I’m briefly explaining you the situation and then ask the question in order to be more clear.
I have applied to a US college as an International student and have been admitted (Stony Brook University, NY). I did not start a Form I-20 or DS-2019 to obtain F-1 or J-1 student status because I’m already into an F-4 process (F-4 Visas for the Brothers and Sisters of US Citizens). My parents and I are planning to move to the US as we are obtaining a visa and we could get a US citizenship in 5 years. Still, I am expecting for the embassy to arrange the case in mid-May but I need to accept the University acceptance within May 1st.
My questions are these:
Where am I considered a US resident? After I have completed the first tax session or as I move to the US and rent a house?
Is it possible to accept a University acceptance and make an arrangement with them in order to start school when in posses of all the required documents (so, the season or year after)? I am doing this because as you know the cost of university for an International student is way more expensive. I am also planning to apply for Excelsior scholarship.
If the thing stated before is not possible. Do you think the University can extend my deadline?
I know those are questions that can be easily asked directly to the school, and I will. But I would still like to hear maybe from someone’s ecìxperience or opinion before!
Thank you if you have even just read until this point!
I don’t believe you’re considered a US citizen anywhere until you have documentation saying that you’ve obtained citizenship. My children attend NYS public universities and they weren’t allowed to enroll until all required paperwork was submitted, so I don’t think you’ll be able to start college with the promise of submitting citizenship paperwork at a later date – especially when that date could be 5 years away.
You need to accept the admission offer by May 1st. You might be able to extend it by a week or two if you’re waiting for documents, but it doesn’t sound like you have the documents they need. You’re not a US citizen, and because your parents aren’t currently residents of NY you won’t qualify for in state rates or the Excelsior Scholarship. Can your parents pay $30k/year for Stony Brook? If not, you may want to get your citizenship sorted out then apply to colleges.
@sybbie719, How long would OP’s parents have to live in NY for them to get in state rates? Can internationals qualify for state rates if they live here a certain amount of time, or do they need to have US citizenship to qualify?
Ok thank you!
I have read a couple of articles and web pages and based on those I can pay as a US kid if I am a “Resident of the state of New York”. I looked up on the web to see the conditions of being such here: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/pit_definitions.htm but from this site, I cannot understand (maybe it is not mentioned because it is obv) if apart than those conditions (spending the major part of the year in NY) I do need the citizenship.
@xsirix,
If I read your post correctly, you are only in a process of obtaining F4 visa. You have not granted an F4 visa, right? It is a big difference. Instead of readin NY state residency laws, you need to read the US Immigration and Naturization Services (INS) laws and regulations. Permanent residency (green card) and citizenship is at the federal level, not a state level.
With the current US political climate, immigration policies are very fluid.
Resident for what purpose? E.g. for health insurance purposes, you are a resident as soon as you arrive in the US on a long-term visa. For income tax purposes, you are taxed as a resident if you have a green card or you meet the “substantial presence test” (you were in the US for 183 weighted days in the past 3 tax years, and at least 31 days in the current tax year).
To obtain eligibility for in-state tuition rates, you will need to be domiciled in NY State for at least 12 months prior to enrolling at Stony Brooks. If you enroll in your first 12 months in the state, you will have to pay out-of-state tuition for your entire degree. http://www.stonybrook.edu/bursar/residency/
If your intent is to pay in-state tuition rates, you may want to consider taking a gap year after arriving in the US.