How do undocumented students apply for college?

I graduated from high school in 2008. I really want to go to college for further education. I think I will have to apply as a change of status international student, but even tho if I get accepted, I will not be able to go to classes until my status change to a student visa.

I also asked a immigration specialist how to legalize my status, he told me I can get student visa through college if they accept me, they will sponsor me to school. So what do I do to get the college to sponsor me?

And when I research about the Dream Act, I see many undocumented students are in college or graduated from college, so I want to know how did they apply?

Hello Belle,

First of all you can go to probably 95% of colleges in the U.S. The problem is you would have to pay out-of-state or the international students rate (either of the two is very expensive).

Now depending on which state you live in, you could actually be eligible for instate tuition. Now as far as the visa, Schools do NOT sponsor. You can apply as international student, but the thing is you have to do your interview abroad (I believe in your country of citizenship). And despite whether or not you get accepted to a U.S University, DHS Can and will reject your visa because they will find out you previously lived in the U.S undocumented.

Which state do you live? If it is not one of the states that offer instate tuituion I would advise you wait for reform and maybe do partime hours at a CC.

You cannot apply for a student visa while in the U.S. And schools do not sponsor you.

However, like the post above me mentioned, you can apply to almost every school in the U.S. One important note, do NOT say in the application that you're a citizen or legal resident. Simply check "other" and call the admissions office to follow up. You can also call the school and ask what their policy for undocumented students is, because the issue of in-state/out-of-state/international tuition really depends on the school.

Thanks for answering my question
The high school I graduated from is in Hawaii, but I moved to California after I graduated. I am willing to pay out-of-state or the international students rate, but because it's very expensive, so I want to go to a city college first, then transfer to a 4year if I have a chance. The thing I am worry about is that I cannot go to classes. I don't think I can apply as out-of-state student becuase I am not any citizen or legal resident, but as for international student, maybe I will have to go back and not have a chance to come back. I really want to know what is the best thing to do. I really appreciate your help.

You don't have to go back. The fact that you live in California makes your situation a lot easier. All of the colleges in CA accept undocumented students and are very immigrant-friendly. Like I said, call the admissions office of the school you wish to attend, and ask them what the process is for undocumented students. Unfortunately, because you did not graduate from a CA high school, you won't qualify for in-state tuition. However, you will be asked to pay out-of-state tuition.

Good luck.

I'm in a similar situation to yours. I graduated high school in AZ and now I'm attending school in California.

What I did was just fill out an application for community college answering all the questions truthfully. I left the social security number box blank and under citizenship I marked "other." When I turned in the application, the registrar asked me if I had a social, to which I answered no. She asked why, and I told her I was "out of status." She took the application to the back and later returned and said it was okay. I wasn't even asked for my passport.

I took a friend for moral support, which helped to ease the nerves. I also went late in the evening when there would be less people. As you know, people who do not graduate high school in California do not qualify for in-state tuition rates; be prepared to pay around $200 per unit.

Your reply make me feel much better I felt miserable and didn't know what to do. So what kind of application did you fill out? regular admissions or international application?

Just a regular application out of the class catalog. You only have a couple weeks before classes for the Spring semester begin; you can still make it and sign up for at least one or two classes.

Most classes are 3 or 4 units, but make sure to also account for books which run around $100 on average.

Good luck and let us know how everything turns out...

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate it I will do this asap and let you guys know how it turns out.