Need desperate help: In-state tuition for new immigrant

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi everyone.</p>

<p>I am immigrating to the United States this July. I think I wanna stick with NY.</p>

<p>From what I've read so far, you need to have lived for a year in NY to be eligible for in-state tuition.</p>

<p>This one year. Is it one year from the enrollment date or the application date?</p>

<p>Can I beenrolled in a Community College for a year and then start paying in-state tuition from next year or do I have to live independentally in NY for a year without going to school?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Will you have a Green Card or be a citizen?</p>

3

<p>Maryland grants in-state tuition at community colleges after three months of residency and at the public universities after 12 months. Check the rules for NY. They may have different lengths of minimum residence for community colleges and for public universities as well.</p>

<p>If your immigration status is due to marriage to a US citizen or permanent resident, or if you are a minor who can be considered dependent on a US citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to claim in-state residence based on the residence of that individual. Again, this may depend on your state of residence.</p>

<p>One year usually means before enrollment. Some states want you to live there for reasons other than going to school. Again, you will have to check with NY. As a new-to-the-US immigrant, the interpretation of these regulations may be somewhat different than they would be for a longer term resident who had just moved to a different state. </p>

<p>For the best advice, you should email one of the community colleges that you are interested in, and one of the public universities that you are interested in, and ask the admissions offices there about your situation.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>I’ll have a Green Card, but why does that matter?</p>

5

<p>The Green Card matters because it demonstrates the intent of permanent residency in the U.S. You would not be entitled to in-state tuition without it (depending on the school, perhaps.) Without a green card, you are just an international student coming to the u.s. for temporary purposes which include a college education. And you pay international fees. Residency qualification also varies wildly from school to school. For example, at University of Michigan, you would NOT be considered for in-state after only a year, particularly if you held ties to your former country. SO you will want to check it out with respect to the schools to which you intend to apply.</p>

6

<p>US citizens, green card holders, and certain other immigrants are eligible for federal financial aid in the form of loans and grants. The exact amount of money available to you will depend on your income and savings. You can read about these programs at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)</p>

<p>If you are male, when you turn 18 you will need to register with Selective Service in order to qualify for any aid. [Selective</a> Service System: Welcome](<a href=“http://www.sss.gov/]Selective”>http://www.sss.gov/) </p>

<p>Since you will have a green card, you can choose the state you would like to live in, get a job, and start establishing your new life here. Changing countries is not a trivial action. It will take you about a year to feel comfortable in the new environment, possibly longer. One book that I have found very useful is “The Art of Crossing Cultures” by Craig Storti.</p>

7

<p>I meant why does US Citizen vs US Green Card holder matter. I thought when it comes to college admissions and aid, it’s the same.</p>

<p>And oh yeah, this is going to be scary.</p>

<p>Come August, I’m gonna land up in JFK, in a strange country, where there is no one I know. I’m gonna be 19 – and ready to start my life from absolute zero.</p>

<p>My parents are going to give me $10,000 in total.</p>

<p>Scared and confused. Excited.</p>

8

<p>If you are not a US Citizen or do not have a green card, you can get in state tuition rates if you can show that you have been in NY for 3 years. If you have a green card or you are a citizen, you can get in state rates after a year.</p>

9

<p>I will have a Green Card. I will enter in US in mid July probably and I will not leave NY state.</p>

<p>Now, the primary questions or concerns that I have are:</p>

<p>I will be in NY from let’s say July 15, 2009. Is that enough to qualify for in-state tuition at a SUNY where classes start in August 2010. Can anyone tell me for sure that the one year thing is before the enrollment date (August) and not before the application date – in which case I will not have lived in NY for a year.</p>

<p>This one year – Do I have to be living independently and working OR can I enroll in a Community College and still pay in-state fees from next year. (Intend to transfer to a SUNY after a year)</p>

10

<p>I take it that you won the visa lottery. Congratulations! You have big adventures ahead of you, and lots of challenges. Your case is a very special one. In order to get the most accurate answers you need get in touch with the admissions offices of the community college(s) and SUNY(s) that are interesting to you.</p>

<p>Do you know where you will live for the first month after you arrive at JFK? Right now, I think that where you will live and what kind of job you can get are more important questions than whether or not you can go to college full time in 2010.</p>

11

<p>I don’t believe you’ll get instate fees at the CC next year as you will not have established a NY domicile for 12 months. But you might be able to qualify at the SUNY the following year if you meet the other proof of domicile and immigration status requirements! First, you should contact the CC and the SUNY you’d like to attend for guidance. This is excerpted from SUNY’s website:</p>

<p>Each individual SUNY campus is responsible for determining a student’s residency status and tuition charges, and the campus determination is final. Students are generally considered New York State residents if they have established their domicile in New York State for at least twelve months prior to the last day of the registration period of a particular term.</p>

<p>Determination of Domicile
To determine a student’s domicile, campuses use the following principles:</p>

<p>A person may have multiple residences but only one domicile.
A person retains a domicile until it is abandoned.
Physical presence alone does not establish domicile or residency. </p>

<p>Proof of Domicile:</p>

<p>Campuses rely on documents and circumstances such as, but not limited to, the following to determine if an individual’s domicile is in New York State. For financially dependent students, the campus relies on documents relating to the parents or legal guardian.</p>

<p>Duration of physical presence in NY.
State of residency of the student’s family.
NY State voter registration.
NY State driver’s license.
NY State motor vehicle registration.
NY State real property ownership.
NY State residential rental lease.
NY State income tax returns.</p>

<p>Questions about resident and non-resident tuition rates should be directed to the Student Accounts Office at each SUNY campus.</p>

