Engagement, Education - in which order?

[hellousa 0]

I live in Canada and my bf lives in the US.

In the next couple of years, we plan to get married & I plan to go to school in the state where he lives.

I want to ensure that I go through this process legally, and I am hoping that the commenters here will have some good advice as we make plans.

We would prefer for me to move to the US to go to school and get married before I finish my degree. I notice that to enter the US to attend school you have to show ties to your home country. That leaves me wondering about whether I would have difficulty being allowed entry to the US to study considering that I would be living with/partially supported by my BF while I attend school.

I am also curious about whether living with my bf right when I moved to the US for school would somehow cause problems during the spousal visa application process when we eventually pursue that.

On the other hand, I could apply for a fiance visa & go to school later on. What I can't figure out is, when would I be legally able to be a full-time student? Could I attend school while I have a fiance visa? After we get married and I apply to adjust status? After the adjustment of status is approved? I know you can't hold two types of visas simultaneously, but I also know that Canadians aren't required to apply for F1 visas to attend school in the US.

As well, I am curious about whether visa types affect the type of tuition paid. I would guess that this changes by school, but I'd love to hear about people's experience regarding if there an advantage to waiting for a fiance/spousal visa to go to school rather than attending as an international student? Would I avoid paying international tuition this way, or would that still apply?

Thanks for your expertise. I have learned so much here already.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

It is really expensive to go to school without being a resident. Plus, if you have zero intentions of returning to Canada, then I would stay away from a non-immigrant visa such as a student visa.

Much of your status questions should be directed to the school in which you wish to attend. Some allow you to study and pay in-state tuition while on a K-1 before AOS, some require the green card. It is not universal.

good luck

[aaron2020 11,651]

Have you considered the cost of tuition for a foreign student in the US?

You may want to reconsider your plans if you don't have the funds to pay tuition as a foreign student.

[NikLR 13,232]

Some schools require proof of residency in that state for 1 year to be eligible for in state tuition. You need to contact the schools you ate thinking of and inquire.

Your cheapest option will likely be a spousal visa unless you live closer to Vancouver than Montreal.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Some schools require proof of residency in that state for 1 year to be eligible for in state tuition. You need to contact the schools you ate thinking of and inquire.

Your cheapest option will likely be a spousal visa unless you live closer to Vancouver than Montreal.

International students are not considered residents. Even after a year, they still have to pay the tuition for international students.

Only way to save and pay in-state tuition is for the OP to be married to the USC and have a green card.

The green card also opens up financial aid.

[NikLR 13,232]

International students are not considered residents. Even after a year, they still have to pay the tuition for international students.

Only way to save and pay in-state tuition is for the OP to be married to the USC and have a green card.

The green card also opens up financial aid.

Yep I know that international students aren't considered residents. Even if the OP decides to get married first it may STILL take a year AFTER moving to the USA to get the in-state tuition rate. That is what I was trying to say.

Edited September 8, 2014 by NLR