Can an international student complete last year of High School in the US?

[LdiJ]

Wrong. Not the way it works in Ohio. Uncle would need custody of child in order to enroll child in the local public high school in Ohio. He doesn't qualify for a power of attorney in this state to enroll the child.

You might want to recheck that OG. I agree that Uncle would need custody to enroll the child FOR FREE in a local high school, but not on a paying basis. The whole point of paying students is that people who do not live in the district could attend (assuming space is available) on a fee basis. The reason why schools require people living in the district to have actual custody is to prevent a student from using a relative's address to be able to attend a school for free, when they don't actually live with and/or are not actually under the control of that relative.

 

[Ohiogal]

Yes, however that applies to public schools. Private schools each have their own rules for enrollment, just like colleges.

A good public school will often have other US citizens who live in the area asking for paid spots, and sometimes they are so full that they cannot accept any paying students. Sometimes the tuition asked for a paying student is actually higher than a better private school.

If you really want to attend high school in the US then you are better off focusing on private schools. I am sure that your Uncle could do some research to find out what private schools are available in his area so that you could do further research on which private school might be best for you.

You have NO CLUE how it works in Ohio. US citizens do NOT pay to attend public schools in Ohio. They can enroll through open enrollment but they do not pay tuition. Should I continue? I know, you are getting all of your information from facts surrounding the Kelly Bolar Williams case. But you are completely wrong. I live in Ohio. I know how the schools work.

 

[Ohiogal]

You might want to recheck that OG. I agree that Uncle would need custody to enroll the child FOR FREE in a local high school, but not on a paying basis. The whole point of paying students is that people who do not live in the district could attend (assuming space is available) on a fee basis. The reason why schools require people living in the district to have actual custody is to prevent a student from using a relative's address to be able to attend a school for free, when they don't actually live with and/or are not actually under the control of that relative.

You might want to recheck yourself. Because quite frankly that is NOT true for OHIO. And it is the law that requires custody of a grandparent caretaker affidavit. You have no clue. Only those with custody or a grandparent caretaker affidavit can enroll children in school -- regardless of the district they attend. Open enrollment is NOT a fee basis.

 

[Ohiogal]

OP, the only way you can complete your two years of high school in the United States is to have your uncle get custody of you from your parents and then enroll you. You do not qualify for a F-1 visa because those are only good for 1 year of high school. You would need two years of high school in order to finish. Hence, your uncle would need custody of you to come over here for the next two years of high school and then enroll in college. Understand? If your uncle has custody of you, it will not cost you anything to enroll in public school. And legally, that is the only way you can do what you want to do based on your postings.

 

[Satycorn]

OP, the only way you can complete your two years of high school in the United States is to have your uncle get custody of you from your parents and then enroll you. You do not qualify for a F-1 visa because those are only good for 1 year of high school. You would need two years of high school in order to finish. Hence, your uncle would need custody of you to come over here for the next two years of high school and then enroll in college. Understand? If your uncle has custody of you, it will not cost you anything to enroll in public school. And legally, that is the only way you can do what you want to do based on your postings.

Oh my God! I am so so sorry, I have messed things up! Yes, you said what I want to do. The thing is that in my home country, the 9th grade is added in middle school, so high school has only 3 years, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. I am currently in 11th grade (turned 17 3 months ago). So, if I come to the US, I can enroll as a Junior (17 grader) again? I don't mind at all, actually the more years the better, but I just wanted to know. What will happen to the extra classes that are not taught in my home country in this case, am I okay now and able to take them since I will re-do 11th grade? Will the embassy/the US have a problem with the fact that I have already completed 11th grade in my home country?
Also if my uncle claims custody, do I still have to apply for ANY kind of visa, or as long as he proves that he is my guardian I can travel to the states with no problem? I just hope I wont have to take the irritating visa interview...

About the custody part, that's the last thing to be considered as a problem because both sides are okay about this, my family and my uncle. I wanted to know if you had any idea whether this process takes a great amount of time, so that I can know if I should hurry and tell him to start doing this ASAP?

After finishing high school, I guess I will have to apply for a F-1 visa for college? Would the custody that my uncle has gained do any favor to me at this point or is it irrelevant?

Thank you so much.

 

[Ohiogal]

Oh my God! I am so so sorry, I have messed things up! Yes, you said what I want to do. The thing is that in my home country, the 9th grade is added in middle school, so high school has only 3 years, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. I am currently in 11th grade (turned 17 3 months ago). So, if I come to the US, I can enroll as a Junior (17 grader) again? I don't mind at all, actually the more years the better, but I just wanted to know. What will happen to the extra classes that are not taught in my home country in this case, am I okay now and able to take them since I will re-do 11th grade? Will the embassy/the US have a problem with the fact that I have already completed 11th grade in my home country?
Also if my uncle claims custody, do I still have to apply for ANY kind of visa, or as long as he proves that he is my guardian I can travel to the states with no problem? I just hope I wont have to take the irritating visa interview...

About the custody part, that's the last thing to be considered as a problem because both sides are okay about this, my family and my uncle. I wanted to know if you had any idea whether this process takes a great amount of time, so that I can know if I should hurry and tell him to start doing this ASAP?

After finishing high school, I guess I will have to apply for a F-1 visa for college? Would the custody that my uncle has gained do any favor to me at this point or is it irrelevant?

Thank you so much.

Your uncle has to be granted custody of you by a court -- the court in your country to which I cannot speak about. You would need a visa but it would be a relative visa to get you into the country to stay. Then you wouldn't need a F-1 visa for college. You would have a visa based upon the custody. As for you being in 11th grade -- you are going to need X amount of credits to graduate including specific courses. Two years of American History for instance. If you haven't had American History you will need to take two YEARS of that. It may be possible for your uncle to get custody of you for the last year of high school and you wouldn't have to repeat. The school would determine where you would be based upon your academics and how they compare. If you wanted to do a F-1 visa that does require payment in public school. The fact that you stated you only had two years of high school and high schools in Ohio are 4 years (not three) had me solid in the fact that you could NOT do an F-1. Custody may very well be easier for you if your uncle will support you until you are an adult.