Pending Green Card and Application?

[foia]

Hello all,

 

I applied to six different Statistics MS and PhD programs for this spring 2015 semester and had a question to ask. I am here in the US with a student visa and recently filed a petition to become a US Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). I expect to be done with the process by the end of this summer.

 

I am aware that international students have somewhat less chance of admissions due to funding issues. I was wondering informing departments of my Green Card petition now would help my application or not. If it should be helpful, how should I approach this issue to departments?

 

Thank you everyone for your help in advance.

Edited January 15, 2015 by foia

[TakeruK]

No, you should not tell them about this process. It won't change anything because you don't have a green card for sure, and there's no way they will risk the possibility that you don't get approved when making the decision--it could mean an extra $200,000 or so in costs for them. 

 

Also, (for this part, I'm not an immigration expert so please also get expert advice), I think it might be a bad idea to mix permanent residence applications with student visa applications (if you need to get a new visa for grad school). One of the requirements for both the F-1 and J-1 visa is intent to return to home country and it would be very hard, in my opinion, to convince the visa officer that while you have a petition for a green card in process. But I guess if you are able to extend your current student visa to this new program somehow (not sure if you can) then it might be okay?

[foia]

Thank you for your reply. It makes sense that departments will not risk that I may not become a permanent resident. In case of rejection for my green card petition, I believe that I can transfer my current I-20 into my graduate school. If that happens, I will have to talk with an attorney.