FAFSA options without SSN for summer term? Husband has SSN but I'm still waiting for mine

I went through something similar last year. Unfortunately, you can't submit a FAFSA without an SSN - it's one of the first things they ask for and the form won't process without it. Your options are probably going to be: 1. Private student loans with your husband as the cosigner 2. Payment plan through your university (most schools offer this) 3. Emergency grants if your school has them (ask financial aid office) 4. Scholarships that don't require FAFSA Definitely talk to your school's financial aid office about your situation. Some schools have special funds for international students or those in unique situations.

You might be eligible for what's called a "Temporary SSN" or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) that some schools will accept for certain financial aid programs. Also, have you contacted USCIS to see if you can expedite your SSN application? Sometimes they can speed things up if you can demonstrate financial hardship or educational need.

just go talk to the finaid office at ur school!!! they deal with this stuff ALL THE TIME. my cousin didnt have her ssn yet either and they helped her get some emergency grant or something + payment plan. dont stress too much

Have you tried reaching the Federal Student Aid Information Center directly? I was getting nowhere with my FAFSA verification issues until I used Claimyr to get through to a human at FSA. They have a service that gets you past the hold times (https://claimyr.com) - there's even a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ They might be able to tell you if there are any exceptions or workarounds for your situation. While you probably can't submit a FAFSA without an SSN, they might know of some alternative options or could tell you if there's any way to expedite your application when your SSN arrives.

The SSN requirement for FAFSA is unfortunately very strict. Without it, federal aid is not an option. Here are some alternatives I've seen students use in similar situations: 1. Check if your school has a "Foreign Student Aid" fund 2. Look into emergency enrollment loans through your university 3. Apply for private scholarships that don't require FAFSA or citizenship 4. See if your husband can take out a Parent PLUS loan as the U.S. citizen spouse (rules on this vary) 5. Payment plans at most universities allow you to space payments throughout the term How long have you been waiting for your SSN? If it's been more than 3-4 weeks since your interview/biometrics, you should definitely follow up.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST IMMIGRANTS!!! I went through this exact hell 3 years ago. Couldn't get aid, couldn't get loans, couldn't get anyone on the phone to help. Had to skip a semester because of bureaucratic nonsense. The financial aid system pretends to be accessible but throws up barriers at every turn. My advice? Borrow from family if possible or look for a job that offers tuition benefits. The aid system will just waste your time.

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions! I've made a list of everything to discuss with the financial aid office. I'm also going to look into private loans with my husband as cosigner and see if there are any emergency funds or special scholarships I might qualify for. Will try calling FSA directly too using that Claimyr service - worth a shot at this point. I'll update once I figure something out in case it helps others in my situation.

My wife had this EXACT problem when we got married!!! She ended up getting a small private loan ($5,000) through Sallie Mae with me as cosigner for her summer classes, and then once her SSN came in (took almost 4 months!) she could do FAFSA for the fall semester. Interest rate was higher than federal loans but we didn't have much choice. Check with Discover and Sallie Mae, they both have options for this situation.