This is something my partner (husband/fiance, depending on the country) and I talk about a lot. I'm American but he's international, with just a high school degree and basic English skills and we're currently living out of the country. We'll be heading to UC Irvine in the Fall,a s they've offered almost enough fellowship $$ for us to live off of. But we're constantly worrying about ESL classes for him, he wants to study at least part-time (get his BA/BS), but sadly full-time study isn't an option for him, or kitty, he, and I won't make it. It's a lot of pressure for him, as abroad I've been the primary income source while he's been studying English, and suddenly it'll be on his shoulders, as well as the whole immigration thing.
I'm also concerned from a social standpoint - it's a new lace for both of us, but I'll be meeting people from day one through the program. I'm worried about the people's attitudes towards him (especially education level, which seems a concern for friends, family back home, but has never been a problem for us here....), as well as his just feeling left out in social settings (language, education, etc.).