Tamika

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on whether international students may apply for an F2 visa for their same sex partners. I know that heterosexuals can apply to bring their spouse/kids to the US on an F1/F2 visa. Not sure if the same applies to same sex couples?? Any experience of this.

Here's hoping that someone out there can shed some light on a rather sticky situation. Here goes .... Currently, I am on a G4 visa in the US. This visa is essentially for employees of international organizations, NGOs etc. As luck would have it, I have been accepted into fully-funded PhD program. I now find myself in a difficult situation as I understand that in order to take up the offer, US authorities/universities require that all international students enroll full time in a program of study and switch to the F1 visa status. In an ideal world this makes some kinda sense, but in the real world things are a bit more complicated. As a mature student, financial commitmments (family etc) makes it increasingly difficult to consider leaving my job altogether in order to survive on a grad student stipend. So, I have approached my employer, who has suggested that I continue to work as a consultant (telecommute) 20hrs per week. But in order to take them up on this offer, I would have to REMAIN on my G4 visa. Long story short: Can I register at a US university and keep my G4 visa status? Has anyone out there done this? I read somewhere that the principal G4 holder (ME) may only study part time, but of course this doesn't help matters as most, if not all, PhD programs in the US require full time enrollment. Any experience, advice, ways around this awful situation would be greatly appreciated. And thanks for taking time to read this rather complicated tale.