FAFSA eligibility with TPS (Temporary Protected Status) - anyone apply successfully?

mY SON HAS tps from el salvador and we applied last yr. you need to check 'eligible noncitizen' and enter the A-number from the EAD card. they might ask for extra verification later but it worked for us

TPS holders are generally eligible for federal student aid if they have a valid SSN and meet other eligibility requirements. When completing the FAFSA, your nephew should select 'eligible noncitizen' and provide his Alien Registration Number (A-number). The system will attempt to verify his status automatically through DHS. Make sure you have these documents ready: - EAD card (work permit) with category C19 or similar TPS designation - I-821 approval notice - Valid Social Security card (must not be restricted - should NOT say 'Valid for work only with DHS authorization') If there's an issue with the automatic verification, he'll need to bring these documents to the financial aid office for manual verification. Each school handles this differently.

Be careful!!!! My cousin has TPS from Haiti and when we applied they got flagged for additional verification which took FOREVER to process. We had to keep calling the Federal Student Aid office every week for almost 2 months and could never get through. The application almost got denied because of the delays.

did u try contacting ur congressperson? my daughter had similar issues (not tps but complicated immigration status) and our rep's caseworker helped speed things up when we got stuck in verification. just another option to consider

As a college financial aid counselor, I'd like to clarify a few things about TPS and FAFSA eligibility: 1. TPS holders ARE eligible for federal student aid if they have a valid, unrestricted SSN and meet other general eligibility requirements. 2. Select "eligible noncitizen" and provide the A-number as others have mentioned. 3. If your nephew gets selected for verification (which happens more frequently with non-citizen applications), respond promptly with ALL requested documentation. 4. SAI calculation works the same for TPS students as for other eligible students - family income and assets will determine aid eligibility. 5. Some institutions have specific scholarships for TPS students that don't require FAFSA. Have your nephew ask about institutional aid options specifically for students with temporary protected status. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions!

wait im confused, i thought you couldnt get fafsa without being a citizen? my friend has tps from venezuela and her college told her she cant get any federal aid only state stuff. are there different rules for different countries with tps?

What about the recent changes to FAFSA for 2025-2026? I heard they're completely changing the SAI calculation and eligibility requirements. Will that affect TPS students differently?

Update: We submitted my nephew's FAFSA application yesterday! We selected "eligible noncitizen" and entered his A-number from his EAD card. Now we're just waiting to see if he gets flagged for verification. Thank you everyone for your helpful advice - I'll update this thread when we hear back about his SAI calculation and aid eligibility. Fingers crossed!

That's awesome that you got it submitted! The waiting part is definitely nerve-wracking. Just a heads up - if you do get selected for verification, don't panic. It's actually pretty common for students with any kind of immigration status (even permanent residents sometimes get flagged). The key is just responding quickly with all the documents they ask for. Also, make sure your nephew checks his student aid email regularly over the next few weeks. Sometimes they send verification requests or other important updates there instead of his personal email. Wishing you both the best of luck with his financial aid package!

I'm also helping a family member with TPS navigate the FAFSA process, so this thread has been incredibly useful! One thing I wanted to add - if your nephew's application does get stuck in verification, don't forget that some schools have emergency aid funds that can help bridge the gap while you're waiting for federal aid to process. Our local community college has something called "Viking Emergency Aid" that helped us cover textbooks and fees when our FAFSA got delayed. It's worth asking the financial aid office about any emergency or short-term assistance programs they might have available specifically for situations like this.

Just wanted to share another resource that might be helpful! If your nephew is interested in pursuing STEM fields, there are some specific scholarship opportunities for students with TPS status. Organizations like TheDream.US and Hispanic Scholarship Fund have programs that don't require citizenship and can supplement federal aid. Also, many universities have "first-generation college student" support programs that provide additional mentoring and sometimes financial assistance - these are often available regardless of immigration status. It's worth having him reach out to the admissions offices at his target schools to ask about any special programs for students in his situation. Good luck with the FAFSA process!

