Are U.S. Expats Considered International Students?

At most U.S. universities, citizenship—not where a student lives or attends school—determines whether the applicant is classified as domestic or international. However, your application is often read with the international applications.

At most colleges, your application will be read by the international admissions team responsible for your region and more familiar with the school curricula and other aspects related to student life in that area. It makes sense that your application would be read in the context of where you are attending school. You would be compared more to the students in your region. However, when it comes down to choosing an expat vs a true international student, you often have the advantage as you are eligible for federal aid and do not have the burden of providing proof of finances or eligibility for visa. New policies limiting visa periods and suggested caps on international students would not apply to U.S. expats as they have citizenship.

Although you are not an ‘international student’, you have the benefit of the international experience and hopefully language skills you have gained while living outside of the US. These are great assets to highlight in your applications. How has your international experience shaped you? What can you bring from this to your future campus? I help guide my students to focus on and add activities to their resume which will enhance their application and demonstrate their uniqueness. We also find creative ways to include these international experiences in their essays.   

See other posts in U.S. expat college consulting series

Update on original article posted in 2024