Your first step is to set a budget for Kid #1. Then only apply to schools that meet, or could possibly meet that budget. Will you qualify for need based aid at the schools that give need based aid to internationals? If you don’t qualify for need based aid you will be looking for merit aid. Does your student have high stats?
Depending on your budget and the kid’s stats, posters can give you school ideas.
As an international, you won’t be able to access much in the way of loans here. Perhaps the heloc could work, but I wouldn’t take out any loans that would impact the parents’ ability to save for retirement, pay bills, etc.
Kid 2 will qualify for $27K in total undergrad loans once they get to college (assuming the current program is in existence.) That’s $5.5K first year, then $6.5K/$7.5K/$7.5K.