IT) one semester each at two different institutions (because we thought they would already be here by December 2012). We plan on enrolling him at a community college or university (whichever we can afford). However, someone said he may need a year of residency in the US first before he can avail of the in-state tuition rate and be eligible for any scholarships/grants, etc.

did you have to wait for a year before you started attending school in the US? or you just opted to attend highschool for a year then applied for comm college/university once you got the GED?

So does this mean, my fiance doesnt need to have a WES evaluation of her credentials to apply for a job?

Again, your response is greatly appreciated.

WES is one of many evaluation companies that can evaluate transcripts for US equivalency. Most community colleges and universities will require that transcripts are evaluated by an evaluation company that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or NACES. www.naces.org

Transcripts from the Philippines are normally in English you will not have to have them translated. You will however need to have her son's transcripts evaluated from a NACES company if he is intending on going to college. You will want to have a general evaluation completed for his high school transcripts and a course by course for the college courses he took in the Philippines since there may be a chance that he can transfer some of those credits.

She should not need an evaluation for employment unless she is using her bachelors degree from the Philippines as part of the job requirements where the company wants to verify her bachelors degree.

Also residency requirements vary from state to state. It is usually at least 6 months before someone can qualify for in state tuition rates. You may also find that most community colleges will not consider this time until he has adjusted status.

[JBForever 12]

I am not sure how it applies to bachelor degrees from the Philippines. I have two bachelor degrees from Canada (which is English speaking and almost equivalent university styles and requirements) which led me to have a teaching degree, and in order to be allowed to use it down here I am having to go through a complicated application process to get it validated. So while you have a degree from another country you may not be able to use it until you apply for its equivalent here, whether it's for my teaching (which involves fees, background checks, applications, background information and many tests, each with another fee, sigh), or whether it's for another degree (which may involve a certificate evaluation service like was previously mentioned). That would be where they evaluate your wife's transcripts and tell her what they are 'worth' in the US - it has a fee but there are places that will do this. I only know about the teacher part (and even then I'm still learning) so maybe someone else can pipe in on the computer science front. I would think an issue that may come up for you would be translation of the documents.

Even though I'm not planning to teach for awhile (we're expecting our first child in 3 months), I wanted to get my certificate validated now since it is easier to get in touch with my references and contact them, and my university etc instead of years down the road where the information is older. Thankfully my certificate in WA should be valid infinitely until I start using it at which point it gains an expiry and has requirements to keep it active.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

thanks a lot for the loads of info. i believe she finished BS Foreign Service and her major is Pol. Sci.(this is a 4 yr course in their country) it is similar to tourism except they focus more on politics and language and culture of other countries.

anyhow, i will look into the details of your posts. thanks again:)

[TBoneTX 46,151]

thank you for the info. my fiance and her son both dont know how to drive. I figured i'd teach them once they get here or is it better that they learn over there and get a drivers license before coming over here?

(Sorry for the delayed response.) In most instances, it would better to learn there, because they would be able to drive right away here (for varying times depending on your state of residence). However, there might be country-specific influences that would affect your decision. Why don't you post your query in your regional forum?