Veteran Student and Income requirements

[Gonzosan 0]

So my wife and I have not received our NOA2 yet, and the way it's going it'll probably be either August or September of this year. I'm due to separate from the military by the middle of October and I wanted to use my GI Bill to go to school. I have the post 9/11 GI Bill so I'll be getting BAH while going to school. I'm going to live in San Diego and last I checked the BAH I would receive is $2100 a month. I'll have about $12k saved up by then so I can pretty much have about the same pay I'm making now in the military, least for a year or so while I'm in school. Now the only thing I'm wondering is if this would be considered income by the Visa folks? I believe the requirement is $19k a year, and at $2100 a month plus my $12k saved up it'll easily pass that requirement. Does anyone know if this would work? I don't want to plan on going to school if they won't see my benefits as "income". Ideally I'd rather get a good job making more money than that, but I see schooling as a fall back to bring in some income in this case. Thanks!

Edited July 15, 2013 by Gonzosan

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My husband worked full time AND went to school full time (I know the payments have changed since but it was still enough). We didn't personally show the school "income".

The income is only if you go to school so it's not really a continuous income. I really don't know if they'd accept it. Personally I'd shoot for an actual job with actual income just to be safe. if you want to try the school stuff, have a co-sponsor lined up just in case.

[Gonzosan 0]

My husband worked full time AND went to school full time (I know the payments have changed since but it was still enough). We didn't personally show the school "income".

The income is only if you go to school so it's not really a continuous income. I really don't know if they'd accept it. Personally I'd shoot for an actual job with actual income just to be safe. if you want to try the school stuff, have a co-sponsor lined up just in case.

Thanks. I'm almost positive it won't be counted as income. I'm not really interested in going to school, I just wanted to use my benefits. I know I can make more money with an actual job in my field. The requirement is only $19k if I remember correctly which is pretty low. With my field I can easily make double if not triple that amount. I'll scrap the school idea for the time being. Also does savings come into play at all? I know my savings would be under the income limit but just wondering what they count. Also, on a somewhat related note, what is considered "full time" in school? I think it would be a little less stressful if I knew I could work and go to school to make some decent income until my wife comes over. Thanks

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks. I'm almost positive it won't be counted as income. I'm not really interested in going to school, I just wanted to use my benefits. I know I can make more money with an actual job in my field. The requirement is only $19k if I remember correctly which is pretty low. With my field I can easily make double if not triple that amount. I'll scrap the school idea for the time being. Also does savings come into play at all? I know my savings would be under the income limit but just wondering what they count. Also, on a somewhat related note, what is considered "full time" in school? I think it would be a little less stressful if I knew I could work and go to school to make some decent income until my wife comes over. Thanks

My husband went to UTI (he was amphibious assault in the Marines) and was at school from about 6am till 1pm. He'd then work from 1.30/2pm (depending on traffic) until 10/11pm (depending on the day). Made for hella long days but he did it, and he did it with a 4.0 (and a promotion at work) too It really depends on your school as to what they consider full time, but a full course load as opposed to a half course load is all I meant.

Savings wise, yes, they're fine as long as you can show the history (as in, if someone gave you the money this month it probably wouldn't count unless you could prove it was yours from say an inheritance, lottery win etc otherwise they'd assume you're trying to game the system).

If you earnt say, $15K a year, and knowing you need $19K to pass, you would need 3 times the difference in savings. So you would need $19K-$15K = $4K x 3 = $12K in savings. Make sense?