Studying and attending school in another country is complicated enough. Beyond the legalities associated with applications and paperwork, you also have to consider the financial end of things. Will you work in the U.S. as you attend school? Will you rely on academic funding? The questions are challenging to answer because you might not know which approach is best. No worries, here, we provide 2+ tips to help you afford to studying abroad in the U.S.

1. Get The Right Visa

Getting the correct visa makes it possible for students to study abroad and pursue work during their time in the U.S. If you’re wondering, can an international student work in USA? If you apply for the proper visa and approach employment in specific ways, the answer is yes.

Not all visas allow students to work in the U.S. As an international student, you can work in the USA; you just need to apply for your visa correctly. There are restrictions for work, even with the correct visa. You need to have an F-1 or M-1 visa to have permission to work on-campus and vocational training jobs. You may not work off-campus during the first year of school. Off-campus work is granted on a case-by-case basis.

The standard approach to manage academic funding in the U.S. is to apply for student loans and seek out funding opportunities through scholarships and grants. You can find both school-specific options and those that are nationally supported. As an international student, you may not have access to all of these academic accommodations.

Still, you can rely on third-party loans and speak with associated education consultants to brainstorm practical options to pay for school. Look into loan companies that are credited to assist international students. You can also apply for grants and scholarships for the schools you have been accepted into to see if any additional financial support is offered that way.

Scoring well on TOEFL may also open up doors for additional assistance. The funding process is about applying everywhere and doing what you can to get as much financial aid as possible.

2. Reduce Your Living Expenses

Suppose you’re able to find a host family in the U.S. In that case, you can avoid paying for living expenses altogether. Therefore, making it more financially accommodating to study abroad in the U.S. By having your food and shelter covered, the money you have (or intend to make while working in the U.S.) can go directly to the school. There are many ways to look for host family assistance.

At the very minimum, you can always get a roommate willing to split costs with you so your living expenses are cheaper than what they would be if you were to rent an apartment alone.

Understand that after the first year of school, students are typically only allowed to get off-campus employment through CPT, OPT, and STEM training positions. All on-campus jobs must be connected to one’s focus of study. Try to find apartments close to school so you can avoid paying for gas or public transportation. If there are dorm options for school, you can also consider this approach to save on living expenses.

Prepare And Plan Ahead

Studying abroad in the U.S. is doable, but it takes a lot of preparation and planning ahead of time. Understand your provisions for working and living in the U.S. before attempting to find living situations and other financial accommodations that may not be permissible under your visa status. Contact your school and local embassy to learn more about these specifics.