Can I apply for FAFSA with a pending green card but have SSN?

you CANNOT apply for fafsa without being a US citizen or eligible noncitizen. having just an SSN isnt enough!! go to studentaid.gov and look at the eligibility requirements. pending green card doesnt count, you need the actual card or refugee/asylum status, etc.

The previous commenter is partially correct, but I want to clarify some important points. While having just an SSN doesn't automatically qualify you, your specific immigration status matters. According to Federal Student Aid guidelines, you need to be an "eligible noncitizen" which includes: 1. Permanent Resident with a Green Card 2. Conditional Permanent Resident 3. Refugee or Asylee status 4. T-Visa holder 5. Cuban-Haitian Entrant Since your green card is pending, you'd need to check what your current documented status is. Some pending applicants with certain statuses (like pending asylum with work authorization) might qualify. I'd recommend checking the "eligible noncitizen" definitions carefully on studentaid.gov.

I was in EXACTLY your situation last year! Had my SSN but green card was still processing. I applied for FAFSA anyway and got rejected initially, but was told I could update my status once my green card was approved. What I'd recommend is: 1. Apply for FAFSA now and mark your current status 2. Contact your school's financial aid office ASAP - they might have institutional aid you CAN qualify for 3. Be ready to update your FAFSA immediately when your green card arrives Also, many colleges have special scholarships for international or immigrant students that don't require FAFSA eligibility. Don't give up!

The previous response about fraud is unnecessarily alarming. Applying for FAFSA while clearly stating your current immigration status is NOT fraud - you're simply submitting your information truthfully. The system will determine eligibility. However, I would suggest also exploring these alternatives while waiting for your green card: 1. CSS Profile - many private colleges use this for institutional aid 2. State-specific aid programs (some states have aid for DACA/undocumented students) 3. Private scholarships that don't require permanent residency 4. Check if your college has a specific process for students in immigration transition And definitely contact your school's financial aid office directly. They deal with these situations frequently and can guide you through options specific to your school.

trying to reach federal student aid by phone to ask about my situation but I'm on hold FOR EVER. this is so frustrating!!!!

Something else to consider - make sure you're correctly distinguishing between your SSN and work authorization. Some people with pending immigration status have a work authorization and a SSN tied to that authorization, but this doesn't automatically confer FAFSA eligibility. When you apply with your current status, the system will run a DHS verification to confirm your eligibility. If your status changes during the academic year, you can update your FAFSA, and schools can make adjustments to your aid package. But please prepare yourself for the possibility that you might not be eligible until your green card is approved. In that case, focusing on institutional and private scholarships would be your best path forward for the immediate term.

my cousin waited 14 months for green card and missed a whole year of financial aid dont get ur hopes up the process is SLOW

Update on my previous comment - I want to clarify something important. When I said apply anyway, I meant be 100% honest about your current status. Never misrepresent your citizenship/immigration status on the FAFSA form. What I found helpful was creating an FSA ID and starting the FAFSA process so I could see exactly what was required and what options were available for my status. This helped me prepare all my documentation for when my status changed. And definitely look into your school's institutional aid forms - many schools have separate applications for students who aren't FAFSA-eligible, and these can sometimes offer significant financial assistance while you're waiting for your immigration status to change.

Has anyone actually tried contacting USCIS to expedite their green card for education/financial reasons? Does that even work?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! After researching more and reading your comments, I've decided to: 1. Be honest about my current status and create an FSA ID to understand the requirements 2. Meet with my college's financial aid office to explore institutional aid options 3. Apply for private scholarships and the CSS Profile for private colleges 4. Prepare all my documentation so I can update my FAFSA immediately when my green card arrives Really appreciate all the guidance - this community is amazing!

This is such a comprehensive plan! I'm also navigating immigration and financial aid issues (though my situation is slightly different), and I wanted to add one more resource that might help. Some states have their own financial aid programs that have different eligibility requirements than federal aid - it's worth checking your state's higher education website to see if they offer anything for students in immigration transition periods. Also, don't forget to ask about payment plans when you meet with financial aid offices. Even if you can't get aid immediately, many schools offer extended payment options that can help bridge the gap until your status changes. Wishing you the best of luck with your green card process and college plans!

