Many people choose to immigrate to the United States because they value the education system and want their children to study in the U.S. Experts from WorldWay Immigration believe that obtaining a legal status is crucial for children to attend public schools legally in the United States.
Some may ask: Is it necessary to be a U.S. citizen or hold a U.S. green card to study in the U.S.? Can one not attend public schools in the U.S. with a tourist visa? Experts from WorldWay Immigration will provide detailed answers regarding the issues related to attending public schools in the U.S. with a tourist visa.
1. Can individuals who are not U.S. citizens or do not have a green card attend school in the U.S.?
Public high schools in the U.S. are government-funded. If one is not a citizen or does not have a green card, they cannot enroll. Other conditions, such as having parents who work or reside legally in the U.S., allow their children to attend public high schools.
The only exception is the public high school exchange student program sponsored by the U.S. government, which allows international students, specifically F1 students, to attend public high schools. However, students can only study in public high schools for a maximum of 12 months, meaning they must return to their home country within a year and cannot extend their stay in the U.S.
2. Can individuals holding B2 status (tourist visa) study in the U.S.?
B2 is only for short-term visits to the U.S. U.S. law does not envision B2 holders attending school; the U.S. government has no obligation to address this issue. If a child wishes to study in the U.S., this involves a change of intent, and they should change their visa or status within the legal framework before attending school.
If a child comes to the U.S. with their parents on a B2 visa, they should leave with their parents. They must leave the U.S. before the expiration of the time set by immigration officials or submit an application for an extension. If an extension application is submitted after the expiration of the designated time, it will not be approved.
In this case, B2 holders have two options: leave the U.S. as soon as possible or join the ranks of illegal immigrants due to overstaying. If they choose to leave the U.S., foreign tourists may be able to obtain a visa to return. If they choose to remain in the U.S. and leave after six months, they will be prohibited from returning to the U.S. for three years; if they leave after one year, they will be prohibited from returning for ten years.
3. Can individuals holding B2 status register for K-12 education in the U.S.?
Each type of non-immigrant visa or status corresponds to a specific intent. B-2 is a tourist visa, and the primary purpose of coming to the U.S. should be tourism, not education. If a person changes their intent, they should change their visa or status. Engaging in any activity inconsistent with their status may violate their status, and the consequences of violating status include losing that status. Losing valid status may result in being unable to change, extend, or adjust status in the U.S.
Attending public school on a B-2 tourist status deviates from the intent expressed by the applicant when seeking a B2 visa or entering the U.S., essentially violating B-2 status. Once discovered, the most severe consequence may be deportation. Individuals who lose valid status may find it difficult to change, extend, or adjust their status in the U.S., and future visa applications may be affected.
4. How can B2 status holders enable their children to attend public schools in the U.S.?
The legal way is for the child to apply for a change to F-1 (academic student) or M-1 (vocational student) status. The child can enroll after receiving approval for F-1 or M-1. Of course, if the child's parents change to F-1/J1, the child can change to F2/J2 and also attend school. If the parents have work visas such as H1B or L1A, the child can change to H4 or L2 and also attend school.
Experts from WorldWay Immigration analyze that obtaining a legal status is crucial for children to attend public schools legally in the U.S. The U.S. EB-5 investment immigration program is popular due to its low application requirements and short processing time. One application allows the entire family to immigrate, and children can directly attend prestigious schools in the U.S., enjoying high-quality educational resources. After obtaining a green card, individuals can freely enter and exit the U.S. and reside and work anywhere in the U.S. without immigration monitoring.
The success of the U.S. EB-5 investment immigration program hinges on selecting the right project. In the fiscal year 2015, U.S. investment immigration will face significant events such as the arrival of priority dates, a surge in applications, and the expiration of the regional center program, which may likely increase investment amounts. Therefore, choosing an EB-5 project that has been pre-approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is the best option to address uncertainties. WorldWay Immigration is proudly launching the second phase of the Pennsylvania Highway Project, which has also received pre-approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a 100% government project. Immigrating to the U.S. allows you to enjoy high-quality educational resources; please hurry to purchase at 400-138-2929.
