Once you arrive in the US on an H4 Visa as a dependent, unless you are eligible and can apply for H4 EAD, you cannot work. It can be frustrating to sit at home. Many plan to pursue higher studies like MS or MBA in the US. Many wonder if they can study on an H4 visa in the first place and what are the advantages and disadvantages.
In this article, we will focus on the aspects of studying in the US as an H4 visa holder, what are the advantages, whether they are eligible for in-state tuition fees, and common faqs.
Why do H4 Visa holders wish to study MS or MBA in the USA?
An H4 Visa is a dependent visa and does not provide work options for everyone on it. When H4 holders arrive in the US as a spouse of an H1B visa holder, they are pretty much dependent on their spouse for everything. Many of them may have had a professional career and have dreams to work and contribute to society. It can be frustrating to sit at home and do nothing.
Below are some common reasons why H4 visa holders aspire to study MS or MBA in US:
- Young educated professionals who are married to H1B holders in the US are ambitious and would like to pursue higher education to reach their education goals and get a job in the US after that.
- One of the other significant reasons is that many H4 holders cannot work as many of them may not qualify and Apply for H4 EAD to work in the US and hence they want to build up their education profile and be ready to work, when they get eligible for H4 EAD in the future.
- Most of the young professional women are so bored at home, and they are having a hard time adjusting from their busy work life before marriage and slow housewife life staying at home. They want to keep themselves busy and get an education instead of wasting time sitting at home.
- Some of them see the advantages of going back to school and maybe taking advantage of tuition fee-related advantages if they qualify.
- Also, H1B spouses want their dependents to get adjusted to the environment, culture, and lifestyle in the US, and school would be a good place to get accustomed to American society and understand the culture.
Besides the above, the US is one the best places to study as it has some top-class universities, and the education experience can be great. It can help shape professional life in the US in the future for H4 visa holders.
In-state tuition Eligibility for H4 visa holders to Study in US ?
Depending on the University one plans to join, there are mainly two types of tuition fees: In-state or Out-of-State Tuition fee. The fee difference can be significant if you have to pay out-of-state tuition fees.
In-state tuition fee is only available in the State Universities. Private schools/Universities do not have the concept of out of state vs in-state fee. Example, if you go to Harvard or MIT, you do not get in-state tuition as they are private universities.
State Universities offer in-state tuition fees for their state’s residents. The fee that residents pay would be typically half of the out-of-state tuition fee. The good thing with in-state tuition fee is that its eligibility is based how long you are living in the state and if you have paid taxes. To get in-state you do not have to be a US citizen.
In general, most work visa types like H1B or L1 and their dependents on H4 or L2 can qualify for in-state tuition, if they meet the residency requirements (how long you stayed in the state). So, in-state tuition fee option is available for H4 visa holders, if they meet the residency requirements.
The residency requirements to get in-state tuition vary by state. The general rule of thumb is that if you have physically lived in the state for one year or more and paid taxes, you would be eligible for in-state tuition fees. You need to always check with the school as this may be slightly different based on the state and school you plan to attend.
Requirements to get In-state Tuition for H4 Visa Holders
In-state tuition eligibility can vary by state and the school you plan to attend, so you should always check with the school. Having said that, below are the typical requirements that needs to be fulfilled by H4 visa holder.
- Married to H1B Visa holder and on dependent H4 Visa for at least one year.
- Lived in the State along with an H1B holder for at least one year to meet the residency requirement
- Primary H1B visa holder, of the H4 spouse paid taxes in the state with dependent in their tax status.
Documents Checklist to get In-state Tuition for H4 Visa
There are two things States usually look at for H4 holders: relationship proof for H1B holders and residency requirements. Below are the documents for the same.
Relationship Evidence to H1B holder
- Marriage Certificate for proof of marriage
- Any other proofs like endorsement in Passport (optional).
Residency Requirements
- Your arrival info in the State like Flight Tickets, or any other reservations
- Rental agreements can also help establish that you were in state
- Credit card or debit card statements with transactions
- Bank Account statements with address of home
- Driving License in the state
- State ID card
- Tax filing documents like W2 forms
- If you have a car, its registration documents in the state
It is important for the H4 visa holder to start and get into the lease or get a state ID so that you have proof of residency.
In-state Requirements from a few States for H4 holders
Below are the residency requirements from few of the states related to H4 Visa Holder.
- Wisconsin State: As per Wisconsin State Schools, an H4 visa holder has to be in the state with H1B spouse for more than a year to claim the in-state tuition. Check UW Madison Residency office
- North Carolina State: Similar to above, they also have 12 months requirements and allow H4 visa holders for in-state tuition. Check North Carolina State University Residency office
- California State: Same is the case with California as well, they also need standard 12 months residency(366 days). Check University of California Berkley
It is recommended that you check with the School you plan to apply on the residency requirements and in-state before you finalize the schools.
Advantages of Studying in the US on H4 Visa
Below are some the main advantages of studying on H4 Visa:
- If you meet the requirements listed above for in-state tuition, the most significant advantage is tuition fee savings. Your total tuition is less than one-half. You will save at least 50 – 60 % of tuition or more depending on the tuition fee structure. Imagine the fee is like $20,000 for out-of-state students, you would pay more or less $10,000 getting in-state tuition fee.
- You can study full-time and not worry about working during studying. Your husband pays for your school, and you get all the time in the world to study and focus on education.
- If you have worked in your home country for some time, you may have an advantage over others in terms of grasping subjects quickly and performing better.
- Once you graduate with a Masters Degree like MS or MBA, you will be eligible for a US master’s quota cap when they file an H1B visa to work in the US. In general, there are additional 20,000 H1B visa slots reserved for US Masters category. As we have H1B Registration Lottery process now, it will help you with the luck of getting selected with US Masters.
Disadvantages of Studying on H4 visa in US
- You will not be able to work on campus and may not be able to utilize the opportunities of TA, RA, or GA funding options of the University. The reason is most of them are given to full time F1 visa students.
- You will not be able to work on CPT as F1 students.
- You will not be eligible to get OPT (Optional Practical Training) to work for one year after graduation like F1 students.
- If your masters degree belongs to STEM category, you will not be able to use the 24 month extension of OPT for STEM Degrees
- If you do not meet the H4 in-state tuition requirements, you will have to wait for one year to meet the requirements. This is one year waste of time !
How to prepare for In-state Tuition eligibility for H4 Visas
Make sure you follow the below steps after you move to a new state so that you do not regret after one year of stay for in-state tuition purposes.
- Get a state driver’s license in the first week or 10 days.
- Register your Car and get State registration number plate in 10 days
- Make sure you have your rental lease agreement on your name.
- If you are a consultant, make sure you are paying taxes to the state you are living in, you must file taxes at end of year and have copy of W2 for future reference.
- Open a bank account in the State for documentation purposes.
Hopefully, you got a good idea on H4 visa holder education in the US with a gist of advantages and disadvantages. You have to carefully decide and talk to the school DSO that you are applying to before you jump to any conclusions. You will not get any in-state tuition in Private schools !
What has been your experience ? Did you get in-state tuition ? Share your experience.
Image Credits : http://www.flickr.com/photos/bdwaydiva1/2676105374/
Hi I was teacher in India. Can u pls advice me which course will be suitable for me her in U.s.a.i want to study here I m on h4 visa.
