Met a thai girl tonight waiting tables in a thai restaurant. Very attractive girl mid twenties. She is here on a 4 year student visa.

She is frustrated at the high cost of college. She has a bachelor's degree from Raemkhanhang Univ and wants to pursue an MBA here in the USA. Currently she is trying to improve her english with classes at 8am. She looked very tired. She works past 11pm at night and also works another restaurant.

I asked if her family sends money, she said no way would she ask for that.

She thinks she may try to go to Australia because she believes she will qualify for a student loan there. She says here in the USA she does not qualify, only US students get the government backed loans. She is not happy about starting over again but is determined to return to thailand at the end of 4 years with a degree.

So I was wondering. Anyone know of a loan or grant program for international students? I figure its a long shot but I'll give it a try here and on one other board.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

She thinks she may try to go to Australia because she believes she will qualify for a student loan there.

One thing is clear: she's not very good at doing homework...

Most thai banks have/offer the "student loan" program.

I thought you needed to show you could pay for your school fees and in addition pay one year up front before being given a visa to go to the US to study.

Regardless there are no loans for international students as there is no guarantee that they will pay them off. What she can do is apply for scholarships.

Apart from that, I hear you can go to school for free in Germany if you are from a developing nation. The only downside is, she will have to learn German. But it is do-able.

I thought you needed to show you could pay for your school fees and in addition pay one year up front before being given a visa to go to the US to study.

Yep!….at least tuition + living expenses for the first year, = to at least $15000, this was in 1981 for my wife – on F1 visa, and they did checked up on her every single yr after that while she’s still on F1 visa.

Unless the OP's girl is not on F1 visa

International programs in the US are generally MORE expensive than anything else, too....

But I have a related question - my wife is planning to go to Uni in the US when the K1 goes through - my feeling is that you are still not eligible on a K1 until you actually have aN IMMIGrant visa - is this right? thanks