Studying while out of status

[lilysintrigue 0]

Currently we are still working towards the AOS adjustment for the Green Card. While out of status I have wanted to go back to school and better my education towards my future. I did a rather extensive search, but couldn't find anything on this subject, so hopefully someone can shed some light on the matter.

My main question is, can you study while being out of status without compromising the AOS and Green Card status? I don't currently have any active visas, and we have been married for over 2 years. I just wont to find out if there is some legal way to study without compromising my status and green card.

[Darnell 8,479]

have you picked a university yet? yer in a unique situation (not having filed for AOS 2 years after marriage) and the tuition rates vary, widely, based on yer status (you might be paying international tuition rates)

A 'registration counselor' at a uni can cover most of this info for you, face to face.

FWIW, many '2 year colleges and trade schools' don't care so much about yer status, only yer ability to pay.

A 4 year university, OTOH, does care.

I hate to mention this, but IMO, yer gonna need to submit a full 'removal of conditions' evidence package when you do file for AOS, with possibility of adding in an I-130 petition as well. 2 years 'out of status' is a painful thing.

Edited August 20, 2010 by Darnell

[lilysintrigue 0]

Thanks for the fast reply, I was thinking more of going back to a local college, not university really. I haven't spoken to any institutes as of yet as it's been more of a recent decision to look into this. My main concern was finding out if I could go back to school without compromising any of the AOS process.

[belinda63 3,053]

If you don't misrepresent yourself as either a citizen or an LPR and if the school will accept you I don't see that it will affect your AOS. But please remember you are in a precarious situation here as your being out of status means you can be picked up and placed in removal proceedings which will cost much, much more to untangle than filing for AOS.

And don't forget the I-130 also when you file.

[Inky 1,111]

I have my aos and im not in the 1 year state resident period. They want to charge me out of country student fees because im not a resident yet. I desided to wait till I meet the states resident requirement to go to school cus im not paying 3x as much to go to school when I do live in the dang state. I would say go to the colleges you are interested in and ask A LOT of questions because for me where we live its completely not worth it to go to school yet. I have one more month tho till I can attend as a resident.

[lilysintrigue 0]

Currently our situation isn't as straightforward as much paying out for the AOS, this has been a rather bumpy year and we don't want to compromise anything. I thought I would be better off asking, seeing as we are follow the very strict rule of no state assistance and not allowing myself to work. I wanted to find out a if it is possible to study in this rather blank period. It's just rather annoying how a 6-8 month AOS applying time turned into 2 and a half years due to the recession.

Thanks for the swift replies, and I will make a note about the I-130. As I mentioned previously, I don't want to compromise anything that we have to do to complete the AOS.

- Chris & Shawna

Edited August 20, 2010 by lilysintrigue