Hi,
I got married & came to California on H4 visa. Its been 10 months now & I would like to work. I have done Bachelor in Management studies & PGDM in Retail Management from India. I just have 1 year work experience prior to doing my post graduate degree. Can you guide me what should I do? Am I qualified for Interstate tuition fees?
1) What to study? what is better to get a job in usa (Most Importan question)
2) What exams are needed for it GRE/TOEFL/GMAT. Can I start studying without those exams?
3) How to go about finding the right college?
4) How much on an average does it cost to complete a course?
Hello there,
Myself and my wife are in Virginia for more that a year now. My wife wants to attend NOVA community college. When we applied online for a course, we realized that we will not receive in state tuition rate. It looks like only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for in state tuition. I found this link: http://www.tcc.edu/students/admissions/pdfs/domicile.pdf
It is true that H4 and other visa categories are not eligible for in state tuition ?
Prashant,
In-state tuition requirements vary from state to state (I know for sure CA allows H-4 holders to be eligible for in-state tuition). From this document, it looks like H-4 holders are not eligible for in-state tuition. It may still be worth to talk to the school and see if something can be done.
Hi Forum,
I have 12 yrs of experience in IT industry and working in world class company in India. My wife is working in Infosys from last 5 yrs and they processed H1 B for her. So I decided to accompany my wife on depended H4 visa for supporting her passion on working. We have 4 yrs old kid. We all together to planning to travel to US same time if we get all the Visa’s. My question is ” If I get the H4 Visa, Can I get the seat in any university in US on H4 visa?
I am already holding two P.G degrees from Indian universities.
Do I have any other options ?
Mohi,
Yes, you can study on H-4 visa. However, you will have to see if there are good schools in the area you are heading to and if they offer courses that interest you.
Hi,
I am currently on a H4visa & moved intothe US in May12.i am planning todo my MS here in2013,but i have few commitments in my native country for a4.5months.
My question here is whether i will be eligible for in state tution in may 2013.i would like to know if this break for 4.5months will impact me when i apply?
Please advise.
Thanks,
Geetha
Geetha,
Different states have different rules around in-state tuition. You should check w/ the schools in your area about their domiciliary criteria.
Hi Saurabh,
Sorry to bother once again. I just felt the need to talk to you about a discussion that I had earlier today. As a reminder, I was approved a COS/ from F1 to H-1B, which would start on Oct 1st, 2012. I am currently outside the U.S., precisely in Cameroon, West Africa, and I will get married very soon, then plan on returning to the U.S. on late September with my then-wife. So I let someone know about it, but he warned that the process would not be so easy. He explained that even naturalized U.S. citizens who get married at home do not usually return to the U.S. with their spouses, and that the process lasts 6 months to 1+ year (supposedly to take time to check the spouse’s information) before they grant the visa to the spouses. He told me that it was basically impossible to leave the U.S. with one’s spouse, whereas I remember you saying that “for H-4 stamping, your wife needs to complete the DS-160 form and then schedule for visa appointment at a US consulate in your home country, and then appear for interview. As long the person carries documents and information related to H-1 person, H-4 interview should be fine.” Now, how often have you encountered cases of H-1B holders returning to the U.S. with their spouses? Are the person’s words relevant, or is it just a common thing in ROW countries? Is there anything that I need to know? Thanks in advance for your help.
Regards,
Eddy T Lepatio,
I don’t know about Cameroon, but at least in India it is usually not an issue. You will be going for H-1 visa stamping when your wife goes for H-4 visa stamping. The officer is usually interested in your H-1 and as long as the marriage was not a sham and can be proved (through marriage certificate, wedding card/album), H-4 would get approved as long as H-1 gets approved.
If it gives you more confidence you can talk to an attorney as well.
Hi Saurabh,
Long time! Maybe you do not remember me, especially with all those questions you have to answer on a daily basis. I came to you for clarification about H-1B and you recommended me to apply for PP w/ COS before I leave the U.S. Good news is that I have been approved the COS. Thank you so much for your assistance. Now, I recall my intent to go home, get married and return to the U.S. with my then wife. Now, I have a few questions:
– What exactly do I need to know for H4 visa application? Is it a complicated process? Do embassies usually grant H4 visas?
– I have found out that spouses on H4 visas may study. As my fiancee desires to go back to school, what do I need to know so that I make no mistake during the process?
– Since I have started working since last January and that my spouse may start going to school next January, I will not be required to pay out-of-state tuition, will I?
– I have planned to apply for Green Card next year. I hold a B.S. in Computer Science and M.B.A., and I am currently working as a IT Consultant. What are my chances of being granted the Green Card (along with my spouse)? Do you know any attorneys who have experience in Green Card through employment filings?
– Anything else that I need to know?
Thank you in advance for your reply. I would greatly appreciate it.
Regards,
Ed
Ed,
Congrats on your H-1 approval.
1. For H-4 stamping, your wife needs to complete the DS-160 form and then schedule for visa appointment at a US consulate in your home country, and then appear for interview. As long the person carries documents and information related to H-1 person, H-4 interview should be fine.
2. Once she is in US on H-4 visa, she can look for schools of her choice. She can then enroll in those school on H-4 visa either as in-state or out-of-state applicant, depending upon if she satisfies the domicile criteria laid down by the school. She can also enroll on F-1 after filing COS from H-4 to F-1
3. You will have to check w/ specific school on how they determine that
4. There are lot of factors that determine GC process including offered position, your qualification to the offered position etc. You guys also need to maintain legal immigration status in US.
Will you also attend H-1 interview along w/ your wife? When is your OPT expiring?
Saurabh,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I am glad to hear that my wife should be fine coming to the U.S. with me.
Speaking of the GC process, I thought it would not be a simple one. I am currently working for a small business (4 employees) that provides IT services in the farming industry, peculiarly livestock (cows, sheep, horses, etc.), but has planned to expand to IT services in the non-livestock business world. The required degree for the position is B.S. in Computer Science, but I hold a M.B.A. My employer intends to keep me for quite a long time, but it seems to be up to the immigration services to decide. My H-1B visa will expire on Sept. 30th, 2015. Is it quite enough for GC process to go through? Hopefully, all shall go well.
To answer your questions, indeed I have planned to attend the H-1 interview along with your wife. My OPT will expire on January 19th, 2013.
Thanks,
Ed
Ed,
Yes, GC process is not a simple one. Also, your GC doesn’t need to be approved before your H-1 runs out. I don’t know your country of birth, but for certain countries it can take as much as several decades while for others it can happen in few years/months. In case your H-1 petition is about to expire, the employer can file for H-1 extension. They can do so until you have spent 6 years on H-1 inside US. To apply for extension thereafter, you need to either have a PERM or I-140 that has been pending for at least 365 days, or an approved I-140 but priority dates not being current.
Saurabh,
Thank you for your quick reply. My country of birth is Cameroon, located in West Africa, next to Nigeria. Hope it is not going to take decades for me. Haha! So could you please recommend me any good lawyers who have experience with GC process?
Thanks,
Ed
Ed,
I don’t know any attorneys that I can recommend you. Cameroon falls under ROW (rest of world). So it will take few months to 5-6 years depending upon you qualify for EB-2 or EB-3.
Saurabh,
Alright. You have been a great help, though. Once again, thank you so much. I will definitely get back to you in case that I have any questions. God willing, I will be granted a GC soon. Have a blessed day.
