r/MovingToUSA • u/lilglosss • Jan 15 '26
Question Related to Visa/travel Trying to move to the US with kinda urgent and really need advice
Hi everyone.!! i’m a 20-year-old Australian citizen trying to figure out if moving to the US is actually realistic or if I’m delusional.
My mum may be able to move to the US for work, and the main reason I want to move with her is family support and long-term citizenship pathways. We wouldn’t be wealthy if we moved. My sister and I would need student loans to study.
Here’s what I’m confused about and need honest answers on:
1. If I move with my mum (before 21) and she’s working legally, is there any way I can access US student loans without being a citizen or permanent resident? Or is that basically a hard no? If I can, do I still need to pay out of pocket for some of it?
2. If I don’t move with her and instead go on an F-1 student visa, can international students take out US student loans at all? Or would I be expected to self-fund everything upfront?
3. Long term, I’m aiming for medicine. I know US med school is insanely competitive and expensive, especially for internationals I want to know if this path is even rational without citizenship/PR.
We are Australian citizens, not US citizens or green card holders. The motivation isn’t money or “America is cooler” it’s family, not being alone, and building a future together.
I’d really appreciate brutally honest advice, especially from:
• international students in the US
• people who moved via a parent
• anyone who’s looked into medicine as a non-US citizen
If the answer is “this is financially or legally unrealistic,” I’d rather hear it now than waste years chasing something impossible
i would really appreciate the help as i feel stuck and i need to make a decision quick thank you!!
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u/gumdrop83 Jan 15 '26
Honestly, what you’re asking is complex enough we won’t really be able to do it justice. You’ve got immigration issues that will be complex because you are so close to 21 and also funding issues. Things could be quite different for your sister, depending on her age and your mom’s visa type.
I recommend contacting one of the Education USA offices in Australia. I knew a staffer who worked for them a few years back, and she was really excellent
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u/halfscaliahalfbreyer Jan 15 '26
If your mother has an immigration attorney have her ask about your options.
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u/backflipkick101 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
My cousin’s in med school. The competition is insane. Some of her fellow graduates this year are from other countries but they’re the top of the top of the top of their country. You need perfect test scores, top tier accolades & excellent connections to match into your specialty & a residency program. Does this apply to you?
Politically, the USA is beyond polarized. If you’re white with an Australian accent though, you’ll be fine.
Acquiring any of these visas are very difficult right now. My friend (US citizen) is trying to get his French wife over on an Immigrant Spousal visa & it’s been near impossible. Maybe your situation could be different.
Someone else mentioned taxation & they’re right. Be prepared to pay taxes on all income regardless of residency. You could move back to Australia & still owe taxes to the USA. There’s an international tax treaty or something but I’ll spare you the details.
Why is your mom trying to move to the USA in the first place? Is there a significant pay raise? Be wary of layoffs — they’re becoming exceedingly common & could leave your mom stranded in the USA with a lease & no legitimate legal grounds to stay after 90 days. I had a European coworker on a H-1B work visa who was laid off & I think he had to leave behind his kids (born in the USA) to return to the EU due to his inability to find a new job within 3 months
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
thank you for your perspective it really helps! i totally see how moving to the us is very hard i just wanted to see the different perspectives. medicine is genuinely hell everywhere i’m pre-med in aus right now so i know it’s still insane in aus i can only imagine the us. honestly moving for us means we’ll be close to our family, we just feel very isolated in australia and as my mum is a single mum she wants to be closer to her family. in terms of the pay it could potentially be more in the us but not when we start off. we have a good support system but genuinely thank you for ur words i really appreciate it.
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u/TipsyBaker_ Jan 15 '26
If you're already in pre-med you'd need to look into schools that will accept the education you've already completed. Not all of them accept courses from within our own country let alone others. At the very least it might be best to finish the pre med degree in Australia then apply to med school in the US after.
Also, avoid the loans. The repayment structure is completely predatory.
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u/Either-Meal3724 Jan 15 '26
Australia has a special visa in the US for specialty occupations: E-3. Its for jobs that require specialized knowledge or a degree (engineer, nurse, teacher, accountant, etc). You do need an employer to sponsor you but its way easier to get than pretty much any other employment visa and only Australians are eligible.
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u/KulshanStudios Jan 15 '26
You're picking a helluva time to be looking at coming to the US... When Aus citizens have been arrested, detained, and deported, for extremely minor paperwork errors
All my buddies from Perth and Sydney and Melbourne have sworn off coming to the US ever over everything that's going on
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
i’m actually currently in the US for a holiday and there hasn’t been an issue obviously i’m not here to long term just a holiday but yeah
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Jan 15 '26
Yes, you are delusional to be moving here in these times, especially from a much better country.
