Just following up - were you able to successfully submit your FAFSA with the foreign earned income exclusion? Did it calculate your SAI correctly when you entered it as a positive number?

Great to hear you got it resolved! This is such a common issue for people with foreign income situations. For anyone else reading this thread later - the key takeaway is that FAFSA treats exclusion fields differently than regular income fields. Always enter exclusions as positive numbers in their dedicated fields, even though it feels counterintuitive. The system is programmed to handle the math correctly behind the scenes. Definitely bookmark this thread if you're dealing with international tax situations and FAFSA - could save you hours of frustration!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're applying to schools in multiple states, definitely research each state's specific requirements. Some states have unique rules about which schools need to be listed first for state aid eligibility. Also, don't stress too much about the process - you can always make changes after submission if needed. The most important thing is getting that FAFSA submitted on time. Good luck with your applications, Carmella!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm also doing FAFSA for the first time and was totally stressed about this exact question. After reading everyone's advice, I'm convinced - definitely adding all schools to avoid the nightmare of trying to update later. One thing I'm wondering about though - if I do need to make changes after submission, is it better to call the Federal Student Aid hotline or try to do it online through studentaid.gov? Has anyone had better luck with one method over the other? I've heard the phone lines can be brutal during peak season!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm everything others have said - the Parent PLUS loan is 100% your responsibility and will be tied to your FSA ID, not your son's. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can actually request less than the full gap amount if you want to minimize borrowing. We ended up taking out $15k instead of the full $20k gap and found other ways to cover the difference (part-time job for our daughter, payment plan with the school). Also, definitely apply early - we applied in June and had everything sorted before move-in day, which was way less stressful than waiting until the last minute!

Great question about checking those additional loan amounts! You can actually find this information without applying for Parent PLUS first. Contact your son's school's financial aid office directly - they can tell you exactly how much additional unsubsidized loans he'd be eligible for if you're denied for Parent PLUS. The amounts are: freshmen can get up to $4,000 additional, sophomores $4,000, and juniors/seniors $5,000. These loans would be in his name with lower interest rates (currently around 5.5% vs 7.28% for Parent PLUS). You could also run some numbers using the Federal Student Aid estimator at studentaid.gov to see projected payments. Definitely worth exploring this option first since the student loan terms are generally much better!

Ugh, that sounds like a hassle! I hope I don't get flagged, but at least I'll know what documentation to get if I do. Thanks for sharing.

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My situation is similar - my ex is supposed to pay $650/month but only sent about $3,800 last year. I was so confused about what to report, but now I understand I should only put the actual amount received. One quick question though - if I received some payments late (like December 2023 payment came in January 2024), should I count that based on when it was due or when I actually got it in my account?

Update: I finally managed to talk to someone at the Federal Student Aid office! Used the Claimyr service that was recommended and got through in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed I should use zeros for the SSN and that I need to provide additional documentation to my school's financial aid office. They also said I should apply for a Professional Judgment review based on the special circumstances of our immigration process. Thank you everyone for your help!

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I'm bookmarking this thread. One thing I'd add - make sure to keep copies of everything you submit to your financial aid office. I've seen cases where documents get lost in the shuffle, especially with non-standard situations like this. Also, if your school has an international student services office, they might have additional resources or experience with mixed-status families even though you're not an international student yourself. They often deal with similar documentation issues and might be able to provide guidance or advocacy if you run into problems with the financial aid office.