School here or in the UK?

[Scot19000 3]

Dear all,

I need advice. My girlfriend is a British citizen living in the UK. We plan to get married in two years. At first we thought she would move to the US but then we realized that in two or three years I would still be in college and have no income to meet the financial requirements. Moreover, if she moved here she would lose her job and have no income in the UK, which would make it near impossible for her to move back to her home country and bring me with her.

The thing is I am to start college in the spring, here in the US. In that case, I won't graduate in at least five years. I don't want for us to be separate, and it would be unfair to make her wait that long. Moreover, it costs too much to visit, so far all the money we make goes to the everyday expenses and then flight tickets. So, if we get married in two years and she petitions for me then, I 'll have to abandon school or can I transfer to a college in the UK? As far as I know the two systems are different. I'm going to take engineering.

Question is: should I go ahead and start college now or should I wait to do that in the UK? P/S:For some personal reason, we can't get married right now.

Your input will be highly appreciated.

Thank you.

[gw68ad78 64]

Greetings,

Sounds like more of an education question than immigration question. You need to do your research to see which programs if any you would qualify for and be interested in pursuing abroad. Could you study abroad through an American school? Explore the cost benefits and program options of your education first and then you might have an immigration question to discuss where you can gain helpful advice.

Good luck to you!

[Tigerlilz 1]

This is kind of similar to me but the other way round.. I'm a British citizen (k1 beneficiary) and my fiance is a US citizen, we are getting married and I am moving to the U.S. to be with him. I am a student at the moment but after looking into it we found that I can transfer what I have done now over to the US system to apply to finish off my course over in the states.. We found this out by actally contacting prospective US universities who explained that it is possible and also how to do it. (I have to have my exams evaluated and converted by an independent evaluator - they referred me to NACES.org - and then use my transcripts and subsequent evaluation/conversion to apply and they will advise me as to what is suitable against what I have already done, if that makes sense)

That is my situation which is in the opposite direction but if it is possible for me going to the states then I'm sure it would be possible for you the other way round.. I would suggest you do the same in contacting universities directly. ALSO when it comes to fees, the university I want to apply to offer significantly cheaper fees to those who have lived in the state (Nevada) for a year.. If you came to university in the UK you may be eligible for a tuition loan after some time but again might be worth looking at universities directly.. Check out studentfinance.gov.uk

Hope that helps

[Scot19000 3]

Thank you,Gw68ad78 and Tigerlilz. It's a relief to know that it's possible to transfer.

[Owen_London 65]

Thank you,Gw68ad78 and Tigerlilz. It's a relief to know that it's possible to transfer.

I would be wary of assuming that you can easily transfer from a US college to a university in the UK. In general, both the US high school system and the US college system have a wider but shallower knowledge base than their UK equivalent. This is much of the reason why US undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are usually longer than their UK equivalents. These differences mean that UK students transferring to the US have to catch up with the more low-level courses outside their major, but can still get credits for what they've learned so far, but US students transferring to the UK find that they get no credit for courses outside their major, and may have to drop back a year. Bear in mind that unless you have enough AP courses from high school, you might still have the same issue with your high school education not being advanced enough compared to a UK student's limited number of A levels to get you into the UK university you'd want, even if you wait to start university in the UK.

Bear in mind that I am making generalisations, and don't have personal experience. Things may be easier than I suggest, and others may know better, though probably a website for people moving to the USA isn't going to provide much useful help. Maybe try to ask at the UK Yankee forum?

Also, to help you with terminology, just in case you need it.

US college = UK university (college in UK means several things, but most likely sixth-form college, which is schooling from 16 to 18 in some areas)

US College major doesn't really have a UK equivalent term, because the systems are different. Maybe just "subject".

US High school = UK secondary school (though this is often 11 to 18 or 11 to 16 or other ages). High school is used as a term in some areas.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you,Gw68ad78 and Tigerlilz. It's a relief to know that it's possible to transfer.

I agree with Owen. Even if a university says you can transfer, beware that it won't be a one for one transfer of every course. American college/university degrees require a broader range of education than just your engineering courses. You will typically spend your first two years taking English or literature, a behavioral science (psychology, sociology). Math, history, laboratory science (chemistry, biology), physical education, etc. When you get to the UK those aren't really part of the degree plan, so won't necessarily transfer in the way you think they will. You may have spent a lot of tuition money on courses that do not apply to a UK degree. And the reverse if she comes to the U.S. to finish her degree, she would have to take some of those core freshman/sophomore courses that are part of the degree plan.

[Tigerlilz 1]

Send your transcripts to one of the evaluators listed on www.naces.org, you will have to pay for quite a lot for their services but like I said they will be able to 1. Convert your credits, and 2. look at your current or completed course credits and make recommendations in light of your prospective course...

[Owen_London 65]

Send your transcripts to one of the evaluators listed on www.naces.org, you will have to pay for quite a lot for their services but like I said they will be able to 1. Convert your credits, and 2. look at your current or completed course credits and make recommendations in light of your prospective course...

Why do you think that would be useful? He hasn't started college yet, plus he's a US student looking to study abroad, not a foreign student looking to study in the US.

[Tigerlilz 1]

So that if he was looking to transfer to a UK uni after say a year or 2 of US college he could get an idea of where he can get his course converted..

Anyway, It may or may not be useful but I was trying to be helpful, no harm in that.

[Owen_London 65]

So that if he was looking to transfer to a UK uni after say a year or 2 of US college he could get an idea of where he can get his course converted..

Anyway, It may or may not be useful but I was trying to be helpful, no harm in that.

The big problem with that idea is that naces.org only do conversions to US qualifications, they don't do the opposite, and there's no reason to think they could give good advice on what to do abroad.

A quick search suggests that the UK equivalent is: https://www.naric.org.uk/but I have no idea how often such services are used there. I suspect his best bet, at least initially, would be to contact the admissions service of the university he would like to attend and ask for their advice.

[Tigerlilz 1]

Oh, I was mistaken there - Thanks!

[Owen_London 65]

Oh, I was mistaken there - Thanks!

OK, no problem.

[Scot19000 3]

Thank you, everyone. Very helpful!