Regards,
Ed
Hi Saurabh,
I have applied for H1B in last week and received the receipt number also. But I observed that the Beneficiary name i.e my name is printed wrongly there. The printed name is Patil, Sanjay Kumar while my name is Patil, Sanjay Satish. Here Satish is my middle name.
Can you please tell me whether this wrong name will be having any impact on my H1 processing ? and how & when to correct it ?
Thanks,
Sanjay
Hi Sanjay,
In the receipt you received form USCIS is will be mentioned at the bottom something like this depending on the regular or premium processing
If any of the information above is incorrect, please contact a Vermont
Service Center Premium Processing Unit customer representative by forwarding
this message with your comments to email at email dot com or by
calling
1-(xxx)-xxxxxxx. Please note that the e-mail address and phone number
listed above are designated for premium processing issues only.
Thanks Sanket.
I have applied for H1b with regular processing. There is following number of customer service 800-375-5283 of Vermont center. Shall I call to this no ? Or shall I ask my h1 sponser/attorney to call it ? Pl. suggest.
Sanjay,
Check w/ your employer/attorney if they had entered the right information in I-129 form or not. If they had entered the right information, then they should call USCIS and ask them to correct the mistake. If it was incorrectly entered by the employer/attorney itself then also they should call USCIS to correct it.
I am not sure if it can be corrected while the petition is pending (especially when it was an employer/attorney mistake), but it can be definitely corrected once the petition has been approved through H-1 amendment.
Hi Saurabh/ Kumar,
It seems that F-1 visa is granted for academic degree courses and not for pursuing certificate programs. However, after reading several online articles , I understand that F-1 visa should be granted to students willing to pursue a full-time course that has 24 credits or more and this course could be a degree or a certificate.
I am currently on H4 visa and have visited colleges to enroll in a certificate program. Some college advisors are of the view that F-1 is only granted for degree programs and not otherwise and others think that F-1 is also granted for certificate programs with 24 credits (full time).
I would like to start my certificate program ( 2 semester course) on H4 and would endeavour to maintain full time status for the 1st semester, paying in-state tuition rates and later after completion of 1st semester, apply for change of status to F-1 in order to obtain the benefits of OPT.
My main concern is whether F-1 would be granted, whether maintenance of full time status for the 1st semester on H4 would be considered?
While applying for F-1 visa, I need to apply for OPT or I can only do so after receipt of F-1 status. As my certificate course would be getting over by end of the 2nd semester, if permissible, when should I apply for F-1 and OPT to get an EAD after my graduation?
I would be glad if you could guide me as I am receiving different answers from academic advisors and I am unable to take a concrete decision. If nothing works out, I would consider COS to F-1 visa directly before beginning of my course. Which option would be beneficial in terms of fees and future employment?
Please help. Thanks.
Isha
Isha,
I don’t know the answers to your questions. You should consult an immigration lawyer who can give you the best advice.
Thank you Saurabh. Will consult an immigration lawyer.
Hi Isha/Saurabh,
I have just come to U.S. I have work experience of 3.3 yrs , it is very terrible to sit idle at home.
I am on H-4 visa. My case is also same. I also want to join a certificate program (1 yr) on H-4, apply for F-1 status & get OPT. Am I eligible for paying in-state tution fee as I have not completed 1 yr ? Isha, have you consulted any immigration lawyer regarding the case….
Will I be able to change my status to F-1 after 1st semester and apply for OPT afterwards.
Please reply…
Thanks!!
Shalu,
You will have to check w/ the schools in your area to know if you qualify for in-state tuition as different states have different rules.
Hi Isha,
I am also trying for the same can you please email me the college which gives F1 for certification. I tried the county college considering the fees. They don’t provide CPT they just provide OPT after completion of 1year. I tried couple of college in NY same thing.
Can you please email me on (divya.smarty@gmail.com) name of the college and the course It will be of great help.
Thanks,
Divya
Hi Isha,
I’m interested to peruse a Master’s degree and currently on H4. From your above post I see you have lot of exposure and research done, can you please guide me with the approaches.
I have been going all over but still googling. Can you please help.
Thanks,
Sindu
Hi, can you please answer the queries below?
I am a Bangladeshi citizen, working in Florida for 2 years and currently on H1B visa. My wife is here doing her MS with F1 visa.
1. She is not getting any financial assistance, therefore paying full tuition. If she cannot pay tuition after a semester, can she take a break from study while maintaining F1 status?
2. If not, can she convert from F1 to H4? Does she have to leave US for H4 conversion?
3. If she is converted to H4, is it possible to convert back to F1 and continue her study from where she left-off as F1? Or she has to start afresh?
4. If she continues her study as H4, can she pay in state tuition based on my Florida stay length (which is 3 years), or she has to stay at least a year herself?
Farhad Akhter,
1. She will have to check w/ school if they allow her to take a break while still maintaining F-1 status.
2. Yes, she can file COS from F-1 to H-4.
3. Yes, later she can file COS from H-4 to F-1.
4. I think you can be eligible for in-state. You should still check w/ school about their in-state policy.
i got some valuable information off this post but not all h4 holders are wives of h1b holders! in fact many are simply children of h1b holders
Hi,
Came across your website, must say that the information provided here is quite useful. So, just thought of asking regarding my situation too. I came to US last year on H4, it’s been exactly 1 year now. My husband has been in Georgia since 2008. Now, I am thinking of applying for M.S program in Georgia universities. But I am bit confused regarding the in-state tuition classification. Do you have any idea for the University of Georgia and Georgia state University. I checked regarding the petition to be filed in these universities for in-state classification but the petition form talks nothing about the h4 category. What do you suggest? I know that georgia tech does qualify h4 as in-state.
Dhillon,
Usually one qualifies for in-state tuition once they have spent 1 year in the state. If you have Georgia DL or any other document showing that you have been in the state for at least 1 year, then you should be fine.
My wife with only engagement ring riletion. has been in usa since 2008 in h1b visa issue to mumbai consulate,Now, I am thinking of applying for H4 Visa in second month,you help me to duccument coming in usa been my wife with in india.must say the information provided doccuments here is quite my h4 visa helpful.
Sanjay,
I don’t understand what you said. If you want to type your question in another language (say Hindi), go ahead and I will try to answer.
hi ,
i had done my mba in india.i am done with oracle functionalr12,sql,pl/sql .now i am in h4 visa. what can i do exactly i dont no can u suggest any one plz……
Thanks for the article..its very informative!
I am on H4. I wish to know that if I join MBA/MS as part time student now, can I convert to fulltime student on F1 in the middle of course,then to cpt/opt later?
From the joining I should join as F1 visa fulltime student to get cpt/opt?
Any suggestions/experience please….
Thanks alot.
Sharanya,
Yes, that can be done – enroll on H-4, then move to F-1 and then avail OPT/CPT.
I don’t know about CPT, but for OPT you need to have been on F-1 for 1 year before becoming eligible for post-completion OPT. You can also get more information from your school DSO.
sharanya,
Yes, you can do that. For CPT you need to be on F-1 status for 2 semesters.
OPT does not have any such rule. See this link (see page 2)
http://proposals.nafsa.org/Abstract_Uploads/1697.61212.gs126.pdf
Thanks Tada. I stand corrected on OPT.
