I would like to ask if any of you know if it is possible, or legal, for a minor aged 16 or 17 to live abroad. Is it legal to live away from your parents in order to study at a college if they give you permission? Is it possible for them to agree to give you a certain amount of money every month so you can support yourself, or is emancipation necessary? If emancipation is necessary, is college abroad a valid reason to obtain it?
I would like to study abroad and I am graduating early. I am currently a sophomore, and will be graduating as a junior. I will be 16 when I graduate, but I turn 17 directly afterwards. My parents have agreed to allow me to live on my own and to support me until I’m 18. I just need to know if it is possible. If so, what would I have to work out in the legal system for it to work? I appreciate anyone who can give me a start, as I cannot seem to find any good resources,
Policies regarding the admissions of Americans, whether 17 or 18, will vary based on individual universities and laws in the given country. Emancipation is rarely necessary! For a start, you need to decide where you’d like to study abroad, then Google universities in that country, admissions policies, etc. You can also explore possibilities on very broad-based websites such as https://www.goabroad.com/
Frankly in your case it might be a lot easier to enroll in a high school abroad. Even though at home you would have graduated, you could still focus on language acquisition, also studying the local history, art and literature. The advantage of high school programs are that they’re better suited to younger, less independent students, and most often include a homestay with a local family.
I did it. I started studying abroad in the US the week after my 17th birthday. I was however not all that far from home (I was originally from Canada).
While this is do-able, I think that it was a big mistake. The academics were not a problem at all. Legal and immigration and banking issues were not a problem. Everything else was the problem, particularly what might be roughly classed as social and personal issues.
My recommendation is that you graduate high school at the normal time and go to university at the normal age.
If you want to study in the US, your parents will be considered responsible for you until you are 24. You will need their financial information in order to apply for any need-based aid. So if they stop supporting you when you are 18 you might not be able to study here.
@tokyokei - You need to contact the immigration authorities in the country where you want to study, and ask them if it is possible or not. They are the experts.