<p>A friend of mine told me I wouldn't be able to go to college because I don't have any status here. I am an illegal Asian alien (sounds funny) but I am currently in the status of Green Card pending. I am adopted by my aunt and uncle who are U.S citizens. How will this affect me for the UCs and privates?</p>
<p>how can you have a green card pending if your current status is an illegal alien? That's not possible. You must have some sort of visa or you wouldn't be able to.</p>
<p>man i really dont know. i might have this visa Intercountry</a> Adoption because i am adopted by my aunt and uncle</p>
<p>Have you asked your aunt and uncle?</p>
<p>yeah and they didnt really know for sure either and the fact that i forgot how to speak korean and they cant speak english makes it more difficult to communicate</p>
<p>You need to get all the relevant documents out and look at them yourself, perhaps with a teacher's help.</p>
<p>You need to get your hands on your adoption papers, your passport (which has to have some kind of visa in it unless you were brought into the country illegally), and your adoptive parents' immigration papers. Then you need to pick up the phone and call USCIS ( USCIS</a> Home Page ) and find out just exactly what your status is. Or if you don't want to talk with USCIS directly, you will have to talk with an immigration lawyer who is familiar with international adoptions.</p>
<p>Do not fool around with this! You need to fix this yesterday.</p>
<p>And, figure out a way how to spend some more time with your adoptive parents so that you remember the Korean that you think you've forgotten!</p>
<p>If you attended a Calif HS for three years, UC will not ask for citizenship papers.</p>
<p>The UC application asks about citizenship, as does the FAFSA.
There are many undocumented students in California who find that the big barrier to college is not admissions, but financial aid, since state and federal financial aid is limited to citizens.</p>
<p>^^S-mom: Undocumented students of three+ years in Calif and who graduate from a Calif HS are exempt from answering the citizenship question. They just have to check the box that they have been instate for three+ years and will graduate from a Calif HS, and they will be eligible for instate tuition and will be considered instate for admissions purposes. But, yes, federal finaid is not available to such students.</p>
<p>You should really speak to an immigration attorney about this matter. They're likely to be able to help with issues tangential to the immigration process, such as university attendance. Furthermore, an attorney can make sure you don't take an action which makes your immigration situation worse.</p>
<p>You should be "paroled" if you are awaiting your green card. How long have you been here?</p>
<p>ok i did some digging and i have SOME kind of visa although i dont know which kind. i have been here since 97 and was adopted in 05 and that was when i actually started filing for u.s citizenship.</p>
<p>You cannot apply for US citizenship unless you are a legal alien. Do you or your adapted parents actually apply the citizenship for you? but you also wrote that you are Green Card pending. I think you are very confused about your legal status. You should talk to an immigrant lawyer. We don't know you well enough to give you a reasonable suggestion.</p>
<p>It is difficult to give you any legal advice without knowing all the facts. That could land you in big trouble. This is just my humble opinion. :)</p>
<p>Then you're not an illegal alien. You have a greencard pending. Don't take my word at face value though, I'm not a lawyer. Which is to say, go talk to one. Technically if you have a greencard pending then you already SHOULD have a lawyer.</p>
<p>Not sure that you need to spend money on an immigration attorney.</p>
<p>Your current visa will dictate college admissions. Once you find out what kind of visa you have, just can easily google and/or call the colleges you are interested in an ask how they process applications for a person with an __ visa. </p>
<p>For example, USC (you expressed interest in an earlier post) says this about internationals: </p>
<p>
[quote]
At USC, an international student is an individual of foreign nationality who will be entering, or has already entered, the United States with a student visa. Students already residing in the United States and holding other non-immigrant visas (E2, H2, or L2, for example) are also considered to be international students. </p>
<p>International students do not qualify for need-based financial aid. Permanent residents of the United States, naturalized U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens residing abroad and attending school outside the United States are not considered international students and are eligible for need-based financial aid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But based on your earlier posts it appears you are instate California. Again, if you attend a California HS for three years and will graduate, your visa-citizenship status will have no bearing on admissions -- you will be considered instate for admissions purposes. What I don't know, however, is how UC handles finaid for non-citizens/permanent residents.</p>
<p>You have a visa, so you're not illegal, technically.
It may be a while before you get your green card--trust me.
If you're getting an immigration lawyer, look for a private one--not one that works for the city/state--because they do not always have your best interests in mind.</p>
<p>Edit:
Question: So then, in the state of California are you considered a permanent resident if you've attended school there for 3+ years?</p>
<p>^^Negative; permanent residency is niether implied or nor inferred. </p>
<p>Any student who attends a California high school for three years, graduates, and is in the process of applying for permanent status (but that is really undefined since someone who crossed the border illegally or overrstayed a visa cannot, by definition, apply for permanency without returning to home country) just recieves a public college education at at instate tuition rates.</p>
<p>Ah, okay, gotcha.
Thanks for clarifying.</p>
<p>Another reason OP ought to figure out his status ASAP, is because he cannot legally get a job anywhere in the U.S. if his status is undocumented. He will not be able to get a job to help pay his college expenses, nor will he be able to get a job when he graduates. Employers DO ask to see proof of citizenship/immigration status. Especially in these economic times, it would be wise to brush up on your Korean, in case you find yourself unemployable in the U.S.</p>