Advice for Parents of International Students Studying in the US
Since the advent of the Internet, the world has grown smaller by the day. Obviously, not in size but in the reach that we have when interacting with other nations no matter where they are located on the globe. As a result, a growing number of parents are sending their children abroad to get an education that will help them become better acquainted with those nations they will most likely be interacting with in the world of business.
As a superpower, the United States has a currency that is one of the majors on the Foreign Exchange, and there are few countries that don’t see the US as a major trade partner. If your son or daughter has enrolled in one of the many top-ranked universities here, there are a few bits of advice that may make the distance seem a whole lot nearer.
Give Them the Independence They Need
Although your kids have never been farther away than a vacation in a nearby resort area or backpacking across your own country, it can be a huge separation when sending them off to a nation far across the ocean. No matter where you live on this giant globe floating through space, even a few thousand miles can seem like a distance equal to that of travel to the moon.
Bear in mind that with the current state of connectivity, those kids are just a Facebook chat or phone call away. If they suddenly find they are out of funds until the end of the month, there is always instant transfer with platforms like Ria Money Transfer. Try to let them budget out on their own, but if an emergency should arise, instant money can be in their bank in mere moments, so don’t fret! Let them become independent because this really is the beginning of that stage in their life!
Don’t Let Them Sense Your Angst
To outwardly show just how worried you are about sending them off on their own, this can have far-reaching ramifications. Some kids might then become fearful themselves while others may rebel and take their independence a bit too far. In either case, no matter how troubled you are about letting them go off to a faraway location, remember, this is the United States we are talking about and not some impoverished country where services are unavailable.
It All Begins with Preparing for Their Departure
The sooner you prepare for their imminent departure, the less stressful you will be. Besides helping them to get their student visa and all their documents in order, you can also begin researching other resources they may need while abroad. For example, you may want to have contact information for the nearest embassy of your country and hospitals and medical facilities that will either take your insurance or bill parents in another country. You may want to set up an emergency fund in a bank in the United States that can be accessed for medical emergencies if need be.
The point is, the sooner you know that you’ve made all the arrangements you can make for things you’d do as a parent at home, the easier it will be to let go. You’ve obviously done a great job raising your kids if they’ve done well enough scholastically to qualify for a good university abroad. You didn’t do their studying for them, did you? So, take heart that your kids are ready to face their future. It’s time to let go.
Author Bio: Tricia Lee is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs, a Digital Marketing Agency. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, dance, and read non-fiction.