No Problem Saurabh. Happy to help fellow country men 🙂
I believe many of us think that OPT needs one year on F-1, it does not. However, the students needs to be full-time on any status for one year. That’s the important criteria.
also, this document that I have attached is not from USCIS, but I think it is from a resourceful organization that is connected with immigration. So it should work.
thank you both tada and saurabh.
Hello sharanya,
I am in same situation like you. Did you enroll in MS/MBA in H4. Can you tell me about your decision?
hi,
I am shital on H4 visa and staying in Atlanta GA for last 1 yr……I had already done Master’s in Commerce and was working in India……..I am looking for some 1yr professional courses in Banking,finance or Investment…….
Can you guys please suggest in this direction……..
Check out with some local colleges. Depending of college, you might need toefl and GMAT. Better visit college web sites and pay a visit for get clarity.
Hi,
I am on H4 visa, preparing for TOEFL and GRE wants to join graduation next spring. My husband has completed 4yr in H1, now started processing for labor through his company.
I request info any of you have had situation being H4 graduated. As soon graduated applied for Ph.D? and
While studying your husband H1 visa status changed to EAD or GC, Did you change your h4 visa status in college and got opportunity to work at the end of graduation?
At present it takes 2yr to get GC with speedy process, is it true?
Thank you.
Hey everyone
What I have gathered from all the conversation is going n staying on H4 visa is hard but not impossible.If we plan and then reach there,things will be easy.
Thanx
Travel information required:
Recently I have done change of status from L2 to H4. I do not have H4 stamping yet. But, my current visa stamp L2 is valid till May 2012.
I am planning to travel to India on Dec 28th by British Airways. May I know if I will need to show L2 Visa / H4 approval (I-797) while returning?
Your response is highly helpful.
Thank you, Aparna
You need to go for H-4 visa stamping. Once that visa has been stamped you will have to show H-4 approval and H-4 visa stamp to return to US. Do not use L-2 visa stamp as that is no longer valid (your spouse has moved to H-1 and is no longer on L-1).
Hi there,
I have read a few mails in the beginning and I am really sad to read the ‘sad life ‘of dependent wives.But I think you guys here are making a mistake,the way you look at it makes your life sad or happy.I myself,being on H4 a dependent wife very much enjoys my life.Its been 3 years and I haven’t been bored a single day in my life.Its not because I can sit at home,relax,talking on phone,watching tv and to be frank I don’t do all these stuffs.For me its like 24hrs is not enough.Till noon,I’ll be busy with the household stuffs and afternoon I earn some pocket money for myself doing surveys.Its like,engaging yourselves in some time pass stuffs and earning some money at the same time.Believe me,my husband’s birthday was on Dec 12th and I got an ipad2 for him from the money I earned myself.There are many options,but you should keep your eyes wide open.Not just sit at home and blame yourselves for being a dependent.
hi ,
I had read ur conversation, im on H4 now , im intrested in doing survey’s online at home , can u guide me about that , i have tried searching many websites but dint find any?
Remember, when on H-4 you cannot work at all and that includes completing online surveys. What you end up doing is your call.
can you give me your email-Id , I liked youe solution because I am also h4 dependent…plz
Hi this is giya can you give me your email-Id , I liked youe solution because I am also h4 dependent…plz
Giya,
Remember it is illegal to work on H-4 and this includes completing survey.
Hi,Am on H4 visa and interested to do online suveys.Can you plzzzzz suggest websites for online surveys.
Swetha,
Remember it is illegal to work on H-4 and this includes completing survey.
while we are still at it.. lemme give few more 2 cents
=====================================
1) Lets analyze the reasons why H4b dependent spouse seems to be so sad, depressed and frustrated . I don’t think that it has got to do with them being highly educated , highly qualified and unable to work because of visa restrictions. I think main reason is that they feel insecure that one day they will have to leave america if their H1b spouse gets laid off and can’t find sponsor fast enough for H1 Xfer or in case GC process takes forever (6-8 or 10 years with no guarantee ) .
Actually so called dependent H4b spouse loves america and don’t wanna ever go back to grind in dirty noisy streets of overcrowded india. Its awesome arrangement that hubby works to pay your bills while you get to whine about your hardships in america. Most american women would love to wakeup late at 9 am , go shopping in afternoon while husband is at work, spend hours whining on discussion blogs , facebook, youtube ; all these while don’t have to worry about driving in morning traffic, meeting deadlines or performance reviews, job insecurity or job dissatisfaction or not having enough health insurance, retirement and so on… Sadly it doesn’t work that way.
2) You wanna study for MS and eventually would like convert to F1 /H1 so that in case if your hubby loses job , you’ll have your own F1 or H1 as ” backup” so family can legally stay in good ole’ usa in ” status” .
3) Bottomline : You being sad, frustrated and depressed is not because you are highly qualified , highly educated with an indian degree , highly experienced and highly motivated to make it big in ‘white’ corporate america with thick accent; but you actually feel paranoid that one day you’ll have to give up america and american life and return to india and will have to wait till your american born kids turn 21 ( 21+4) years 🙂 so that you can return and re-live your american dreams LoL
4) You are H4 dependent coz you made this willing choice to Be H4 dependent. Putting it squarely, You are mediocore indian female at her best. If you were so called highly qualified brilliant person, you’d have independently made it big in america or any country “on your own efforts ” . Heck even in India . While still married ( if you love him) , you could’ve returned to india to pursue your career and education.
On second thought , I wish somebody paid my bills and I didn’t had to work for it .
Now that would be awesome if I can catch up on indian movies, watch cricket/soap tv and go window shopping in afternoon while keeping up with salon appointment ( ohh wait nevermind 🙂
So lets accept this facts and move on . Goodluck with your F1/H1/Z1 conversion 😉
Is it over?Are you a technical writer or essay writer or story writer or book writer? any more essay from u dedicated to this page? you are presenting one man views towards this informative website whole day one after another.. Timepassing ladies also dont have time to write so many reply,responses or quarrelsome nature towards others or indians. If you are so much proud to be here, develop friendly nature as you have mentioned earlier in your essay. FYI obama also celebrated Deepawali at white house.
Anyway happy holidays to you…..
LOL raki,
Nicely said
hahaha you crack me up .
Geetha you make no sense at all . Instead of MS or H1 transition, please enroll in ESL class at your local community college. Their instate / outstate tution rates are actually lower than do do party club state universities . You may actually benefit more by doing so. Please work on your English vocabulary and rational thought process if you ever dream of realizing your dreams .
I had H1 13 years ago and was never a part of H1b crowd. Hell, I came to america to live in america as an american and not as indian.
I came on F1 in mid 90s , found a sponsor and immediately converted it to H1 , paid for my grad school and got my GC after many years in grind thru trials and tribulations (I literally mean it). I’ll be filing citizenship soon.
I’ve worked in warehouses, moved furniture, packed bread crumbs , made drinks , worked in restaurants and so on….. I’ve also won state lottery too ( good life ) …
Also worked in corporate jobs and currently teach in a college (I am getting old in late 30s)
You had it easy. You came on H4 while H1b hubby works for bills and kissing project managers behinds thus begging for GC And you are probably stay at home mom ( or currently preggers) who watches ethnic tv for 4 hrs , makes vonage/skype calls to mom in chennai or hyderabad every single day complaining about hard life in america
( raising her blood pressure) and spout ignorance on such blogs.
