Can I do a masters once I have my conditional greencard (after applying for the K1)?

[jadegreen 1]

Hello, I will be getting married next year (hopefully), me and my fiancé are just about to submit the K1 paperwork (He is American and I am from the UK). I really want to do my masters however once I get married I'll have a conditional green card for 2 years before being able to apply for the green card. During this conditional period would I still be able to apply for a masters (and get the residents fee) or would I have to apply for a F1 visa...or wait two years till the actual green card comes through. All very confusing, please help if you can

[kzielu 1,149]

Your conditional green card is a green card - as good as anybody elses or 10 year one. As for the resident's tuition you need to check with university - they have requirements for residing in state for certain amount of time. But from being US resident perspective, it's completely irrelevant whether your card is a 2 year or a 10 year one.

[nobbie 105]

There is no difference between a 10 year and 2 year card apart from the validity period. Might be worth checking if you can start once you have EAD and SSN. Could make a difference as to whether you catch the start of the course or have to wait. EAD should be with you 3 months ish after filing AoS, GC might take a year.

[fullglass 5]

Hello, I will be getting married next year (hopefully), me and my fiancé are just about to submit the K1 paperwork (He is American and I am from the UK). I really want to do my masters however once I get married I'll have a conditional green card for 2 years before being able to apply for the green card. During this conditional period would I still be able to apply for a masters (and get the residents fee) or would I have to apply for a F1 visa...or wait two years till the actual green card comes through. All very confusing, please help if you can

Once you have your green card, 2 years or 10 years, you are considered a resident. Check the policy of the university of choice regarding the tuition rates, as some universities require that a person be a resident of that state for a certain period of time before the resident rate apply.

Also, if you get a green card, getting an F1 Visa after would mean giving up your resident status and going "backwards".

[fullglass 5]

There is no difference between a 10 year and 2 year card apart from the validity period. Might be worth checking if you can start once you have EAD and SSN. Could make a difference as to whether you catch the start of the course or have to wait. EAD should be with you 3 months ish after filing AoS, GC might take a year.

The EAD has nothing to do with starting school and also, if the green card is granted, the EAD becomes void.

Also, having an EAD means an SSN would be issued under "EMPLOYEMENT PURPOSES ONLY", meaning the SSN would not be valid for federal financial aid and the person would have to pay their tuition in cash.

[jadegreen 1]

Great! Thanks everyone, I'll get in touch with a few universities that I am looking at to see what their requirements are!

[DC85 113]

if you do your master in the state that your wife lives in then you will get in state tuition. IF you go to a school in a different state then you will pay out of state tuition even if you are a USC. So, for school tuition , conditional GC is the same as 10 years one.