studying while waiting for work authorization

[Carlawarla 1]

I'm sorry...I was presuming the OP was meaning after receiving their K-1 and moving to the US...prior to working. That's how I read it anyway. We better wait until we get clarification!

Carla

that is correct, carla. it'll give my fiancé something to do instead of sitting around the house for 6 or 7 months

i didn't know that he would be able to apply for an ssn before receiving work authorization, so that's good news. how did you do it? just take your visa down to the social security office?

thanks everybody for your input!!

Glad we got that cleared up! haha

See misa's link. Going to the SSN office about 1 week to 10 days after arriving should get the ball rolling. Then while waiting for EAD you can register for a class or something. I don't know if you're talking a full time class in a degreed program or not...for that you might need transcripts and such, but for taking something to bide your time, just your SSN is needed.

Carla

[thetreble 19]

so if one wanted to transfer courses already taken in Canada (York U.).. and finish up in the States.. I should do that from here or could I also do that from Virginia sometime next year..?

(FT or PT classes in a Degreed Program)

- BSc Psych to be specific

I'm going to guess, just because my husband and all my friends here in the US are college grads so I know a thing or two, that it would be VERY hard for them to transfer your canadian courses over. A lot of schools down here are stringy with that even when you change colleges within the same state (my husband did that and college took him 5 years instead of 4) All you can do is get your transcripts from York and call Virginia tech or where ever you wanna go to college, and ask them. They aren't going to be able to do anything until they see your transcript though.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

The university I work probably has very different policies, since we're on the border and even have Canadian commuter students and our university doesn't charge them different tuition than Michigan residents. Also, I'm quite certain that they will transfer credits from a Canadian institution quite easily. Down in Virginia, hard to say, but seeing as it's a medical field you are in, I would reckon that the courses would transfer quite easily.

As a Canadian citizen, though, I know I too have read SOMEWHERE, that all you need is an acceptance letter and an I-20 from the US school. A SSN is NOT needed to attend university, I don't believe, but, as other's have said, you can get that in about two weeks after you're "in the system." A SSN is only *supposed* to be used for just that, your Social Security. You may have to jump through extra hoops if you don't want to provide one, or have one to provide, but it can be done. I didn't want to provide it to my gas company once, and they didn't even know what to do.

[L_n_O 3]

And I suppose to get the acceptance letter, I have to apply with my transcript?

Hmm, can I just give them some of the classes?

Had a bad year. Found out my mom has a brain tumour and some other health issues...

Cuz I talked to an advisor and she said I could technically "start fresh" in the US by transferring only the courses I wanted....

[~Nini~ 2]

Which college are you looking to go, Liz? I bet you can always go to their website and contact an advisor through there. From my experience in talking to an advisor at the Art Institutes in Philly, an advisor called me up and was able to tell me whether my credits could be transferred over or not.

Hope things work out for the best with your mom. *hug*

Edited August 1, 2007 by Nini & Bee

[thetreble 19]

Hey liz, sorry to hear about your mum.

But even I had to get my transcripts to take just one course at the university of waterloo to finish my degree from Carleton. I looked into some colleges here and maybe transferring, and they all said that after I gave them my transcript with my application, they would decide then if my credits are transferable.

But call the school as was said...they will know exactly what you need to do.

My husband was going to school here in NJ (Rutgers to be exact) in psych. When he decided to transfer to Stockton College in South Jersey, half of his psych credits didn't transfer, even though it was the same program, so it took him 2 extra semesters.

Call though! and good luck!

[L_n_O 3]

Virginia Commonwealth University..

just wrote an email to their advising dept.. =)

[bradcanuck 1]

It's confusing. You either need to be an F-1, or have an SSN there is no other way really. I've looked into it before.

[misa 2]

It's confusing. You either need to be an F-1, or have an SSN there is no other way really. I've looked into it before.

K1s can get an SSN between the period of 2 weeks after entry and 2 weeks before their I-94 expires.

[bradcanuck 1]

I didn't want to provide it to my gas company once, and they didn't even know what to do.

In southern california due to the massive illegal immigration gas, electric, telephone and internet services will simply take a large "deposit" to set up services. My wife setup most, but when I set up electric it cost me $125 in deposits.

Can get around most things without an SSN but in my experience in my area they won't let you attend school without one.

[~Nini~ 2]

I was under the impression (reading the US consulate website in Vancouver) that Canadian citizens don't need a visa to study in the United States, but I guess it's different once you enter on a K1?

[thetreble 19]

Well once you are an F-1 your status changes. Since you can get an SSN, like misa said, why not get one and apply!