Time to Wake up and smell that xtra strong south- indian Bru coffee !! !
p.s My English is not flawless but I don’t give a damn and I can stream cohesively
And Yes, I agree with you that H1-B employee has to struggle a lot. It is so much stress. My husband goes t hrough this almost every day and I know that the least I can do is hear his vent and that is what I do.
I agree the primary H1B holder has more stress and responsibilty, but the issue here is most of the women who travel to the US on a H4 visa are “qualified” to work somewhere(P.S.: I do not use the word corporations(wink)). So doing some job and earning money for herself/family is on the mind for lot of women.
Also, another important factor is, the husband’s support during these days. I believe, if the husband does notshow his patience,understanding etc then the wife tends to get more frustrated. And this is what happens(venting out on boards and getting irritable).
Geeta some of those things that you wrote are true and rest are utter rubbish
1) no need to stay home just coz you are h4 dependent. You can actively participate in american community, Ymca, city recreational center, sports, clubs etc . If you have driving priviledges , make the best use of it
2) you can find some work with desi employers ( wink ) { not professional though). Not finding any work at all is not an excuse .
3) doing MS is not worth money and time ( instate or outstate ) these days. You are gonna add to debt unless ofcourse if you are super brilliant research scientist doing phd in a reputed university ( in that case you wouldn’t have married H1b guy on first place anyways and could’ve made it on your own in america with scholarships . F1>H1> GC ( sorta )
4) If you were bright enough, you would’ve done all this homework before marrying some temporary work permit H1b guy. Your fault to a certain extent as you came to america with starry eyes.
5) I jog during weekends in a park and sometimes I observe h1b and h4bs that accompany them. I find indian women staying in h4b groups tending to US born kids and preparing food while h1b hubbys with moustaches are playing cricket and volleyball.
Most Indian women ( not all ) have submissive servile mentality and somehow they seem to give an impression that they are happy and content as baby producing machines.
so Your fault if you continue to go with the flow and hang around with h1b groupies.
I find americans more friendly, jovial and less racist when compared to our fellow indians with Dravidian accents and descents . They go to work in groups, walk in groups , talk in groups, go to mall in groups, go to vacation in groups and cook idli sambhars in groups. How about cultivate your own identity regardless of your status ?
For Gods sake please don’t speak tamil and telugu at work and don’t carry school backpacks like yellow shortbus kids wearing tennis sneakers with dress pants.
Yeah I am prejudiced too :–))
Hi Rakesh,
Although most of what you have written here makes sense, I feel it is a little offensive especially pointing to tamil or telugu communities. I hope you understand what I mean. So I just thought of replying.
I belong to the same group as you – I have NO indian friends, I do not go out in groups, I don’t cook or gossip in groups – and I tend to agree that many Indians do this. To me this means living an Indian even outside India which is not what I want. So what happens is the lady/wife gets into a vicious circle of gossip-stay-at-home-etc and this countinues. Later, she reaches a point at which she has so much frustration in her that she turns to a irritable and pessimistic person. Ofcourse, these feelings also show in side of the home, toward husabnd/kids, and this is a vicious cycle again. It is sad but this happens to many women.
Yes, it is a good idea to cultivate one’s own identity. I did that , I volunteer at my red cross society once a week and now I have acquaintances. So, if the remote chance that my husband decides to stay on in this country, atleast I know a few people. Also, I made sure that I did not fall into this vicious trap and I’m now working toward my MS from my local state university(about 15 miles from where I live). I don’t think studying is a waste but investing money is a very expensive programs(private univ) could back fire. So getting a decent education at a state school might help in the future.
oh and it is nice to know that men like you notice the sneakers 😉 (wink), I always thought that was a mess. ha!
Hi Rakesh,
(Geetha, n)
You seem to be so nice and soft towards your mail and think of all the +ve things, thats really a good part.
Its better if we come out and think beyond.
Its easy to say that being in H4, be on calls for hours together, watch tv and so on… come on, 1. Not everyone makes call, because they are doing nothing, and for not going into depression, they talk. I make calls only when iam alone, if my husband or anyone i can find whom i can talk for five mins also, then those indian calls will end.
2. Not everyone can watch tv for hours together. In my view, gals who have worked in India, sitting and watching tv would be a last option. we dont watch tv to see , but to kill the time.
3. I think now a rarely gals decide to come to us with the husband who is on H1b, once she talks with the h4 ones. and FYI not everybody got married to h1b’s, there are more chances wherein they would have got married to the one who is working in India, may be after marriage he got opportunity on h1b.
4. And you are talking about kids, machine… Oh no, being on H4 , first of all iam not feeling to eat/sleep ontime, how can i get a baby in this lonely world…and keep between 4 walls.
5. H4 is just not visa Rakesh, its depending on husbands for every thing and anything and that really sucks, and moreover Geetha is trying to outcome the h4 related issues in mail.
6. No one compalins about h4, its our badluck(unfortunately), but we have rights to express ourself in these blogs if not with our hubands.
Everyone struggles in life in different ways, that does not mean that you stop exploring.
If iam in India, my doors are always open and if iam standing outside, for sure i will be busy talking with one or the other. but here its not like that.
My husband bought the house 2 yrs back and trust me i know only one neighbour, and pls note iam not complaing here the culture differneces, try understanding the differences we face all of a sudden.
And you know what, when i came to US, i dint find a single person walking on the road, and when i saw a person i litrelly shouted and clapped saying “Hey i found one human being”,..
Rakesh, the list to express never ends…
and glad that you are senior and settled here, senior- in terms of the long stay in US.
Many h4 including Geetha, search the ways to kill the time, to talk, to share… and at some stage we become so desperate …. i think other than any visa , H4 visas should be awarded for there patience to stay here.
Regards
Roja
Hi,
I am also one of the member who is trapped in H4visa.. I have been preparing for GRE,TOEFL. I have been following this website after came to USA. Thanks for information,suggestions and comments. its been mentioned here that if you study on H4 will be consider for instate tution… since there are other complication,
====changing to F1 visa will be considered for instate tution or not, with husband who has completed 4yr in H1 visa?
==== Do anybody ladies have experience of doing MS after having kid?
====Do anybody know baby day care expenses, having h4 or F1 studying, with h1 husband?
My honest suggestion who wants to follow this website, and getting married to H1 husbands in future….
1>be prepared to stay at home in US…
2>Be prepared to answer your relatives why are you at home after marriage.
3> take 6month gap before marriage and give GRE,TOEFL exams.
4>be sure with your future husband financial plan… after they say its of wasting 40000$ on you for MS.since he came on H1..and also waste investing on H1 visa.
5>you will end up with mental torture of being dependent for each decisions of own life. or gossiping with other H4 ladies.. since H1 ladies have economy speech.
6>you can learn art of living with out going anywhere, lot of patience and silence will teach you enough lessons from past and present situations.
After coming to US on your own , open your own account in bank, get driving license,library card, walk around,do exercise and maintain fitness, cook delicious food for husband,be prepared to get pregnant,if you want to deliver in US be sure of passport and visa for your parents.have online bank accounts in india to maintain your salary from husband, so that you will be happy checking that account.. You will not receive any appreciation other than pricing for good food. and they say i am busy, project release all stuff.. They never bother how H4 visa is torturing their wife.