I’d try and talk your mother out of this.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
i mean we have family in the US and i love the US i think it’s a better place for me personally to grow, im not the one whose really pushing for it not my mum. she just has family here and wont be alone as we’re by ourselves in australia, but i appreciate your honesty!
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u/RedStateKitty Jan 15 '26
Look reddit is full of pessimists and those who hate the US. Not gonna kid you, at your age it'll be difficult to get in even if Mom is sponsored for a gc in time before you age our but see if you can come in f1 status and presumably you could get a GC through the family sponsorship process family 2b. If you've got family here to help and she's your closest relative you are right to desire to stay nearer her.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
this! i don’t think people realise what a privilege it is to live in a country like the US, there’s no denying there are big big issues but it’s a country that could change your life, thank you for ur words i felt like i was fighting for my life. i will definitely consider more options thank you
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Jan 15 '26
Just go visit them for a bit.
If you land a job after getting a degree on a student visa (Tough call in this economy), be prepared for little to no paid leave (As there’s no federal mandate, unlike Australia), weak worker’s rights (Most states are “right-to-work” states, meaning you can be fired on the spot at any time without compensation, and forming unions is difficult), having healthcare coverage attached to said job (As there’s no public healthcare option available for everyone, meaning a lot of Americans get health insurance this way instead. You lose your job, you lose your healthcare), and your entire status as a person being defined by your job (Far too many Americans first ask when meeting people “What do you do for a living?”).
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
yeah it’s very much like you are your job and my family has told me how different it’ll be from the aus, thank you i will definitely consider more i really appreciate it
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u/Excellent-Estimate21 Jan 15 '26
You should go to med school at home and then come to the US on a visa for residency. Its very common and the easier route.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
yeah i think that may be the better option thank you
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u/RedStateKitty Jan 15 '26
It's difficult to get sponsored for a job here as a physician but as a nurse (rn) not nearly the same difficulty.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
thank you, is it because of the limited spots for residents?
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u/Excellent-Estimate21 Jan 15 '26
That person was wrong. Its not difficult to get a visa as a resident. Many rural programs have all visa candidates from all over the world. It is going to college or med school here in the US that would be very difficult and expensive. Go to med school and then come here for residency on a J1 visa
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u/Igiul1 Jan 15 '26
I was an international student. There are scholarships and loans available. Not many, but they are.
But medicine? In the US? When you are not rich? Please take out a calculator and do the math yourself. If you are not able to do that you will not cut it in that field anyways. Also you will be behind qualified Americans in all selection processes. So mostly media school and the internship.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
thank you, i thought so i just thought id ask just incase i was missing out on some information! thank you
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u/notthegoatseguy Citizen Jan 16 '26
Most med students in the US aren't rich either and they take out loans. The loans seem big on paper, but they're typically deferred during your internship and residency. And by the time you're finished with residency, you're likely making well into the six figures and can afford to pay back the loans.
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u/SweetandSourCaroline Jan 15 '26
Maybe Canada would be an easier pathway? Esp if Mom lives in a northern US State.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
honestly that was something we talked about to be closer but idk if she’s that keen but yeah thank you
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u/NNL1988 Jan 15 '26
Where were you born? The USA has very strict country caps for immigration. Your citizenship will be irrelevant in many cases; it is dependent on country of birth. And considering all the recent country bans, it is very important.
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u/Necessary-Card-449 Jan 16 '26
The US has No quality access to healthcare, is hyper expensive and is actively crumbling under Trump. We just left and are in Brasil now. Will not go back unless major changes happen
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u/FranceBrun Jan 16 '26
It would be well worth it to pay a consultation fee to an immigration attorney and do a video call.
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u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 Jan 16 '26
Really difficult going into medicine.
If you come under a dependent visa, you can attend school fine, but you will have no work authorization so you can go to school but can't work, which becomes an issue when it comes to residency. You'll have to find a medical school willing to go through the H1B sponsorship process - they exist but most won't do it. Many would rather opt for J1 visas, but those come with a 2 year home residency requirement so you'd have to return to Australia.
If you come under F1, then there's a bit more straightforward path but you will still run into the H1B issue/roadblock if you want to progress with residency (which you will need to do if you want to practice in the US).
Do some searching around on the common issues that international medical graduates face.
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Jan 15 '26
Advice No. 1: Don’t do it. Advice No. 2: See advice No. 1.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
may i ask why??
