International students @ TAD - A few questions (Visas? Health care?)

[Simon Boxer]

Hi,

I'm compiling a budget and am coming across things that're structured differently to what I'm used to. I'm sure others have similar questions so thought I'd start a thread (also because I can't find certain information searching forums).

Because the school is not accredited yet I'm wondering how that affects:

1. Visas - Should I be looking at what it takes to get the F-1 Student Visa to approximate costs?

2. Health care - I notice existing universities have arrangements for student health insurance. Will there be a similar offer accessible to TAD students?

3. ID/proof of age - What should I be looking at if I don't want to be carrying my passport everywhere, and won't be driving? Also, will TAD have student cards?

That's all I can think of currently.
Thanks in advance,
Simon

[applecheeks]

I was wondering whether it would be possible to get a visa as well but my impression is that TAD is still more of a grassroots movement at this point.
You can only get an F-1 visa if you're going to a recognised university and an M-1 is only for vocational schools approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which I don't think TAD will be (much as I wish that it would be!).
It was mentioned in a thread (don't recall which) that in theory you could get a visiting visa and leave the country every 90 days to renew it, although that will be quite economically infeasible for most people.

Thanks for starting this thread! I would happily be corrected if I'm wrong!

[Craz]

Bump for great justice.

[Simon Boxer]

I've been checking this thread every day hoping for an answer - mainly about visas.
I'd just like to know whether we will be able to get a visa or if there'll be some other workaround for non-US citizens. Personally, I have an Australian and British passport.

I'm applying for a grant and applications for this funding round (which is annual) are due on Thursday.

Sorry for the bump, there's just a slight sense of urgency on my end. Consider it a result of my eagerness to study at TAD on-site (and without 13hr time difference, heh). If accepted I really want to make the most of it.

Cheers,
S

[John English]

Simon-

TAD is not going to be accredited, we could never deliver this type of a program with an accreditation from NASAD. We might be seeking a trade school accreditation in the future, but that will not come quickly.

We designed the two three week workshops partially for this reason. An international student could take the online program and get 6 weeks of immersion at our 2, 3-week workshops and could use a travel visa to do so.

We will also not be offering any health care options. The Student IDs will be a must at the Pod locations and workshops for international students.

I hope this information helps!

Thank you for the interest in our program,

John

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks for the response, John.

Hmmm... I'm at a bit of a loss then. Unless I find an American bride in the next 4 months. ha! :/

How were international students managed at the Atelier? I assume people like Whit weren't/aren't American citizens?

Although now that I think of it, I vaguely remember reading about some clause to get people into the US under the merit of being supertalented and filling a skills gap. I believe that was how Marko was recruited at least. No doubt he was much more developed than the raw Atelier attendants though.

[Simon Boxer]

Also, if there's no alternate way (that isn't grossly expensive) for a non-US citizen to partake in the TAD POD my slideshow application will be incorrect.

I'm sure you guys are being flooded with emails, and there are probably others in the same situation as me. Should we try and amend this in the meantime or wait until you guys start replying to applications?

Edit:
Another thought: Is it possible to participate in a TAD POD on-site for most of the duration, but not all?
Since a travel visa lasts for up to 90 days could a student partake on-site for the first 3 months then come back for another 3 months around the second 3 week workshop?

Although there must be a better option - I see the B-2 tourist visa enables you to stay in the USA for up to 6 months, however you're not allowed to earn any income... This could align nicely with an Xmas break if there is one.

For other potential international students: I'm just doing some more research on what options we have if accepted to TAD. Watch this space for more visa info.

[Iridyse]

How were international students managed at the Atelier? I assume people like Whit weren't/aren't American citizens?

Although now that I think of it, I vaguely remember reading about some clause to get people into the US under the merit of being supertalented and filling a skills gap. I believe that was how Marko was recruited at least. No doubt he was much more developed than the raw Atelier attendants though.

As far as I know, the international students at the atelier were studying under a tourist visa. That means you have to leave the country every 3 (and in case of an extension, 6 ) months. Unfortunately that also makes you look really suspicious to the immigration authorities.