May be my above comments hurts H1 guys… Please understand H4 girls problem don’t assure them before marriage. Respect your H4 wife. Please share my views with your H4 wives ask them how they feel……?
Research says, “ladies who are at home has more stress than who works outside part time or full time”.
Thanks to Redbus2Us to create platform for sharing information.
Hey geetha,
Good words from you. I think it is VERY important that women do research before coming to US on a dependent spouse visa. This is especially true for H1B/F1 spouses(beware!!! – you cannot get a work permit to find jobs or start work). Many men think they will some how manage a work permit for the wife after she relocates, but that’s not possible any more. It is VERY hard, infact I would say impossible. so the only two options are: study or decide to be astay-at-home-wife.
What you say about everyone asking questions” why don’t you work” is SO true! and explaining to them is usually demeaning ourselves.
Coming to your questions:
Number of years completed on H1, is NOT a factor for in-state tuition. You may be able to avail in-state fee as long as you have lived in that state for one year. Again, not all schools allow in-state tuition for non-citizens, so check with your school(admissions website). Also, you need to remember that F-1 visa, does not allow in-state tuition. So you will be paying higher fees.
MANY students have kids while pursuing a master’s degree because most are 25+(infact around 30 years of age) and so usually have kids.
Most universities have child care facilities, which are free or very low-cost(like $10 per month), so you can leave yuour child there while y ou attend classes and then take your child with you when you leave the campus.
Hope that helped.
Good Luck!
Thank you for information, My wishes to you too…
And I forgot to add : points 5 and 6 of your post are SO true. I learnt so much during this period that It was all life’s lessons. Although, my time got wasted , I am still happy because I LEARNT many things from life.
Also, not all men are this way, many understand the feelings associated with this visa and are hence tolerant and patient.
Ofcourse, thanks to Redbus2US, I too learnt a lot.
Geeta some of those things that you wrote are true and rest are utter rubbish
1) no need to stay home just coz you are h4 dependent. You can actively participate in american community, Ymca, city recreational center, sports, clubs etc . If you have driving priviledges , make the best use of it
2) you can find some work with desi employers ( wink ) { not professional though). Not finding any work at all is not an excuse .
3) doing MS is not worth money and time ( instate or outstate ) these days. You are gonna add to debt unless ofcourse if you are super brilliant research scientist doing phd in a reputed university ( in that case you wouldn’t have married H1b guy on first place anyways and could’ve made it on your own in america with scholarships . F1>H1> GC ( sorta )
4) If you were bright enough, you would’ve done all this homework before marrying some temporary work permit H1b guy. Your fault to a certain extent as you came to america with starry eyes.
5) I jog during weekends in a park and sometimes I observe h1b and h4bs that accompany them. I find indian women staying in h4b groups tending to US born kids and preparing food while h1b hubbys with moustaches are playing cricket and volleyball.
Most Indian women ( not all ) have submissive servile mentality and somehow they seem to give an impression that they are happy and content as baby producing machines.
so Your fault if you continue to go with the flow and hang around with h1b groupies.
I find americans more friendly, jovial and less racist when compared to our fellow indians with Dravidian accents and descents . They go to work in groups, walk in groups , talk in groups, go to mall in groups, go to vacation in groups and cook idli sambhars in groups. How about cultivate your own identity regardless of your status ?
For Gods sake please don’t speak tamil and telugu at work and don’t carry school backpacks like yellow shortbus kids wearing tennis sneakers with dress pants.
Yeah I am prejudiced too :–))
It is easy to say ‘utter rubbish’, ‘not bright enough’, to escape from real facts,how some H1 guys think about girls after they tried for job and not succeeded to get H1visa. And brain washing as per your view, kids producing machine, cook idli sambhar in groups.
Thank you for views Mr.Rakesh. to support my views in critics…. this would really help who does home work before marriage…. I guess your on list.Enjoy.
Geetha you make no sense at all . Instead of MS or H1 transition, please enroll in ESL class at your local community college. Their instate / outstate tution rates are actually lower than do do party club state universities . You may actually benefit more by doing so. Please work on your English vocabulary and rational thought process if you ever dream of realizing your dreams .
I had H1 13 years ago and was never a part of H1b crowd. Hell, I came to america to live in america as an american and not as indian.
I came on F1 in mid 90s , found a sponsor and immediately converted it to H1 , paid for my grad school and got my GC after many years in grind thru trials and tribulations (I literally mean it). I’ll be filing citizenship soon.
I’ve worked in warehouses, moved furniture, packed bread crumbs , made drinks , worked in restaurants and so on….. I’ve also won state lottery too ( good life ) …
Also worked in corporate jobs and currently teach in a college (I am getting old in late 30s)
You had it easy. You came on H4 while H1b hubby works for bills and kissing project managers behinds thus begging for GC And you are probably stay at home mom ( or currently preggers) who watches ethnic tv for 4 hrs , makes vonage/skype calls to mom in chennai or hyderabad every single day complaining about hard life in america
( raising her blood pressure) and spout ignorance on such blogs.
Time to Wake up and smell that xtra strong south- indian Bru coffee !! !
p.s My English is not flawless but I don’t give a damn and I can stream cohesively
hi rakesh,
hope u r enjoying here. you r nt aware of present Indian oppurtunites which is great for everybody including married women with r without kids.pls do not discourage if u don knw to encourage[this lesson u ignored learning here].If ur planing to help do provide contacts .please do not brag ur wannabe dreams.
hope u understand.
good luck Geetha pls hunt oppurtunites [through agencies]…:)
Rakesh, What I can say after reading your story/comments/bulls**t, that you are a very pessimistic person and you need to be treated.
Just FYI, I am not a Tamil/Telgu/Gujju.
God bless you…
Rakesh…. most of what you’ve said is true while the rest is offensive bullshit. I guess you are demeaning to women because either you couldn’t find one or you like men… In either case, I agree with Neeraj, you need to see a shrink.
Hope my husbands reads this and understand my situation 🙁
Thank you for this great info !!
Hi
I plan to get married next yr.My fiance is on H1 visa.I have done bachelors in journilism&communication and MBA distant from IMT and working for last 2 yrs.What would be my fate?suggest GRE or GMAT and an easy access to school or what about job?
Saurabh, you are doing an awesome job! Hope you are aware of this 🙂
Congragulations.
Now, coming to my question: will I be eligible to apply for OPT(post-completion) if i initiate my COS about 10 months before graduating. This means, i would be on F-1 for one whole semester but I am a full-time student throughout the program(on my H-4 visa). I do not want to initiate the change of status to F-1 before this time period because out-of-state resident fee is not affordable by me at this moment.
Check w/ your school DSO. But I think one needs to have completed at least one full academic year on F-1 to be eligible for OPT.
thanks saurabh. I thought it is suffiecient if we are on F-1 status when we graduate. So wanted to check with you. I know a few people who did get the F-1 done in last semester and still managed to apply for OPT. I hope my School too allows this. I might have to talk to my DSO,incase i’m not eligible for post-completion OPT, will be eligible for pre-completion OPT?
Sorry, I am not sure. Your best bet is getting that info from the DSO.
minimum how many credits we have to take on H4 ,what are minimum credit requirement for a student on H4?
While being on H-4, there is no minium credits one needs to take (from legal perspective). However, the school may have minimum set of credit requirement which H-4 student needs to satisfy.
