Education Best Posts in Thread: Post-9/11 GI Bill Letter and Forms

Dear Wrye83:

Please use these websites as they will help you clarify and use your GI Bill in a more effective manner for YOU.

VA Foreign School Information/Overview:

Foreign School Information for Students - Education and Training

There are three VA Regional Offices that process Foreign school GI Bill usage and GI Bill usage outside the 50 States. Be sure to know which of those three VA Regionals your school will fall under so your application is routed to the correct Regional.

**********

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

MHA Rate Exceptions

Type of School MHA Rate

Foreign School $1,611.00

Schools in US Territories E-5 with dependents OHA Rate for school location

Exclusively Online Training (No Classroom Instruction) $805.50

Attending classes at ½ time or less NOT PAYABLE

Active Duty Trainee (or transferee spouse of servicemember) NOT PAYABLE

**** There are other exceptions NOT listed by the VA in this above info, but if you know how to drill down in your research, you WILL find some US schools located in a foreign country that WILL pay MORE than the foreign school MHA rate of 1,611 USD per month of full time attendance (generally, you will receive 8 months of MHA per 9 month school year - MHA does NOT pay during Christmas/SpringBreak or if you take Summers off).

**** HOT TIP: Look for US States/areas that pay a high MHA rate, such as NYC, Boston, MD, Southern California, etc. Then use this WEAMS website to see if any of these MHA areas have foreign school locations.

So far, in my research, the highest MHA rate for attending a Post 9/11 GI Bill approved school is through Touro University in NYC. They have a branch campus in Berlin, Germany, and pay a full-time student MHA rate of 3,775 (3,775 x 8 = 30,200 per 8 month school year - tax free).

Cost of living comparison between NYC and Berlin when receiving the NYC MHA rate for going to school and living in Berlin, Germany is VERY advantageous to the Veteran. But of course, this doesn't mean anything of much if they don't offer a degree program at Touro U Berlin you are interested in persueing. But Touro University/Berlin, Germany Campus is so far, the highest paying MHA US/foreign school location I've found.

WEAMS Public

You will also find some US schools with a branch location in a foreign country that will pay LESS than the foreign school MHA of 1,611 (Example: Webster University is located in many foreign nations, but Webster U pays the St. Louis, MO, MHA rate of 1,216). Why so low? Because all Webster U foreign school locations & GI Bill applications/attendance are all handled at their "Main Branch" brick and mortar location in St. Louis, MO -- hence the LOWER overseas MHA rate.

WEAMS Public

This is WHY Touro U can pay such a high MHA in Berlin - all their GI Bill paperwork goes through their "Main Branch" brick and mortar location in NYC -- hence the HIGHER overseas MHA rate.

**********

Use the WEAMS website to see what the deal is for your school of choice. It will tell you the MHA amount for full-time study, programs of study for that location which are already VA approved for use of your GI Bill, and the already VA pre-approved degree level (BA, BS, Masters, etc).

WEAMS Public

Remember: If you attend as a 3/4 time student, you will NOT get the 100% MHA rate. For example: 12 units is considered to be "full time". 9 units is considered to be 3/4 time. The VA, by law, has to "round up" to the nearest 0 percentile, so if you attend at the 3/4 time rate, the VA does NOT pay 75% MHA, it has to pay you the 80% MHA rate (75% is rounded UP - 74% is rounded DOWN to 70%).

For many with physical and/or psychological/cognitive disabilities (PTSD/TBI), 3/4 time may be ALL they can successfully manage AND PASS without flunking out. The VA wants those folks to succeed and acknowleges that for many of these Vets, 3/4 time IS full time for them with what is left of their bodies and brains. There are ways to be granted 100% MHA for 3/4 time study, but this probably doesn't apply to your situation.

I had to research and research all this stuff because the VA won't tell you these things. So I'm glad you're going to cobble a plan together for yourself and make good use of this benefit you have earned.

****

Some nations are very strict about your using their Student VISA, staying in their country, and ONLY studying in their country as a 3/4 time student. Others - not so much. You will need to do your research on this to make sure your Student VISA is good and won't get yanked from you should you decide to drop from full-time to 3/4 time study.

****

In my case, I won't have to use a Student VISA in too many countries as I can qualify for that nation's retiree VISA (if they have one). I can use their retiree VISA and NOT be concerned about getting their Student VISA yanked from me if I drop to 3/4 study.

So PLEASE be sure to check out that countries Student VISA program and what you need to do to keep it before you commit.

V/R,
nwlivewire