FAFSA resources for immigrant/asylum families with mixed citizenship status?

StudentAid.gov has a specific section on non-citizen eligibility that breaks down which immigration statuses qualify: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens The main thing to emphasize is that parents' citizenship status DOES NOT affect student eligibility. If the student is a citizen or eligible non-citizen (asylum, refugee, permanent resident), they can get aid regardless of parent status. For parents with ITINs who have filed taxes - no problem, they can use the ITIN. For parents without SSNs who haven't filed, they'll enter zeros where the SSN is requested. The system will flag it for manual processing but it still works.

I ran a similar workshop last year at a community center. The Immigrants Rising organization has EXCELLENT resources specifically for undocumented/mixed status families. Their guide explains exactly what docs are needed for DACA, TPS, asylum cases etc: https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/applying-for-financial-aid-for-undocumented-students/ The big issue you'll face is parents who are afraid to provide their financial info because of deportation concerns. Make sure to emphasize that FAFSA data is protected under FERPA and cannot be shared with immigration authorities.

I work at a college with many 1st gen immigrant students. ESSENTIAL TIP: Have families bring their tax documents AND immigration paperwork to the workshop!! The 2024-25 FAFSA still asks for specific alien registration numbers (A-numbers) for non-citizen students. Parents who use ITINs should bring their ITIN cards. The 2024-25 FAFSA is still super glitchy for immigrant families. I've had students get stuck in verification loops 4-5 times because the system doesn't recognize valid immigration docs. If that happens, they need to contact FSA directly but good luck getting through - the wait times are insane.

I HATE the way FAFSA treats immigrant families!!! My parents have been legal residents for 15 years but still got flagged for "citizenship verification" THREE TIMES last year. It's like they're designed to make it as difficult as possible for immigrant families to get aid. Every time we submitted docs, they'd come back asking for something different. Totally messed up my son's aid package because processing took so long. Make sure to tell your students to apply EXTRA early if they're not citizens!!!

For your workshop, I'd recommend creating a handout with these specific scenarios: 1. US Citizen Student + Non-citizen Parents: Student qualifies for all aid. Parents use ITINs or zeros for SSN. Note that some parents worry about this information being shared with immigration - reassure them it's protected. 2. DACA Student: Cannot get federal aid but may qualify for state/institutional aid depending on your state. Have info on state-specific options ready. 3. Refugee/Asylum Student: Eligible for federal aid with I-94 showing appropriate status code. They'll need A-number or I-94 number for the application. 4. Parents with no tax filing history: Students can still complete FAFSA, but will be selected for verification. Have them bring any income documentation they have (w-2s, pay stubs, etc.). The National College Attainment Network has translation services for key FAFSA terms in multiple languages that might help: https://www.ncan.org/page/WhyInvestinCollegeAccess

my cousin's family is asylum seekrs from venezuela and the whole fafsa thing was a NIGHTMARE!!! took like 6 months to get verified. tell the kids to apply super early and be ready to upload like a million documents.

Have you contacted your state's higher education agency? I worked at WA state's and we had specific training materials for counselors working with undocumented and mixed-status families. Many states have developed their own resources.

I almost forgot - be ready for the SAI confusion! Many immigrant families don't understand why their SAI is so high when they have low income. It's often because they're sending money to family in their home countries, which FAFSA doesn't recognize as a necessary expense. Have resources ready about appealing for professional judgment at their target colleges when the SAI doesn't reflect their actual ability to pay.

make sure to tell them what info will be asked from parents! my dad refused to provide his info for my FAFSA because he was scared of deportation and I nearly lost my chance at college. If they're really worried the students can try to apply for a dependency override but thats SUPER hard to get and just being undocumented isnt enough reason. Financial aid officers at the colleges can actually help with this sometimes if the parents refuse to participate.