Hi,
I have recently moved to sandiego on H4 visa and now I am planning to do MS. By any chance if I get in-state, do I still need to take GRE/TOFEL?
Looking forward for your reply
Thanks in advance.
You will have to check w/ the specific school. I have seen schools where they are waived off for H-4 students. You may still be asked to give an exam to test your English skills and can be asked to take a course on the same in case you fail that exam.
So how many months do we need to be on F-1 status to avail OPT? Is it ok if I go to my home country before start if last semester and do the F-1 visa process?
Hi,
I am in USA since last 5 years and my daughter is studying here in US only. She will graduate next year in 2012 from Andover, MA but her status is H4 and dependent on me. I am at H1 Visa and my Green Card is under process which is half way approved and still I-797 is yet to be filed and awaiting date to be current. I was looking for some colleges in MA State colleges for In-State College/Tuition Fee but after discussion with some administrative staff, it was informed that she may not be eligible for In-State Tuition Fee and also not eligible for Financial Scholarship. This is really very strange and surprise that after studying here in US for last 5 years and having H1/H4 statuses legally, my daughter is not eligible for In-State Tuition Fee and Scholarship and Full Tuition need to be paid which is enormously very high and this is very tough time to move forward.
As far as I know, very few states such as NY.CA, and TX have a court ruling that allows H-2 and other resident aliens to avail in-state tuition. MA is not in this category , so it depends on the school. However, many schools usually agree.
hi im abha.we came from india last month in h4 dependent visa.what can i do for addmission in ms mathematics in institue or univ.
Find a university which is offering the course. Understand their admission criteria and then get enrolled.
I am a foreign trained dentist. Now I am on H4 visa and I am planning to continue my studies. I applied to Oklahoma school. I am in this state for more than a year, but they kept me under international category and they are said that I cannot opt for in-state- tuition. Is there any way that I can claim for In-state tuition.
If you have spent time in state for at least 1 year then you are eligible for in-state. You can check the school website to see what their domicile criteria is, and see if you fit. Did the school tell you specifically why you couldn’t be considered for in-state? And did they keep you under international category or out-state tuition? International students (F-1) have higher fees than out-state tuition. I hope the school is not intentionally trying to make money by putting you in a wrong category.
hi,
my husband has an H1b visa and i have an H4. that is most common i believe. i was persuing my pg mtech in India when we shifted to san diego, CA a few days back.
i don wan to sit a home. can someone suggest me where can i find a job or continue my studies…
please guide….
thanks ,
Bhavana
You need to decide whether you want to pursue studies or want to work. If you want to work, then you need to see what your expertise is, and whether there are employers who are willing to sponsor H-1 for you for a job that requires your expertise. You can search for employer and open positions on job sites like dice, monster etc.
If you want to study, you should decide what course want to study. After that go through schools in San Diego (I assume you would want to study near your current location) and see if they offer that course(s) and what’s their admission process.
Hi, My name is Rahul. I live in NJ. I got married recently. My wife is an MBA from a school in Delhi and was working in Marketing & Sales area in India. She is on H4 now. Can she get a job in the US? Are companies apprehensive to sponsor H1 for a H4 visa holder? What are the prospects of a person with an MBA from India to work in the US?
I am not sure if this is not the right place to post my query. Thanks for your time and help.
-Rahul
Look on job sites like dice, monster to see if there are any openings that suit her profile. She can then approach those companies to see if they sponsor visa.
Hi .
Thanks for all the information shared on this blog. Its really very helpful. I have few queries too. I got married in jan 2011 and came to usa on h4 visa .
1) I gave my GRE last month ( july 2011) in Portland , oregon and got 1370 . My Husband then got a new job and we just shifted to california in aug 2011. I am planning to apply to spring session ( deadline is nov 2011) . Is it necessary to stay in a particular state for 1 year for in-state waiver or income tax filling / return documents in california state for some months will work to get me the waiver?
2) Can i join the college on h4 and as soon as i complete 1 year of residency here ,can i re-apply for in-state waiver . Will the college consider my application then ? Or it will be better to apply on f-1 and look for some assistantship ?
3) Also if anyone know , how is the MS couse in engineering Management ? How r the job opportunities in this field?
Thanks
1. Usually for residency one needs to have been in state for at least 1 year. In this case, you will not be considered a CA resident.
2. Yes, you can. However, also check w/ the specific school about their actual process on how and when to do so.
3. No idea.
Hi My Name is Rashmi on h4 i am here in USA Bloomington IL since last 3.5 years.now i am thinking to start study again,for Becholar degree does illinoi state have instate programm and on H4 will i be able to get scholarship?
Usually one needs to be staying in the state for at least 1 year to become eligible for in-state tuition. From the information you have provided, I would say you are eligible. You can check the actual school website for more information on how they are determining residency.
hi
1. what is meant by credits per semester.
2. if i apply to college in h4 visa, should i need to attend to college each day?
thanks.
1. To maintain valid student status, one needs to attend that many minimum credits per semester. However, it is possible for students to delay their degrees by skipping semester.
2. Depends upon your class schedule. At times, classes are held just twice a week. Besides, it’s not necessary attendance is mandatory, but to pass w/ good grades one may need to attend all the classes.
hi,
i am staying in USA from past 2 years in h4 visa with B.TECH IN COMPUTER SCIENCE ,used to work in INDIA as Asst.Proffesor and my husband is in h1b and we changed state recently to KY state i am interested to study further but i dont know where to start i am interested to do any MBA or MS and it must be used for working here in US or in INDIA we may stay here for 3 more years and i am in confused state i need to study for getting good job .So please suggest me in my queries.
hi ,
i am veena again should i need to write any competitive exams to study here.
When picking something you should ensure that it is of your interest. As a hypothetical example, if you do MBA and then you end up hating the work you do after MBA, it will do no benefit to you. So when attacking this question, you should also factor in your interests.
Then there are other factors that can impact your decision – availability of that course in your city/state (as you are married, I am not sure how open you are to study in different state or move w/ family to a different state), cost of education, school’s credentials and value of the degree after the completion of your course.
hi saurabh ,
thanks for ur quick reply here i am not thinking in hating my work as i am not primary source of income for my family i am just worried to get break from this house get extra pg degree which will be helpful in India too to do some kind of job as i said i used to work as asst.proffesor in engineering college i need to do my M.Tech PG to continue in it in India.why i am opting MBA is to start working in MNC where we can get good pay.Actually i love my teaching job so much and i am interested do continue that in USA too but here i dont know exactly what to do to get teaching job and if anything to be studied to get teaching job i can do that instead of MBA.
If you seriously want to Study in US, you need GRE And/or TOEFL, if you don’t have these scores already, I suggest you to prepare for that. meanwhile you can do some more research and decide what course to do , where to do etc.
thank u hari il do that first .
Hi,
My husband is on H1b,he is working in Atlanta from last two years.I am on H4,I was in Atlanta for six months with my husband,after that I came back to India and from last seven months I am in India. My husband still working in Atlanta. now I am planning to start studying on H4.I am planning for spring 2012.
Is it possible take the advantage as an in state student ?
I will be very thankful to you if you can guide me.
regards
Georgia State University does allow you to qualify for in-state tuition fees if your husband has maintained domicile for preceding 12 months. Georgia Domicile
If you are looking for a different university in the state, you will have to check that college website if they have similar provision.
thanq Sourab for ur quick reply.