This is such an informative thread! I'm a college counselor and I see a lot of confusion about TPS eligibility for FAFSA. One thing I always tell families is to start the application process early - like right when the FAFSA opens in October - because if you do get selected for verification, you'll have more time to resolve any issues before school starts. Also, make sure to complete the application using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if possible, as this can reduce the chances of being selected for verification. For TPS holders specifically, I recommend keeping copies of all immigration documents (EAD card, I-821 approval, etc.) easily accessible even after submitting the FAFSA, since you might need them for verification or school-specific documentation requests later.

As someone who went through this exact process last year with my daughter who has TPS from Honduras, I wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped us navigate the FAFSA successfully: 1. When you select "eligible noncitizen," make sure the name on the FAFSA exactly matches the name on the EAD card and Social Security card. Even small discrepancies can trigger verification. 2. If your nephew's TPS status has been renewed, use the most current A-number from his latest EAD card - don't use an old one from a previous period. 3. Keep detailed records of when you submit everything. Screenshot confirmation pages, save email confirmations, etc. This was a lifesaver when we had to follow up on our application status. 4. The FAFSA Customer Service line (1-800-433-3243) is usually less busy early in the morning (around 8 AM EST) if you need to call with questions. My daughter ended up receiving a full Pell Grant plus additional federal loans, so TPS students can definitely qualify for significant aid! The process was stressful but totally worth it in the end. Wishing your nephew the best with his applications!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread! As someone who works with immigrant families in our community, I see firsthand how confusing and overwhelming the FAFSA process can be for TPS holders. This conversation has been such a valuable resource - from the practical tips about documentation to the encouragement that TPS students CAN and DO qualify for significant federal aid. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to share with other families I work with who are navigating similar situations. The collective knowledge and experiences shared here are exactly what our community needs. Keep supporting each other!

I'm so glad I found this thread! My younger sister has TPS status from Nicaragua and will be starting her college applications next year. Reading through all these experiences and tips has given me a much better understanding of what we'll need to prepare for. I'm already starting to gather all her immigration documents and making sure her Social Security card doesn't have any work restrictions. The advice about starting early in October when the FAFSA opens is something I definitely wouldn't have known without this discussion. It's also really encouraging to see so many success stories - like hearing that TPS students can qualify for full Pell Grants and other federal aid. I'm saving all these tips about documentation matching, keeping records, and having backup resources ready. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed advice about verification processes and alternative funding sources. This community support means everything when navigating these complex systems!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm actually in a similar situation with my cousin who has TPS from El Salvador. She's been hesitant to even apply for FAFSA because she was told by someone at her high school that "temporary" status meant she wouldn't qualify for anything. Reading all these success stories and detailed guidance has completely changed our perspective. I especially appreciate the breakdown of required documents and the clarification that TPS holders ARE eligible for federal aid - this seems to be such a common misconception even among some school counselors. The tip about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to reduce verification chances is gold, and I'm definitely going to make sure we start early next October when the 2026-2027 FAFSA opens. One question - for those who have been through this process, did you find that some colleges were more knowledgeable about TPS eligibility than others? We're looking at both community colleges and 4-year universities, and I'm wondering if we should prioritize schools that seem more experienced with immigrant student populations.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how much valuable information has been shared here. My sister will be applying for FAFSA next year with TPS status from Guatemala, and reading through all these detailed experiences has given me so much confidence that we can navigate this process successfully. The practical tips about document preparation, timing, and what to expect during verification have been especially valuable. It's also really encouraging to see so many success stories of TPS students receiving significant federal aid. I'm already starting to prepare by gathering all her immigration documents and making sure everything is in order well before the application period opens. One thing that really stands out to me is how important it is to find knowledgeable financial aid counselors - it seems like there's still a lot of misinformation out there about TPS eligibility. I'll definitely be doing my research on schools that have experience with immigrant student populations. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice. This kind of community support makes such a difference when dealing with complex processes like this!