My uncle is an employee at my university and I am his nephew. He asked the human resources of the university whether I am eligible to receive tuition benefits because I am his nephew. They said, as long as he claimed me as a dependent child in his income tax form, I am eligible to receive free tuition. I am an international student and my authorization to stay in United States was given to me by the U.S immigration because of the university letter saying that I can receive free tuition up to 8 semesters. I only used 2 yet. However, now the university is saying that they can’t offer me tuition benefits form my uncle’s employee benefits anymore because they say they made a mistake in the beginning about my eligibility to tuition benefits. So if they can’t give it anymore as they promised, i will have to leave the country. Can I take any legal actions and reclaim my tuition benefits under this situation?
2007-02-21 13:35:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
have a letter from the human resources mentioning that eligible to receive tuition benefits up to 8 semesters. I am also about to graduate with in few semesters and if i had to switch universities, I will lose most of my course credits and might even have to redo some, which is years of work.
2007-02-21 13:36:16 · update #1
This is the second time you've asked this question tonight.
The answer is NO. In your previous description of the situation, you stated that your uncle lied and claimed you as a dependant, and that you had already been granted two free semesters.
From the info you provided in this and the other question, it is obvious that you and your uncle's scheme to get you free tuition did not work, because the university deduced that you are not his child, thus not his dependant.
As several of us told you before, you should thank the lucky stars that you got two semesters of free tuition. The university is fully within its rights to pull its offer of tuition, after they found out that you are not your uncle's legal dependant.
You'd do better to look for scholarships for international students than to try to persue a lawsuit against a university that won't even see a minute in court. You got caught not being honest, and the university pulled its offer, which was contingent upon your honesty. The only entity that has a case here is the university, which could report you and your uncle for fraud (and tax fraud, since you stated in the previous question that he claimed you on his Federal Income Tax as his child).
2007-02-21 13:46:20 · answer #1 · answered by Texasippi Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have in writing any statements that a reasonable person would construe to be a guarantee of free tuition, then they have made a contract, and if you suffer hardship as a result of relying on that promise, then you are entitled to be compensated for that.
That being said, I would doubt that a university would leave itself open like that. I'm sure that they included a disclaimer of some sort in the myriad paperwork that you filled out. That letter may be trumped by something you signed upon enrollment.
If you are almost out of school, anyway, why not pay for it? Why the hell should I pay for you to get an education and take it back to some other country?
EDIT: you conveniently left out the fact that you failed to meet the eligibility requirements for the free tuition. (read you last question). My original advice was based on the premise that you met all the requirements and that the university arbitrarily revoked the offer. This is not the case. Non-relatives can be dependents on someone's taxes, but they wouldn't qualify for his employee benefits, either.
2007-02-21 13:48:33 · answer #2 · answered by normobrian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see why you can't reasonably work it out to stay until you graduate in a few semesters. Who is threatening to deport you? That same authorization to stay in the U.S. is because (I would THINK) is they are interested in seeing you graduate from a U.S. university. I don't see the problem, unless your ability to stay here hinges on your receiving tuition money. Just stay and finish school and talk to the INS about your situation. Show them the letter. This is not really a forum for legal advice, that would be through an attorney. I don't, in my non-legal opinion, believe you have any course of legal action in suing the university. If you could afford to do that, you wouldn't need the money for tuition in the first place. Good luck with your diploma.
2007-02-21 13:46:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always take legal action, the question is whether it will be worth it, what you stand to win and what you risk losing. No lawyer will help you w. those most important questions w/out being biased in favour of getting a case, if you are eligible for legal aid go for it regardless.
And remember, the creeps that call you names had ancestors who were likely the worst kind of immigrants not long ago!
2007-02-21 13:42:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The letter said you COULD get up to 8 semesters, which means they do not have to give it to you.
Contact an immigration lawyer and find out what might be done.
2007-02-21 13:43:03 · answer #5 · answered by Aliz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's complicated, I don't think you'll find your answers here, you'll have to get a lawyer. In America its generally possible to sue for anything, so give it a shot, just make sure the legal fees are worth the expense.
2007-02-21 13:44:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the tuition exemption only applies to immediate family, i.e., children & spouse.
I think you'd be wasting your money by getting an attorney.
2007-02-21 13:40:29 · answer #7 · answered by ric9757 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