Summer REU options for int'l students?

[Lavabug]

Is it common for international students to get to do summer physics REU's in the US? I am a 3rd year undergrad in Spain, although I am a legal resident of the US if that helps (no need for a visa or anything to that avail). I can get letters of recommendation from 2-3 professors one of which is in my area of interest. I would like to do something in astrophysics but I'm open to other areas as well. Do I have any chance of getting into a REU or do students studying abroad take a back seat to applicants with letters of recommendation from US professors?

 

[Stengah]

REU programs are funded by the National Science Foundation, and non-US citizens are not allowed to apply. If you are a US citizen, you might be able to apply, but I'm not sure how your application would look coming from Spain. I would just send emails to the programs you want to attend and ask them.

However, there are a couple of programs that accept international students, the funding just comes from somewhere else. Montana State University is an example. Their program is in solar physics.

 

[Lavabug]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion! That looks nice, and one of my profs is an active researcher in that area. Do you happen to know of any similar examples of non-NSF funded REUs? I'm a permanent resident (greencard holder), but I'm still a few years from being able to obtain a full citizenship.

I found a site with a list, though it was last updated 5 years ago:
http://astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro334/internships.html
which has a link to
http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~clang/reu_info.html

I assume national laboratories are out of the question for non-citizens?

Edit: I just found out that permanent residents can still apply for NSF grants.

 

[Stengah]

That program was the only one I saw in my REU search that accepts international students. Some say they accept permanent residents, but some also say that you must attend a school in the US. And yes, national laboratories are probably out of the question. But again, it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[Matrix0]

It is not uncommon for international students to participate in summer REU programs in the US. Many universities and research institutions welcome international students to their programs, and being a legal resident of the US may increase your chances of being accepted. However, the selection process for REU programs is highly competitive and decisions are based on a variety of factors, including academic achievements, research interests, and letters of recommendation. It is important to highlight your academic achievements and research interests in your application, and having letters of recommendation from professors in your area of interest can strengthen your application. Ultimately, the decision to accept international students is up to each individual program, so I would encourage you to apply and showcase your qualifications and enthusiasm for astrophysics or other areas of interest. Good luck!