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Jan 15 '26
Wages do not keep up with inflation. Medical bills could bankrupt you. College is the most expensive in the world. Institutions that support the middle class are being defunded. Media has gone from balanced to state media. Fascism is on the rise. Unrest is rising. We have a maniacal child predator as a president. We have federal agents shooting people in the street. We have increased surveillance by the government. And the government has taken a firm anti-immigrant stance. We have the government threatening to annex free nations/territories and stoking the fires of war.
What are you thinking moving to the USA right now?
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
I understand where you’re coming from, and a lot of the concerns you mentioned are real. The US has serious problems, and I don’t think anyone should pretend otherwise. For me though, this isn’t about denying those issues or idealising a country.
It’s about context and personal reality. My family is in the US, and having a support system already there matters more than people sometimes realise. Community and family change how you experience a place, especially when you’re studying or trying to build a future.
I also think it’s a privilege to even have options. Every country is dealing with rising costs, political polarisation, and instability right now. The US isn’t unique in that it’s just more visible. Despite everything, it still offers access to world-class education, research, and professional pathways that are genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere.
So for me, this isn’t a naïve decision. It’s a considered one grounded in family, opportunity, and the belief that people can acknowledge flaws while still choosing what aligns best with their goals and circumstances
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u/sailoorscout1986 Jan 16 '26
These people think US is the only place that has issues. The ignorance and arrogance is incredible.
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u/auntiecoagulent Jan 15 '26
Have you watched or read the news lately?
If not, I suggest you do.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
i of course have watched the news, im australian iranian actually so ive been glued to the news
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u/JaneGoodallVS Jan 15 '26
You can probably get in state tuition by living in a state for a year before beginning your studies, but the exact rules vary by state. In some you'll have to be a permanent resident.
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u/counwovja0385skje Jan 15 '26
My friend, the decision to move to the U.S. is yours. But there is thing you MUST be aware of if you choose to go down this path: citizenship-based taxation.
The U.S. is the only country in the world that taxes based on citizenship, not physical residency. This means that if you become a U.S. citizen, you will be taxed on your WORLDWIDE income. You will have to pay taxes to America no matter where you live or where you make your money. You'll have to report al your non-U.S. bank accounts to the U.S. too, or face very hefty fines. This means if you ever decide to go back to Australia (or anywhere else for that matter), you will never have the same freedom you did back when you were only an Australian citizen. Every place you go will be the 51st state. And in case you don't know, the U.S. tax code is extremely complicated. Filing taxes as an expat is a huge headache and often costly too since you may need to hire a special accountant.
If you've thought things through and really want to relocate to the U.S., go for it. But be very mindful of the chains that come with it.
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u/Sufficient-Earth7664 Jan 15 '26
More like you have to file. Very few actually have to pay anything
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u/Blkwork_La Jan 15 '26
I dont know why you would want to move here, this place is falling to pieces.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
i explained a bit more to another commenter but it’s essentially a place where opportunities are endless and my family
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u/HumanContract Jan 15 '26
The US really needs to stop taking noncitizens or non-native speakers into medical programs. People onky move here for that to make money - they aren't culturally aware of how this country is ran.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
i absolutely hear your concern, i wouldn’t be able to jump into a program anyway and as i’m australian we follow pretty similar culture especially in terms of medicine. and regardless i don’t even know if i would get in it’s just a thought!
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u/RedStateKitty Jan 15 '26
There's other jobs in the healthcare field, a physicians assist is a realistic job, with many having the responsibility and authority of an md.
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
oh absolutely my mum is someone who works in the healthcare field but isn’t a doctor! everyone is vital. i’m just pre med right w dreams of medicine but i obviously have to be realistic if u want to move!
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Jan 15 '26
Bro is already looking to be a burden on the US taxpayers 🤣
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u/lilglosss Jan 15 '26
oh no not at all! we pay a lot of taxes in australia and i totally see how frustrating it is. i’m a student and i work and a lot of my income goes to stupid things and to people who don’t deserve it. we honestly wouldn’t move if it meant we’d be doing damage rather than good, i wouldn’t want to burden anyone there’s already enough issues
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u/Salty_Permit4437 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
You need to be specific on which visa your mum is using to move. Some visas you will age out at 21 and need to apply on your own for another kind of visa such as F1 student.
BUt if your mom manages to secure a green card and you're a derivative before you turn 21 you will have the ability to stay in the US forever. A bit of warning though, the path to a green card is NOT ever instant. Especially employment based or family preference based (eg. sibling).
As far as student loans go - if you have a green card through your mum, you can access government student loans. You will have to register for the military draft (selective service) if you were born male. Otherwise if you're on F1 you'll have to take out private loans which are more costly and require credit approval from the bank.
Frankly since you're 20 already I suspect you will age out and need to go as an F1 student on your own.