Age 20, Parent's E2 visa, going to university next year under F1 visa?

Question

I will turn 21 in June next year, that's less than a year away and I will no longer be able to be dependent on my parents E2 status. My best shot is university next Sept and I will start applying this fall and applying for F1 student visa.

Now it is written all over that you need to prove residence in your home country so that you don't stay over your F1 status in the states....now, my parents and I have been living here for a decade, they will clearly see my 'home' IS in the US.

Will I be automatically considered in trouble and have less chances? I'm sure there had been exceptional cases before ...

Answer 1

before you turn 21, apply to get an F-1 visa..when you apply to an university, just put your u.s. address normally in the application. and of course, you mark that you're not a us citizen nor resident. when you get accepted, the university, especially the international student office will help you get the I-20. they will eventually ask for your foreign address.. what you can do is put an address of a relative in your home country.  all mail correspondence will go to your us home address.  you will not automatically be considered in trouble, as this is not a big deal.  just make sure to maintain your F1 visa throughout your university years by corresponding with the international student advisors.

The sucky part about the e2 visa  is that your tuition will increase, as oppose if you're under the e2 visa.  

  good luck!

Answer 2

This is always an issue and unfortunately this is one of the the many reasons why the E2 is a crappy visa for families - the age out.

The problem you will have is this: You will not have a problem applying or being accepted (depending on your SAT and academic record of course) into a university; the reason I say this is because they [the universities] are not interested in your ties to your homeland; they couldn't care less as long as can afford the tuition [out of state] and living expenses.

You won't have a problem changing your status in the U.S. from an E2 to an F1; since all that you need to send off is your original I-94, I-20 (issued by the school) and financial statements. So no problems there.

However, once you do change status you will be, in my opinion, landlocked. I say this because if you depart the U.S to any country, then you will require an F1 visa to return to the U.S. and the problem you will have in obtaining the visa is by proving ties to your homeland. This you won't be able to do.

Hence you being landlocked. So you will have not problems getting into university, changing your status or studying in the U.S. period. The problems arise if you decide to leave for a vacation.