As for the exceptional skills thingy, I think that's the O-1 Visa and its only for work purposes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-1_visa , http://www.artistsfromabroad.org/

[Φ]

cognition.sb: thanks for opening this thread. I consider application next year and this will help alot already.

I will be doing research myself and post any new results here.

Dont worry man, we will get the good pplz of europe into TAD!

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks for the links, Iridyse. http://www.artistsfromabroad.org/ is great. Although that News Flash icon is kind of annoying. haha

Just reading through it now.

[Onisan]

We should just start our own european Pod and try to convince some of the instructors to move here!

[RedWarrior]

Also, if there's no alternate way (that isn't grossly expensive) for a non-US citizen to partake in the TAD POD my slideshow application will be incorrect.

I'm sure you guys are being flooded with emails, and there are probably others in the same situation as me. Should we try and amend this in the meantime or wait until you guys start replying to applications?

Edit:
Another thought: Is it possible to participate in a TAD POD on-site for most of the duration, but not all?
Since a travel visa lasts for up to 90 days could a student partake on-site for the first 3 months then come back for another 3 months around the second 3 week workshop?

Although there must be a better option - I see the B-2 tourist visa enables you to stay in the USA for up to 6 months, however you're not allowed to earn any income... This could align nicely with an Xmas break if there is one.

For other potential international students: I'm just doing some more research on what options we have if accepted to TAD. Watch this space for more visa info.

I´m in a situation like yours. I applied for TAD POD On-site since about one week, but I see with these threads that an international student can´t easily attend school on-site (All of this was not specified before) so I think we expected something different. May be TAD must specify that international students have to attend only the hybrid on-line program. I feel a little confused and disappointed, or maybe I did not understand. We paid for nothing? I mean, the people like me interested in On-site program paid our application in vain?
Sorry if I sound aggressive

My Sketchbook

[Jason Manley]

We have clearly stated in the past that TAD is not accredited and that we are not able to assist with Visa's. We also stated that we were focused on the US launch first. With that being said we are looking to put together the first European POD but not until the US launch is completed. If the demand is high enough there could be action sooner. At this point it comes down to demand. TAD has prestigious Euro faculty lined up for Amsterdam (the community poll winner), but we must first see the US programs fill so officially, such growth is not announced. Right now, best case scenario looks like Jan for Europe, though as said if the US pods fill tight there will not be a business argument against earlier growth. If the US PODS do not fill tight, then expansion to Europe will be delayed. Kansas City, San Francisco, Austin, and Richmond are the first POD locations. We hope to see you there.

The best way you can help is to help TAD get the word out. Posting on forums and linking the scholarships threads and the art dept website www.theartdepartment.org is a great way to do so.

With all that said, Euro students are able to easily manage either stage 1 or stage 2 of the TAD program and can schedule time to visit in stage 3. As stated, stage 1 is online only. In stage 2, there are many on site workshops which will range from 4 days (International Art and Design Symposiums) to the multiple three week events (TAD on-ground Immersion Workshop Programs at the start middle and end of each semester). We are confident that either stage will supply a better art education than any student will find in any European art school today.

Stage 2 provides plenty of time in person with the faculty and students in person to boost learning, and does so more inexpensively than coming all the way to the US to get only part of the education we offer by attending another college. Stage 3 is even more of that.


Stage 2 info:

June 14-July 2 2010 - TAD Immersion Workshop Program Kick-Off. Students will be learning on site (location TBA March 1) with a host of professional TAD instructors from games, film, illustration, and Fine Art. This program is intensive and gives students the in person time required to boost their learning in TAD's online program. Events take place at the beginning and end of each semester and at the very end of the program as TAD prepares students for the rigors of the professional art world. Semester two begins with the Jan 10 - 28 2011 Immersion Workshop. Those following each semester are announced prior to the start of that school year.

TAD will continue to look into the student visa matters but at this time we are unable to assist with visa matters. Stage 2 students are able to attend as they are attending these Immersion Workshop conferences just as if they were attending the previous International Art and Design Symposiums, on the standard entry allowed. For this, no assistance is required, in most cases. Romania, for example, used to have pretty stringent entry requirements, as does China. Please consult your local consulate or embassy for additional information on US entry laws.

