Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
#35
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 14
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA! I have a very good immigration lawyer dealing with the visa applications.
I think I will try else where...
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA! I have a very good immigration lawyer dealing with the visa applications.
I think I will try else where...
I think I will try else where...
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 31
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
My kids were G3, G6 and G7 when I moved here, they were experienced ex-pats so coped well with the adjustment. Now my eldest is in G9 (Uk Y10) first year of high school, high school is 4 years and has ongoing exams/tests but nothing like GCSEs and Alevels, at 18 the kids graduate with a much broader range of studies but don't have the in-depth knowledge of a subject that you get with A levels. This could have the potential to limit UK university options (in my experience a US High School diploma may not be valued that highly by some admissions offices at UK Unis (though there are entry exams you can take to counter that).
Also another good point made by a previous poster was the cost of Uni here. In the UK its not cheap now (up to 9000 GBP) but on our current visa we may have to pay out of state fees, if we get a GC we will be able to get in-state fees but these are still more than many UK Unis, if we send our kids to the UK they will not qualify as EU residents and we will have to pay Overseas Students rates.
Going back to the UK is not an option for us, my eldest is Y10 (Grade 9) and hasn't done any GCSE work at all, my youngest has never been schooled in the UK and it would be cruel to throw her in. We are lucky we have a new local IB school which they will all go to, IB is recognized by Universities internationally and so gives more options for Uni. Maybe there is one in the area you are moving to.
I'm sure you'll all do fine, just make sure you know what you want for the future and plan accordingly.
People aren't being unhelpful but so often on forums people come up asking for specific info when they haven't even sorted the basics and have no chance of getting here at all, also people don't take the time to research the past posts and members see the same questions coming up again and again. No one wants to give misleading information and the best way to be sure you are informing people correctly is to get as much info as possible.
Also another good point made by a previous poster was the cost of Uni here. In the UK its not cheap now (up to 9000 GBP) but on our current visa we may have to pay out of state fees, if we get a GC we will be able to get in-state fees but these are still more than many UK Unis, if we send our kids to the UK they will not qualify as EU residents and we will have to pay Overseas Students rates.
Going back to the UK is not an option for us, my eldest is Y10 (Grade 9) and hasn't done any GCSE work at all, my youngest has never been schooled in the UK and it would be cruel to throw her in. We are lucky we have a new local IB school which they will all go to, IB is recognized by Universities internationally and so gives more options for Uni. Maybe there is one in the area you are moving to.
I'm sure you'll all do fine, just make sure you know what you want for the future and plan accordingly.
People aren't being unhelpful but so often on forums people come up asking for specific info when they haven't even sorted the basics and have no chance of getting here at all, also people don't take the time to research the past posts and members see the same questions coming up again and again. No one wants to give misleading information and the best way to be sure you are informing people correctly is to get as much info as possible.
#38
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 14
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
My kids were G3, G6 and G7 when I moved here, they were experienced ex-pats so coped well with the adjustment. Now my eldest is in G9 (Uk Y10) first year of high school, high school is 4 years and has ongoing exams/tests but nothing like GCSEs and Alevels, at 18 the kids graduate with a much broader range of studies but don't have the in-depth knowledge of a subject that you get with A levels. This could have the potential to limit UK university options (in my experience a US High School diploma may not be valued that highly by some admissions offices at UK Unis (though there are entry exams you can take to counter that).
Also another good point made by a previous poster was the cost of Uni here. In the UK its not cheap now (up to 9000 GBP) but on our current visa we may have to pay out of state fees, if we get a GC we will be able to get in-state fees but these are still more than many UK Unis, if we send our kids to the UK they will not qualify as EU residents and we will have to pay Overseas Students rates.
Going back to the UK is not an option for us, my eldest is Y10 (Grade 9) and hasn't done any GCSE work at all, my youngest has never been schooled in the UK and it would be cruel to throw her in. We are lucky we have a new local IB school which they will all go to, IB is recognized by Universities internationally and so gives more options for Uni. Maybe there is one in the area you are moving to.
I'm sure you'll all do fine, just make sure you know what you want for the future and plan accordingly.
People aren't being unhelpful but so often on forums people come up asking for specific info when they haven't even sorted the basics and have no chance of getting here at all, also people don't take the time to research the past posts and members see the same questions coming up again and again. No one wants to give misleading information and the best way to be sure you are informing people correctly is to get as much info as possible.
Also another good point made by a previous poster was the cost of Uni here. In the UK its not cheap now (up to 9000 GBP) but on our current visa we may have to pay out of state fees, if we get a GC we will be able to get in-state fees but these are still more than many UK Unis, if we send our kids to the UK they will not qualify as EU residents and we will have to pay Overseas Students rates.
Going back to the UK is not an option for us, my eldest is Y10 (Grade 9) and hasn't done any GCSE work at all, my youngest has never been schooled in the UK and it would be cruel to throw her in. We are lucky we have a new local IB school which they will all go to, IB is recognized by Universities internationally and so gives more options for Uni. Maybe there is one in the area you are moving to.
I'm sure you'll all do fine, just make sure you know what you want for the future and plan accordingly.
People aren't being unhelpful but so often on forums people come up asking for specific info when they haven't even sorted the basics and have no chance of getting here at all, also people don't take the time to research the past posts and members see the same questions coming up again and again. No one wants to give misleading information and the best way to be sure you are informing people correctly is to get as much info as possible.
Could you tell me what an 'IB' school is, please?
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,886
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA!
Anyway, that's my last contribution to this thread.
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA! I have a very good immigration lawyer dealing with the visa applications.
I think I will try else where...
I think I will try else where...
You want to know about people's experiences of moving to the US with a 15 year old but you didn't provide any of the following very relevant information:
- Is this a temporary move or do you intend it to become permanent?
- Do you or your children want to become US citizens?
- Is it likely that your 15 year old is going to want to go to college or university?
- If so, in which country?
- Do you know or care how much your 15 year old's college education might cost in either the US or the UK?
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 31
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
Info on IB and a school search can be found here http://www.ibo.org/
As stated above visa status does matter, on our visas none of our kids are allowed to work.
As stated above visa status does matter, on our visas none of our kids are allowed to work.
Last edited by kyotokids; Nov 5th 2011 at 11:51 am. Reason: factual error
#42
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA! I have a very good immigration lawyer dealing with the visa applications.
I think I will try else where...
I think I will try else where...
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
Info on IB and a school search can be found here http://www.ibo.org/
As stated above visa status does matter, on our visas none of our kids are allowed to work and I can only work PT.
As stated above visa status does matter, on our visas none of our kids are allowed to work and I can only work PT.
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 31
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
Yep, that was my concern, funding is currently secured for the first three years, after that the school should have enough students that the costs are covered by the income.
It's in its first year, filling up one grade at a time, my eldest is in the first intake. It's worth the risk, she was in IB for 4 years prior to moving to the US and after two years in school here wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get back into IB.
It's in its first year, filling up one grade at a time, my eldest is in the first intake. It's worth the risk, she was in IB for 4 years prior to moving to the US and after two years in school here wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get back into IB.
#45
Re: Moving from UK to USA with my 15 year old son
I am not 'playing in riddles'', as you say! Thank you all for taking the time to comment on here, regarding my question, especially those who actually answered my question, but as I said before, my query was nothing to do with visas, but advice on my son settling into a school in USA! I have a very good immigration lawyer dealing with the visa applications.
I think I will try else where...
I think I will try else where...
Last edited by fatbrit; Nov 5th 2011 at 12:30 pm.