FAFSA for undocumented student with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status - need help navigating aid options

Your student should definitely apply for the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), not FAFSA, based on what you've described. SIJS status without an approved SSN means he's not eligible for federal aid yet, but California provides state aid to undocumented and DACA students. The CADAA will make him eligible for: 1. Cal Grants 2. California College Promise Grant (fee waiver for community colleges) 3. Some institutional scholarships Make sure he completes the CADAA before the March 2nd priority deadline. When his SSN and work authorization come through, he can switch to FAFSA for the following academic year and access federal aid.

When is he expecting his SSN? My cousin was in a similar situation and we waited to do FAFSA until her ssn arrived which was a mistake bc then we missed all the deadlines. def do the CA Dream App like the other person said!!

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is tricky because technically these students ARE lawfully present but cannot access federal benefits until they get green cards. It's a weird limbo. The CADAA is his best option for now. Also tell him to apply for these: - Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan if he wants to transfer to UC later - Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) at community colleges - California Chafee Grant (if he was in foster care at all) - Private scholarships that don't require citizenship (Hispanic Scholarship Fund, TheDream.US) And make sure the community college financial aid office knows his situation. They can often find additional resources.

did he graduate from a CA high school? if yes, he qualifies for AB 540 which means in-state tuition!!! that alone saved my friend like $200 per unit vs non-resident tuition which is CRAZY expensive

I work with SIJS students regularly. Here's what he needs: 1. Complete the CADAA by March 2nd 2. Submit his high school transcript to verify Cal Grant GPA 3. Apply for AB 540 status at his community college 4. Check if his county has any local scholarships for undocumented students When his work permit arrives, he can work on campus jobs that don't require federal work-study. Many colleges also have emergency funds specifically for students in his situation. Also, have him reach out to the Immigrants Rising organization - they have excellent guides on navigating college as an undocumented student.

He may qualify as independent due to special circumstances. SIJS by definition means court has determined reunification with parents isn't viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Have him contact financial aid offices directly and explain his SIJS status - they often have procedures for dependency overrides in these cases.

Tryting to call those financial aid offices is literally IMPOSSIBLE sometimes!! I spent 3 weeks trying to reach someone at my school about my verification issues. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through to someone in 5 minutes! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works - TOTAL lifesaver for important calls. Since your student has a complex case, might be worth it to actually talk to a human instead of just emails.

My daughter is undocimented and we got terrible advice from her high school counselor!! Make sure your getting info from ppl who ACTUALLY know the rules not just guessing. The finacial aid rules change all the time for immigrents. DO NOT just trust what people at the school say!!

Does he have any family here at all? My friend couldn't get his parents info for CADAA so he had to get a dependency override and needed like letters from ppl confirming his situation

One last thing - have him apply for the California College Promise Grant as soon as possible. It's separate from Cal Grants and will waive enrollment fees at community colleges. He can apply through the college directly, and it'll be processed faster than the CADAA. This way, even if there are delays with other aid, at least his tuition is covered.

Just wanted to add that if your student is interested in transferring to a 4-year university later, he should also look into the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) programs that several UCs offer to community college students. As an AB 540 student with good grades (and his 4.5 GPA sounds amazing!), he could potentially guarantee admission to schools like UC Davis, UC Irvine, or UC Santa Barbara after completing his associate degree. The TAG applications usually open in September, but it's good to plan ahead since some majors have specific course requirements. This could give him a clear pathway to a bachelor's degree while maximizing his financial aid opportunities.

I'm also mentoring students in similar situations, and I want to emphasize something important about timing - even though the March 2nd CADAA priority deadline is approaching fast, don't panic if you miss it! California still processes late applications, you just might not get first priority for limited funds. However, the California College Promise Grant (the community college fee waiver) processes year-round, so that should definitely be your immediate focus. One resource I haven't seen mentioned yet is the California Student Aid Commission's "Cash for College" workshops - they're specifically designed for situations like this and the counselors there are trained on AB 540/undocumented student issues. They also have a student support helpline at 1-888-224-7268 where you can get answers about his specific SIJS situation. Also, once he enrolls, make sure he connects with the college's EOPS program early - they don't just provide financial support, but also academic counseling, priority registration, and textbook vouchers which can make a huge difference for students without family financial support.

As someone who works with immigrant students regularly, I wanted to add a few practical tips for the application process itself. When filling out the CADAA, make sure he has his Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) ready if he has one - this can be used in place of an SSN for the application. If he doesn't have an ITIN, he can still complete the CADAA using zeros for the SSN field initially. Also, I'd strongly recommend having him start building a relationship with the financial aid office at his chosen community college NOW, before he even enrolls. Explain his SIJS status upfront and ask to speak with a counselor who specializes in AB 540 students. Many colleges have these specialists, and they can walk him through the entire process step by step. One more thing - document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all applications, court documents, correspondence with schools, and any financial aid decisions. Students in complex immigration situations often need to re-verify their status multiple times throughout their college career, so having organized records will save major headaches later. His 4.5 GPA shows he's clearly college-ready academically - with the right financial aid support, he's going to do amazing things!

I want to echo what others have said about the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) being the right path for your student. I've helped several SIJS students navigate this process, and it's important to know that many community colleges in California have specific outreach coordinators for undocumented and AB 540 students who understand these complex situations. One additional resource that hasn't been mentioned is the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office "I Can Go to College" website - they have a specific section for AB 540 students that breaks down the entire process step by step. Also, consider reaching out to local immigrant rights organizations in your area, as they often have volunteers who specialize in helping students with college applications and financial aid. Given his exceptional GPA and the approaching deadlines, I'd also suggest applying to multiple community colleges in your area - not just his first choice. This gives him more options for financial aid packages and increases his chances of connecting with counselors who really understand his situation. Some colleges are simply better equipped to serve AB 540 students than others. You're doing incredible work advocating for this student - having a mentor who cares enough to research all these options can truly change the trajectory of his life.

I just want to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your student is planning to work while attending community college, he should know that once his work authorization comes through, California has some great on-campus job programs specifically for AB 540 students. Many community colleges participate in the Work-Study Program for California residents (separate from federal work-study), and some have paid internship programs that don't require citizenship status. Also, I'd recommend having him start building his college application portfolio now - personal statement, letters of recommendation from teachers, documentation of any volunteer work or extracurricular activities. Even though community college admission isn't as competitive, having these materials ready will be crucial when he applies for scholarships and eventually transfers to a 4-year university. Many scholarship applications open throughout the year, not just during traditional financial aid seasons. His resilience in maintaining a 4.5 GPA while navigating such a complex immigration situation shows incredible character - that's exactly the kind of story that scholarship committees love to support. Don't let him underestimate the power of his personal journey when applying for private scholarships that value overcoming adversity.