TN to Greencard

[borealgirl 0]

Hi all,

Two things I would like to post about:

1) I am here on a TN and am applying for my green card through marriage, AOS and EAD. I just noted on USCIS' website that my EAD card is being processed. I am starting school part time and am hoping someone may have experience that coupld help me know if there is a way I can get ccess to US student loans - which are substantially heftier than the Candian counterpart, and also open up work-study opportunities to me that could themselves knock down my tuition substatially. Any advice s to my eligibility, timeframes, etc...would be greatly appreciated.

2) Also, if there are other TNers out there, I am hoping we can connect and maybe even form our own little sub group??? I am curious if things go more quickly, or slowly, and what to do once I start working on a work auth #, as opposed to the TN.

Cheers,

Borealgirl

[thermophile 0]

I don't think that you can get federal student loans or workstudy till you are a PR maybe not till you're a citizen. When you fill out your FASFA it should say somewhere what types of non-citizens can apply for federal aid. Your best bet it to contact your school's financial aid office and talk to someone who deals with foreign studetns.

an aside, how are you keeping your TN if you're going back to school?

[borealgirl 0]

Thanks for your advice. I did exactly that: filed the FAFSA and spoke with the FA office. They are going to get back to me about wether or not I am now eligible (i.e. an eligible non-citizen). Actually, I was planning on going half-time (totally legal on a TN and you don't have to apply as a foreign student). However, I just got laid off (my TN was in fact a temporarily funded job, but did not expect it to run out this early). So I am jobless with a heavy tuition bill.

As though someone is looking out for me, though, my EAD was approved more than a month earlier than I was expecting it! So I am now in some quasi-adjusted status, and no longer on a TN. However I am also out of a job. Fortunately, I will be ok for a few months.

I did find out that once you have your conditional green card, you can apply for Stafford Loans and get workstudy. However, they are looking into wether or not I am eligible for federal aid as I am. I think that, because I am married and clearly aiming to be here for the long haul, it makes sense to offer loans to me. I do not think, however, that I qualify for any grants, though.

I don't think that you can get federal student loans or workstudy till you are a PR maybe not till you're a citizen. When you fill out your FASFA it should say somewhere what types of non-citizens can apply for federal aid. Your best bet it to contact your school's financial aid office and talk to someone who deals with foreign studetns.

an aside, how are you keeping your TN if you're going back to school?

[warlord 73]

Don't know anything about student loans or schooling at all, but I did TN-Citizenship (through Green Card) myself when I got married so I might be able to answer some questions if I can remember the process...

[borealgirl 0]

Thanks Warlord! I am not sure about any questions right now. Just seeing your timeline is helpful enough. I am hoping to get an interview pre-January so that I can at least get student loans next semester. Now that I have an EAD, I at least beathing easier in that I can have more flexibility with who I work for.

Don't know anything about student loans or schooling at all, but I did TN-Citizenship (through Green Card) myself when I got married so I might be able to answer some questions if I can remember the process...

[warlord 73]

Yeah getting the EAD means all that crappy paper work is done with at least. And now it's nice finally having some freedom and being able to work at the local pet store for part time or getting a new job in a new field that isn't a TN job or doing whatever you want. And most of all, no more having to return to the border to get the stupid next TN or doing the mail-in and waiting and waiting.

If your time line is like mine you shouldn't have long then for the Green Card to come in...

Edited September 7, 2007 by warlord

[zyggy 9]

Federal Student loans are only available for PR's and Citizens. TN's need not apply...

As an international student (that's what TN's are considered), you are expected to pay your own way in full... with international tuition costs.

[borealgirl 0]

Totally. It is amazing how much time and effort I spent on the TN, and in a job that I was less than satisfied with. Even though I was a professional, you are right. I may just go and gt a job at an outdoor equipment store or something just to change pace while I am in school.

Anyway, I will let you know fi something comes up. Good luck with your Citizenship, Warlord. (Love the name).

Boreal girl.

Yeah getting the EAD means all that crappy paper work is done with at least. And now it's nice finally having some freedom and being able to work at the local pet store for part time or getting a new job in a new field that isn't a TN job or doing whatever you want. And most of all, no more having to return to the border to get the stupid next TN or doing the mail-in and waiting and waiting.

If your time line is like mine you shouldn't have long then for the Green Card to come in...

Actually, I am not a TN anymore. I think there are provisions for people who are in the quasi-immigrate state. But of course, when they talk about this, they make no mention of Tn-to-Green Card...only the other types of visas.

Federal Student loans are only available for PR's and Citizens. TN's need not apply...

As an international student (that's what TN's are considered), you are expected to pay your own way in full... with international tuition costs.