Canadian Student Looking for Solid Answers

[lawschoolbound]

Hello Everyone,

I have racking my brains and searching the internet and have hit plenty brick walls. As a Canadian down in the states on a student visa for law school, does anyone know if at anytime that I am down there during my three years, will I be eligible for in-state tuition? Some schools I am looking at offer in-state tuition after six months, however, they wouldn't specific if it applies to International students such as myself.

If anyone knows please let me know.

Thanks,
RM

[Reba]

Usually depends on the specific school, and your immigrant status.

[lawschoolbound]

Hi Reba,

Thanks for a quick response. I would be going down on the regular F-1 visa, unless there is another visa that I don't know of.

[SarniaGrl]

Do you have a specific state you're looking at? Try private (and smaller private) colleges as well. The state schools we looked at didn't offer in or out-of-state tuition fees for international students, but the private schools we looked at not only offered the same price for all students no matter their nationality - but scholarship money as well, something international students aren't typically eligible for (or in very limited amounts)at state-funded schools.

Here's a link I found that'll help you get started;
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/private.html

As for student loans, as a Canadian citizen you wouldn't be eligible for FAFSA & Stafford and other U.S-based loans. We went through our Canadian bank with no problem. OSAP (for Ontario students) does allow for financing on select U.S. schools; cross reference the school list with the list of eligible schools that OSAP covers. If you're in another province, it's something you can check with your student assistance program.

OSAP info and link to search for approved schools;
https://osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure/Student_Groups_outside_ontario_12.htm

[Steven]

Basically you generally cannot get in-State tuition as a foreign student (F-1, M-1, J-1). Even if you establish residency in the State by getting a DL, residence, etc. you would still be listed in the college admissions system as a foreign student and there's nothing you can do about it as the college has to issue the I-20.

There was a court case in California that established that dependents of people in non-immigrant categories could get in-State tuition rates if the college received State funding, that related to a person who was on H-4. Some States have copied California. However in F-1 you are expressly entering to study, so that is a different situation.

It does depend to some extent whether they get State funding. Generally speaking if they do you would have to pay out-of-State tuition rates. If it's a private college you might have more luck but I doubt it frankly because they want your money and private colleges often don't distinguish with their rates anyway because they're private.

As an F-1 student you can get work authorization by filing I-765, this allows you to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week. This doesn't sound helpful, but F-1 students are exempt from paying FICA withholding for up to five years, provided you file a 1040NR and 8843 with the IRS every year, so you get to keep more of what you earn. You should file those forms anyway so you don't have to pay income tax on money you receive from abroad. (Put down "non-resident alien student" in the answer to question 6 on the W-4 when you start work. If they withhold the FICA taxes you can claim them back when you file your tax return by submitting form 843).

Once you graduate you can also do optional practical training by filing I-765, this allows you to work for up to a year in the US full-time. There is another category for "hardship" cases while you're in college that lets you work full-time but it's very hard to pull off, you have to have some sort of certification by the college as I recall.

I seem to recall there's a university in Windsor that does an international JD course that is recognized by some State bar associations, that might be a solution if you can't afford it.

[SarniaGrl]

The private school route worked well for our family, and the tuition rate was reasonable. The class size was smaller and the campus experience has been great. I was suprised to see the amount of scholarship money available to my daughter (5000 ) after being told at other places there was none available to international students. Made the tuition far more doable than at larger universities. The private schools have the flexibility to do so, however.

When I looked up a few of those law schools, they were showing a reasonable tuition rate as well.

Altough this wouldn't necessarily apply to law school (you would have to do some research on it) here's a tidbit for people who live in border cities. It's worth looking into if you live in a border city. Sarnia/Lambton on the Ontario side has an agreement with Port Huron/St.Clair on the Michigan side in terms of post-secondary education.

From St.Clair's C.C. Website:
CANADIAN RESIDENTS
All Canadian residents must apply for admission to the college by completing the International Student Application for Admission.

Lambton County residents are charged tuition at the same rate as Michigan (out-district) residents. However, St. Clair County Community College participates in a Tuition Reciprocity Agreement with Lambton College that allows Lambton County residents to be charged at in-district tuition rates. To qualify, students must enroll in a program at SC4 that is not offered or is at capacity at Lambton College. Students must receive approval from the Lambton College Registrar and submit the Tuition Reciprocity form to SC4’s Registrar’s Office, 123 Acheson Technology Center, in order to be reassessed at in-district rates.

All Canadian residents living outside Lambton County are charged foreign student tuition rates.

Canadian students planning to commute must obtain a Form I-20 from the Enrollment Services Office each semester. The Form I-20 is used to cross the Blue Water Bridge. Because SC4 is located within 75 miles of the port of entry, Canadian commuter students are permitted to attend part time.