Naturalized citizen wants to bring grandchild to elementary school in us

[Pigletrma 3]

My wife recently became a US citizen. Her daughter, currently with a b2 visa is awaiting her green card, but probably has 2 years or so more to wait. She has 2 young daughters that are also with b2 visas awaiting green cards. It woudl be so good for the older one (9 yo) to come and begin learning her English. Is there any way she can come here and enter a privatre school on her b2 visa?

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Not on B2, it’s not an allowed activity on a B, but you can apply for an F1 visa to do so. This is only valid for private school below high school and/or for more than one year, but as you are sending her private anyway that’s fine, as long as the school is SEVP registered. 
 

Wait times for F1 visas are generally far shorter than for B visas, by the way. They do try get them done in time for the school year start as well. I should caution that the fact that she has a green card application in progress may be a problem, as F1 is a non immigrant visa.
 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Here is some official info 

 

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/guide/f-1/f-1-kindergarten-through-grade-12

 

[Timona 4,207]

To add on the above, schooling is expensive, just to study English. Maybe look at ESL via online teaching. My two cents, if actual goal is for them to learn English 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Hm, it may be expensive  on the face if it if it’s “just to learn English” but especially for a kid who’s going to move here, so much more than that - it’s immersion in American society, culture, history, building a social circle, etc. as someone who immigrated with two kids, I’d always recommend starting school in the US as early as possible.  The obstacle in this case seems to be getting an appropriate visa rather than money.

[Boiler 45,525]

Apply for a F1 student visa

[Pigletrma 3]

9 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Hm, it may be expensive  on the face if it if it’s “just to learn English” but especially for a kid who’s going to move here, so much more than that - it’s immersion in American society, culture, history, building a social circle, etc. as someone who immigrated with two kids, I’d always recommend starting school in the US as early as possible.  The obstacle in this case seems to be getting an appropriate visa rather than money.

You nailed it. The difference  in coming here at age 9 vs age 12 is HUGE! So sad that this is looking impossible for her.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, Pigletrma said:

You nailed it. The difference  in coming here at age 9 vs age 12 is HUGE! So sad that this is looking impossible for her.

Why do you come to the conclusion that it’s looking impossible when you’ve been told to try an F1 visa?

[Cathi 5,755]

2 hours ago, Pigletrma said:

You nailed it. The difference  in coming here at age 9 vs age 12 is HUGE! So sad that this is looking impossible for her.

Why is it looking impossible? She can come with an F1 visa after she is approved. You haven't even applied yet!!!

[Timona 4,207]

I'm gonna go against the grain and still see no reason to F1 to study English at a private school and expensively. You can study English online. 

 

From my experience, it's worth it at university level. I came here for university and my professors were surprised at how I knew things that weren't even taught in American High Schools yet I'd learnt all these in Kenyan high school. The only mistake I did was that I didn't know that I could just opt to take some exams and if I pass, be allowed to skip those classes and not have to sit an entire semester for them yet I could pass them in my sleep. I was just burning oxygen and looking at the ceiling in these classes. Anyways, I got to meet people in those classes and we formed a close bond till graduation as we all followed the same degree plan. So, I'll take it as a positive. 

 

These kids will still learn American culture etc in University. 

 

That's my 2 cents. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

2 hours ago, Timona said:

I'm gonna go against the grain and still see no reason to F1 to study English at a private school and expensively. You can study English online. 

 

From my experience, it's worth it at university level. I came here for university and my professors were surprised at how I knew things that weren't even taught in American High Schools yet I'd learnt all these in Kenyan high school. The only mistake I did was that I didn't know that I could just opt to take some exams and if I pass, be allowed to skip those classes and not have to sit an entire semester for them yet I could pass them in my sleep. I was just burning oxygen and looking at the ceiling in these classes. Anyways, I got to meet people in those classes and we formed a close bond till graduation as we all followed the same degree plan. So, I'll take it as a positive. 

 

These kids will still learn American culture etc in University. 

 

That's my 2 cents. 

You didn’t immigrate as a parent with school age kids, right? This is about so much more than learning the language. It’s about a kid feeling at home and integrating into the society rather than feeling alienated, especially with everything else that goes on in a tween/teen’s life.. As the Mastercard ads say, priceless. 

[Timona 4,207]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

You didn’t immigrate as a parent with school age kids, right? This is about so much more than learning the language. It’s about a kid feeling at home and integrating into the society rather than feeling alienated, especially with everything else that goes on in a tween/teen’s life.. As the Mastercard ads say, priceless. 

 

If this is the case, then shouldn't they wait for their parents so that they all come together? 

 

Them coming before the parents is alienating them. Or I'm I seeing it differently?

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

21 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

If this is the case, then shouldn't they wait for their parents so that they all come together? 

 

Them coming before the parents is alienating them. Or I'm I seeing it differently?

I guess you’re seeing it differently. 

[Pigletrma 3]

To answer a couple of the questions... Why not go for an F1 visa?  Time is one thing, and the educational/social environment we are wanting for our grand daughter does not involve a school approved uscis.

 

Why have her come now rather than come with her family? Because 2 or 3 years more of being a latchkey kid in a dangerous slum, just doesn't sit right with any of us. IT is complicated, but there are good reasons why should should come now.

[Boiler 45,525]

1 minute ago, Pigletrma said:

To answer a couple of the questions... Why not go for an F1 visa?  Time is one thing, and the educational/social environment we are wanting for our grand daughter does not involve a school approved uscis.

 

Why have her come now rather than come with her family? Because 2 or 3 years more of being a latchkey kid in a dangerous slum, just doesn't sit right with any of us. IT is complicated, but there are good reasons why should should come now.

F1 is the only Student Visa so you have a choice to make.