Hello,
Swapna.Hemal here.
My case is very similar to your case.
My husband is on H1b in Atlanta since last 5 years.I am on H4 since last 4 months.I have applied to Spring 2012 in one college in Georgia and I got the admission for Spring 2012 and I am eligible for in state tution fees here.I belong to Engineering field.In Which college you are applying?
You can contact me on my email address if you want any more information.
my email is patel_hemal86@yahoo.in
Hi Kumar,
Can I show my (H1 holder) proof of state residency (Florida) for USF Tampa instead of my wife’s (H4) on behalf of her. She is planning for her MS ?
Your response is appreciated.
Thanks.
Is her name present on the house lease? If yes, you can use that or her state driver’s license.
If not, you can show your documents and show that she is dependent on you, which she will be as you will be paying for her tuition.
Hi, I am Keethu. I got married last year and came to the US (sept 2010) on H4 visa. My main goal is to find a job, but taking into account the current market, it is very tough to find sponsors. Hence I’ve considered pursuing Masters to change into F1 where I will get CPT as well as a recognized degree in the US. But the only problem being i cannot wait for 1 year to get CPT, taking into consideration our plan for children. Is there any way i could get work authorization from first semester or any other legal way in a short span of time?
Take a cue from the TVU fiasco. Good universities do not offer CPT from day 1, and the ones who do may fall into TVU category.
Hi,
Thanks for all the info.I am currently on H4 visa.I have done my B.tech,but couldn’t complete and now would like to get a degree.But currently since I don’t have a degree my qualification is just higher secondary education.Can I study here?what all are the requirements for me to study here?I would be much obliged if you could help me in this situation?
Thanks
Nidhi.
It would be tough. If you are planning to do Masters, they would ask for Bachelors degree. Or are you planning to do Bachelors?
Hi Kumar/Saurabh,
I have some questions to ask, will be glad if you can answer them.
First of all I just want to tell you our situations.
I have just moved to Georgia for a new job and received my H1b in January, I am getting married in December, My fiancee is also a Dec’09 graduate (MS) from US university, but because of some reasons she went to India before filing for OPT 17 months STEM Extension and doing job there but she will be coming with me in December 2011.
She still has valid F1 visa till January 2013, obviously she wants to do job here now I am asking you what options do we have.
So here are the questions, We have thought of something, I am stating here:
1. If it is legal to get the CPT from first semester, she can take admission in a university and come here on F1, and search job.
2. Come here on H4 and search for a full-time job which can offer her H1b, but the thing is, What are the chances to get an employer who can offer a job with a joining in October?
3. File H1b this year through consultant and she can come here in October.
4. Come on H4, get admission with in-state fee, and after 9 months (or second semester), file for F1 so that she will be eligible for CPT and can search for internship (please correct me if I am wrong).
5. Also I have another question regarding in-state and out-of-state fee for state universities in Georgia:
If she applies for any state college in Georgia for Fall 2011 and defer her admission to Spring 2012, would she be eligible for in-state fee.
Just FYI, In January 2012, it will be an year for me to live in Georgia. I have my Georgia License, registered my car, lease is on my name but I am not clear about the taxes point you stated in one of your articles, I have my pay-stubs starting from January 2011.
I will be very thankful to you if you can guide me through this.
hi,
does h4 visa college application deadline is come under domestic or international student ? as international student is too early as compared to domestic? reply please
If you are enrolling on H4, then you are NOT an international student, and are subject to domestic deadline. If you change your status to F1 before enrolling, then you are subjected to international deadline.
@ devran,
I am also in the same situtaion as ur wife……with lots of questions……..If u can share ur mail id ……it would be great as we both are in the same position…..n can discuss more elaborately n figure out …wht can be done…….Thanks in advance…..:)
Hi,
ur post is very useful in general…….I have some specific questions which might also be useful in general for others……I am on H4 and stayed in CA ,US for more than a year now….and planning to apply for SDSU…..I would like to take the advantage as an in state student (for tution fee) but at the same time would like to get all the advantages of F1…..When can i chance my status from H4 to F1 ? My husband’s company has filled for green card 2 years back …..yet to know the status of the green card but the company had extended his H1b to another 3 years just now….So Being a dependent …..Is it okie to change from H4 to F1 ? when is it ideal to change …so that i can get both the benefits…….By doing so will it affect the green card processing …..and the chances of me getting F1……….Please help me ……I am totally confused about multiply process tangled ……….My fall 2011 admission deadlines are also approaching……….Please do reply………:)
IMO, you can join on H4 and pay in-state tuition fees to start with. In the 2nd quarter/semester, you can file for COS from H4 to F1, and then continue to work on F1. Advantages:
– You satisfy OPT eligibility criterion i.e. be on F1 for at least 1 year before applying for OPT
– You can opt for CPT during your summer break
– You pay in-state tuition fees for sometime and save money
Hi Kumar,
Thanks for your very informative post. I am in situation with my wife and I will appreciate your thoughts and knowledge on the subject. She is planning to start studying on H4 visa. But ideally would like an F1 so that she can get TA, RA, OPT, etc. (all the advantages of an F1) So we are thinking may be she was transfer from H4 to F1 during her coursework. Now my question is that do you know the procedure? and How what long is processing generally and what are the favorable odds for this transfer? Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks.
Yes, she can enroll on H4, and then move to F1. She will first need to get I-20 from the university, and then apply for COS from H4 to F1 (and pay SEVIS fees). Once approved, she can enroll as international student from next quarter/semester.
During the approval process, she would have to show funds for the tenure of the course. If you are supporting her education, then you will have to submit your bank statements etc.
Hi,
i am comin to US on dependent visa next month.I am getting Letter of recommendations from my lectureres for university admission.i wanted to whether is it mandatory to mention university name which i am going to join in letter of recommendation because i donno which university i am going to join in US unless i go to US,what should i do now??
and also does they need Letter of recommendations from graduate colleges from india if i do MS on dependent visa
Well, every school is different…it is hard to say. Some ask that professors directly send it or they do it online, but others ask you can send the sealed envelope with application. Well, I would just talk to lecturers now and tell them that you will need letter of recommendation after you start applying…..The requirements are same for MS either you do on regular or dependent visa.
hi,
Do you know of any graduate schools in MA that give in-state tuition for H-4 status students?
Thanks
I am not sure if MA offers in-state for H4 visa holders. Read this : http://www.mass.edu/library/Motions/2007/FAAP07-24.pdf and http://www.umass.edu/umfa/uploads/listWidget/11810/reclassificationsummary.pdf
Seems, you have to have applied for green card or have green card. Simple logic, if one state school does not offer in-state then the chances are others do not offer either. Call them or email them ( Univ of Mass Amherst ) for clarification.
hi
i am nagashree
we came to US ie Chandler AZ recently
and we were in California for 1 year 3 months and then we moved to India for 11 months and again we came back
i am in h4 visa and i am intersted to study further
i was working as lecturer in India and i have done BE in electricals
please tell my the rules and regulations for studying MS.
when we have to apply
regards
I do not think if the regulations change applying for MS. It would be same as everyone. The point that comes in is for getting in-state tuition. Is that what your question is about if you would still get in-state. Can you be a little more specific and post your questions in Forum ?