Welcome to the community! I went through a very similar situation two years ago and want to share what worked for me. While waiting for my green card approval, I focused heavily on merit-based scholarships from private organizations - many don't require citizenship or permanent residency, just academic achievement or community involvement. I'd also suggest reaching out to your college's international student services office (not just financial aid) - they often have connections to scholarships specifically for students in immigration transition. Some universities also have emergency funds or hardship grants that can help bridge the gap. One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track all my applications, deadlines, and requirements. The process can feel overwhelming, but staying organized made it much more manageable. Also, don't hesitate to explain your situation in scholarship essays - many organizations appreciate the unique perspective and challenges that come with the immigration journey. Keep your chin up - the green card will come through, and in the meantime, there are definitely funding options available to help you start your college journey!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here! I'm actually in a somewhat similar situation - I have a work visa and am starting the green card process, but I'm already seeing how complex the intersection of immigration status and financial aid can be. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful is to document everything throughout your process. Keep copies of all your immigration paperwork, correspondence with USCIS, and any communications with financial aid offices. This documentation can be really valuable when your status changes and you need to update your FAFSA or prove your eligibility timeline to schools. Also, I've heard that some colleges have specific "bridge" scholarships or emergency funding for students whose immigration status is in transition. It might be worth asking financial aid offices directly if they have any programs like this - even if they're not widely advertised. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here - it's giving me a much better sense of what to expect as I navigate my own journey!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and currently navigating my own FAFSA eligibility questions. Reading through this thread has been incredibly enlightening - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and advice! I wanted to add something that might be helpful based on my recent research: if you're working with a college admissions counselor or have been assigned one, definitely loop them into your situation early. Many admissions offices work closely with financial aid to help students in unique circumstances, and they might know about institutional policies or special consideration processes that aren't widely publicized. Also, I've found that some community colleges have more flexible aid programs while you're waiting for your status to change, and you can often transfer those credits later. It might be worth exploring as a bridge option to get started on your education journey while navigating the immigration process. The suggestion about keeping detailed documentation really resonates with me - I'm starting a dedicated folder for all immigration and financial aid paperwork now rather than waiting until I need it later. Thanks again to everyone for creating such a supportive space to share these complex experiences!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I'm actually in a similar boat - I have my SSN and work authorization while my adjustment of status is processing, and I was completely confused about FAFSA eligibility until I found this discussion. The range of advice here is amazing - from the technical eligibility requirements to practical alternatives like CSS Profile, state aid programs, and institutional scholarships. I especially appreciate everyone emphasizing the importance of being completely honest about immigration status rather than trying to work around the system. One quick question for the group: has anyone had success with scholarship search engines that specifically filter for immigration status? I've been using the general ones but wondering if there are specialized databases for students in transition periods like ours. Thanks again to Emily for starting this conversation and to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's impossible to find in official FAQs!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I'm currently in a similar situation with my green card application in progress (11 months and counting!) and an SSN through work authorization. Reading through all the experiences shared here, I wanted to add one resource that helped me recently: the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has a really detailed guide about eligible noncitizen categories that breaks down the nuances better than the basic FSA website. It helped me understand exactly where I stand in the eligibility spectrum. Also, for anyone dealing with the long wait times - I've found that setting up case status alerts through the USCIS website helps manage the anxiety a bit. You get automatic updates when there's movement on your case, so you're not constantly checking manually. The advice about institutional aid and CSS Profile has been a game-changer for my planning. I had no idea so many schools had separate funding streams for students in immigration transition. This community is such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so openly!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you for this incredibly detailed and helpful thread. I'm actually in a very similar situation - I have my SSN and work authorization while my I-485 (adjustment of status) is pending, and I was completely lost about FAFSA eligibility until I found this discussion. What really stands out to me is how this conversation has evolved into such a comprehensive resource. The advice ranges from the technical eligibility requirements to creative alternatives I never would have thought of - like the CSS Profile for institutional aid, state-specific programs, and even the tip about community colleges as a bridge option. I especially appreciate everyone emphasizing the importance of complete honesty about immigration status. As someone new to navigating both the immigration system and financial aid, it's reassuring to see experienced community members stress ethical approaches while still providing practical solutions. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I recently discovered that some universities have specific "pre-professional" or "pathway" programs designed for students whose immigration status is in transition. These programs sometimes have their own funding mechanisms separate from traditional financial aid. It might be worth asking admissions offices if they have anything like this. Thanks again to Emily for starting this conversation and to everyone who has shared their experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes all the difference when you're trying to figure out these complex systems!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through. I'm actually in a very similar situation to Emily - I've been waiting 9 months for my green card while having an SSN through work authorization, and I was feeling really overwhelmed about college funding options. What strikes me most about this discussion is how it's become such a comprehensive roadmap for students in immigration transition. The evolution from the initial FAFSA eligibility question to exploring CSS Profile, institutional aid, state programs, scholarship strategies, and even pathway programs has been amazing to follow. I wanted to add one resource that helped me recently: Many universities have dedicated "international and immigrant student success" offices (separate from general international student services) that specifically help students navigating status changes. They often maintain databases of scholarships and funding opportunities that don't require permanent residency, and they understand the timeline challenges we face. Also, I've found that reaching out to alumni networks from your target schools can be surprisingly helpful. Many universities have alumni groups focused on supporting first-generation college students or those from immigrant families, and they sometimes have mentorship programs or small scholarship funds that aren't widely advertised. The advice about documentation and being proactive with FSA ID setup has been game-changing for my planning. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative space - this community is truly invaluable for navigating these complex intersections of immigration and education funding!