Immigration status ?

b_r_um
Sun, 28 Aug 2016 20:22:09 +0000

Which visa status did you enter the US in? If you entered on something other than a tourist visa (such as a work visa), you may be eligible for in-state tuition based on that status.

Here’s the most explicit description I have found on the Florida in-state tuition eligibility rules. Scroll down to paragraph (5) for a list of eligible immigration statuses: http://www.flbog.edu/documents_regulations/regulations/2011_03_24_7_005_Residency_Regulation_FINAL.pdf

Best as I can tell, a pending asylum application does not count because you haven’t been “granted an indefinite stay in the United States.”

BUT really your best option is to reach out to a few universities directly and ask them. Also reach out to your local community college. In some states, it is easier to qualify for discounted tuition rates at community colleges than universities.

Unfortunately you won’t be eligible for federal financial aid to attend college until your asylum is granted. I know it sucks. The US immigration system is set up to be paranoid about foreigners trying to game the system - if too many benefits were available to people with a pending application for asylum, the fear is that too many people would submit frivolous applications.

I wanted to throw out there that a number of universities have scholarships or need-based financial aid for international students. Head on over to the financial aid forum for a list of universities with significant academic scholarships. (You could feasibly get a full tuition scholarship if you are flexible about your choice of the university.) Many liberal arts colleges give need-based financial aid to a number of international students. You wouldn’t be able to study biomedical engineering at a liberal arts college though.

Are you expecting your asylum to be granted eventually? I hear that a majority of asylum applications from Venezuela are denied because most applications are motivated by economic hardship rather than fear of prosecution.

If you are not confident that your case will be granted, and you want to stay in the US anyway, it may be wise to shift gears and start planning for a future in the US that you can achieve without the benefits of asylum.

Green card through marriage. Unfortunately the easiest way to get a green card right now is through marriage to a US citizen. After two years of marriage, the green card becomes unconditional and you can keep it even if your marriage ends. It may not hurt to keep your eyes open for a suitable partner.

Green card through employment. If you managed to get an MD, you'd be golden cause physicians can self-petition for a green card. Alas, medical school in the US is extremely expensive, and as a foreign student you would have to finance it entirely by yourself. Most other forms of employment-based green cards require that the employer document that they were unable to find a qualified American for the position. It seems that the majority of employment-based green cards right now go to engineering or IT specialists with an advanced degree. (Tip: PhDs, unlike MDs, are easy to finance because PhD students typically pay no tuition and receive a stipend for living expenses from the university.)