<p>Immigrant, Non-immigrant and Undocumented Students:</p>

<p>Students claiming to be immigrants must present proof of their status by providing the campus with a valid Permanent Resident Card. Once a student’s immigrant status has been verified, the student may then establish New York State residency by meeting the domicile criteria. See Proof of Domicile (above).
Non-immigrants are grouped in categories depending on the type of visa presented at the port of entry. Non-immigrants admitted to the United States in categories that prohibit them from establishing a United States residence are not eligible for resident tuition.
In general, the Federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act prohibits students who are unable to present valid documentation of their alien status from eligibility for the resident tuition rate.
Undocumented students who attend for at least two years and graduate from a New York high school may be eligible for resident tuition. See the campus Student Accounts Office (Bursar) for details. </p>

<p>[SUNY:</a> Residency](<a href=“http://www.suny.edu/Student/paying_residence.cfm]SUNY:”>http://www.suny.edu/Student/paying_residence.cfm)</p>

12

<p>Yes, I did win the Visa Lottery.</p>

<p>I am really sorry (I will contact the SUNY offices too) but…</p>

<p>You need to spend 1 year in NY to be eligible for in-state at a SUNY. I don’t need in-state for Community College – I can afford the out-of-state I think.</p>

<p>Can I spend that ONE YEAR attending CC?</p>

<p>Umm, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes. Clean/sweep streets, work mexican-manual labour, pick fruits,…it doesn’t matter.</p>

13

<p>And I really don’t mind student loans.</p>

<p>I know what I want to do after college. I’ll be a citizen by then, and I am DEFINITELY joining one of the US Military branches. </p>

<p>I gather that they will pay off my loans.</p>

<p>And can you please explain how does the FAFSA work? My family’s annual income is roughly $6000 per year. (The $10,000 will come from my family’s savings) Does this mean I get more aid?</p>

14

<p>Double check the residency form, most schools will not allow you to become a resident whilst you are in school over half time</p>

15

<p>If you are planning on a military career, you can enlist as a permanent resident. You don’t have to become a citizen first. You could ask about this at the US consulate nearest to you.</p>

<p>You need to ask the community colleges and the sunys your question about whether studying full-time is OK while establishing residency. In a lot of states, if you study full-time you can’t establish state residency. Since the public institutions are supported by the people who pay taxes in each state, if you have a job you are paying taxes and contributing to the support for those institutions. If you are studying full-time, it is assumed that you can’t possibly be paying enough taxes to cover your share of the institutions’ support. However, since you don’t have residence anywhere in the USA yet, in your specific individual case, a different interpretation of the rules may be possible.</p>

16

<p>I do not understand how you can gather that with $10,000 you will have enough to pay for rent, food, etc. and then out-of-state tuition on top of that…</p>

17

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</p>

<p>This could be a problem for you. For most states, NY included, one must show that they are financially able to live on your own and support themselves without help from parents in order to establish domicile. If attending the CC means that you can’t earn enough to support yourself, then your domicile could be in question. I’m not sure if the term “financially dependent” in this clause refers to the FAFSA definition or not. However I have heard, anecdotal evidence only, that some SUNY’s follow a loose interpretation of the residency requirements for internationals. That was in cases of undocumented aliens who were actually living in NYS. </p>

<p>I can tell you that the aid you get from SUNY, even as an OOS resident, will likely make college here affordable to you. The instate-OOS rate difference is not huge and, if you have a Pell-eligible EFC, you are likely to be awarded additional grants and subsidized loans to make up that difference.</p>

<p>But really, you must ask SUNY these questions. Since you’re immigrating alone to NY, you’ seem to be in a situation that will depend on professional judgement. Most of us are US citizens and there is no point in getting random opinions in your favor that will only frustrate you later if the SUNY in question interprets their rules differently.</p>

<p>Please let us know how things turn out for you.</p>

18

<p>Thank you everyone(especially all the “moms”) for all your advice. I will keep you all posted with what happens.</p>

<p>I do not want to enlist in the US Forces – I want to become an officer. I am going to wait untill I become a citizen(takes 5 years), get a college degree, give up my original citizenship and apply to OCS.</p>

<p>Regarding college – here is what I have decided to do.</p>

<p>I will not go to any college this year. I am going to live independently in NY for a year. Work and save money. Will start college in Aug 2010.</p>

<p>And lastly, God I can not stand illegal immigrants as a legal immigrant. How can people who jumped walls get to pay in-state tuition?</p>

19

<p>Your plan for the next year looks like a good one. Keep us up to date!</p>

<p>As to your question about undocumented students who pay in-state tuition: the vast majority of these young people were brought to the US by their parents. They have lived in the US for a large part of their lives, have completed multiple years of education here, and in some cases don’t even speak (or read) the language of their home country. They are true innocents. To send them home for an education and possibly the rest of their lives is punishing the wrong person. Allowing them to study here is possibly rewarding their parents, and could possibly encourage other parents to bring their kids too, instead of leaving them in their home countries. Limiting their choices to the kinds of jobs an undocumented worker can aspire to increases the risk that they will enter a life of crime.</p>

<p>Choosing the right balance between justice and mercy is never easy. The states that have elected to err on the side of mercy cannot be blamed for the unwillingness of the federal government to deliver a reasonably just and readily implemented immigration policy. If all goes well for you, in five years you will be able to start voting for candidates who will help create the immigration policy that this nation needs.</p>

20

<p>EXCELLENT post and explanation, Happymom!! The right balance is never easy. I have seen too many sad stories of embittered young adults, who could have been so very grateful to this country if it had delivered said immigration policy. A thread like this bring tears to my eyes–at the incarnation of hope in the OP, and the sadness of all those unrealized hopes.</p>