Stage 3 info:

POD attendance will not require students to have the ability to be in the US for the duration of the program in every case. What this means is TAD PODS will have a quota of open seats for on site workshop attendance/visitation. These are first come first serve and require permissions of the department head of your major and the POD leader, and available seats. TAD applicants will receive additional information upon acceptance into the program, enabling such visitation to be scheduled. It is not an open door policy. However, in the event of demand surpassing supply, merit will outweigh the first come first serve scheduling currently in place and we expect it to be full. If you want in, students need to apply now so they may get their places, both in the full on site stage 3 program, and those who wish to have time between the stage 2 events at the TAD PODS.


I hope this is of some help.



Jason Manley

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks for the detailed response, Jason. Much appreciated and very helpful!

The Euro workshop sounds great.

Re: visas for other potential students. It does seem like the way to stay beyond 90 days is to get a B-2 visa and extend it after arriving to the US (up to 6 months). But you'd need to get the visa before arriving, instead of entering under the Visa Waiver Program.

I-539 is what you need to extend a B-2 visa. It costs US$300.

Here's a link about the Visa Waiver Program:
http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consul...s/niv/vwp.html

It's from an Australian pov but also lists countries eligible and conditions. I notice one condition is having a Machine Readable Passport, which I don't have. heh

Anyway... Don't just rely on what I'm posting, check your local embassy!

[Sterling Hundley]

cognition,

Thanks for all of the work. I've been looking into information regarding International students, as well. We'd love to have you guys and gals here in person, but the online school is going to be delivering amazing information, as well.

[marcodoom]

At this point it comes down to demand. TAD has prestigious Euro faculty lined up for Amsterdam (the community poll winner), but we must first see the US programs fill so officially, such growth is not announced. Right now, best case scenario looks like Jan for Europe, though as said if the US pods fill tight there will not be a business argument against earlier growth. If the US PODS do not fill tight, then expansion to Europe will be delayed. Kansas City, San Francisco, Austin, and Richmond are the first POD locations. We hope to see you there.

Yes i really think demand should be the key element (besides all possible economic reasons), concerning the choice of opening a euro POD.

USA has obviously more students applying and 4 PODs to be filled, EURO students could only fill a EURO POD and could not compete for the USA PODs spots mostly due to visa issues.
This means they are very distinct situations.
The EURO POD opening shouldn't be a direct consequence of the cuccess the USA PODs,if demands and/or admissions are there, it could be a cuccess by itself!!

[Onisan]

We'd love to have you guys and gals here in person, but the online school is going to be delivering amazing information, as well.

I was feeling uneasy thinking about doing it completely online and I was looking forward meeting some of the people in person. Especially the instructors!
Nevertheless I have to agree with Sterling and the online component is definitely a really good and solid experience. My girlfriend also approves of me not moving to the us if I will be able to join TAD!

[John English]

Onisan-

The Illustration Academy has offered 6 weeks of immersion each year. TAD's workshops will offer the same and give an international student a chance, without a visa.

Two, 3-week workshops is a lot of contact, combined with the information of our online program will be a very effective learning environment. The Illustration Academy had huge success with just the 6 weeks of immersion and no online information. Just look at the information being delivered in the Discovery program and it is purely online!

The workshops will greatly enhance the online component by allowing the students to see the hands on information concerning, life drawing, demonstration and other studio practices. The workshops are designed to give the online student an understanding of a studio experience!

I hope this helps!

John

[kamikasepower]

Is there ANY doccument that TAD can provide me to help with the vista? i want to go to the POD but i want to do it right.

[RedWarrior]

Yeah, I thought the same, may be I can talk with the embassy and they let me stay like a student.
At least I can try.

[Simon Boxer]

Personally I'm waiting on some sort of POD acceptance notification.

It is possible to get a longer B1/B2 visa than 6 months, at least as an Australian - I can't guarantee that's an option for all nationalities. But yes, my concern is I currently lack convincing documentation to present at the visa interview.

Edit: Woo! Notifications coming out by 25th March.

[Thyname]

I think the POD acceptance letter should help you guys out. I hope everything works out for you guys

[RedWarrior]

Hi all!!!

I just called the US embassy in Mexico (My country) and they told me there´s no way to get into USA as a student if I don´t show them my I-20 (the document that prove I´m accepted by an accredited school) And If I attend school with a tourist visa I would violated the tourist conditions.... So as we guess thats illegal . If we assist to a school with a tourist visa (It could be a problem if we want to attend to the workshops) maybe the authority could uncover our intentions...

Yeah I know, It could be we will never been discovered but are we going to take that risk??

What do you think partners? :s

[Simon Boxer]

I just had my visa interview and was denied a 30 month visa.

TAD doesn't really fit into any category. Ineligible for a student visa (as already established) and it's not a 'short course' being multiple years.
I was told it was possible to get visas for longer than 6 months but I'm uncertain how to convince the consular official to give me one, and for how long to apply for.

Each visa application costs me $150, so I'm not really in the mood to guess and check. Now I can tick "Yes" to the "Have you been denied a visa?" box though! Yay :/

I foresee this biting me in the ass in some hilariously ridiculous way. I seem to attract those sort of situations.

[marcodoom]

Concerning health care:

I've gathered a few infos from a few insurance companies, maybe you know it already..but anyway:
It seems that the "standard" companies require a 3 months residency in california before being able to offer any policy,
this is not the same of becoming a real resident,which takes much longer, it means just that you have to prove you have been living in California for 3 months.
The solution comes from the "international insurance companies" they don't have residency requirements, most of them can be bought online, they are meant for visa holders ( hope you find a way to get it guys..) and expats as well.

[Hive_minD]

Ai, I aint looking forward to this part. I already searched for student loans (here in Norway) and got denied. So I can kinda understand that visa is gonna be a problem too. Pitty though. But is there Any International students joining at TAD at the moment? Must be, but I wonder how they went about with visa and the likings.

Chris

[RedWarrior]

Hive_mind: I´m quoting myself here: What do you think?

"Just as a curious thing: If an international student is granted with a Full-ride scholarship, how does he/she will attend the PODs? They have a full-ride online program scholarship? If this is the case, I guess the online and POD program cost is the same...

For example, our partner Jana obtained one and she is actually in Germany right? Getting her into TAD is an excellent opportunity to graduate excellent students.... All the accepted students are the future of TAD. So I think she have to be almost necessarily with the masters and the classmates to learn from her...

I think also is fair to get a SEVIS accreditation to help specially the supers skilled ones, as I said before, they guarantee the community success and help to the art partners.

Topic Change*: The tuition discount is almost finishing and I don´n have any info about if I was accepted in a POD or where we must pay "

---- Please God!! send me a VISA at last for 2 years and I will go to the church everyday!!!!----

[Simon Boxer]

Redwarrior: You can't get a visa for 2 years for TAD. I have already mentioned why.

Hive: I suspect most non-US citizens enrolled in a POD haven't really thought about the visa issue too much. The only option for us really is going for up to 6 months at a time, leaving then getting another visa issued. I was told by the consular official that this is a grey area, which implies to me that it's doable, but not necessarily reliable. You could potentially arrive and be refused entry if you keep jumping back and forth.

[Hive_minD]

Redwarrior: You can't get a visa for 2 years for TAD. I have already mentioned why.

Hive: I suspect most non-US citizens enrolled in a POD haven't really thought about the visa issue too much. The only option for us really is going for up to 6 months at a time, leaving then getting another visa issued. I was told by the consular official that this is a grey area, which implies to me that it's doable, but not necessarily reliable. You could potentially arrive and be refused entry if you keep jumping back and forth.

Thanks mate, that is kinda what I found out also. Though I find it a pitty. I guess I´ll ahve to wait and see. One step at a time you know.

[Thyname]

Can you guys apply for a worker's visa? or work towards a green card and be classified as an immigrant?? I have absolutely no idea how this works but I do know they exist.

My aunt has held a green card for 50 years and I know many many people who are older and have a worker's visa. I know a worker's visa is renewable. might be worth a check