Orphaned student with deported parent - How to complete FAFSA with no legal guardian?

I'm so sorry about your situation. You actually should qualify for a dependency override based on what you've described. This will allow you to file your FAFSA as an independent student even though you're under 24. Here's what you need to do: 1) Contact the financial aid office at each college you're applying to and explain your situation. They're the ones who can process the dependency override, not the FAFSA itself. 2) You'll need to provide documentation: your father's death certificate, any documentation related to your mother's deportation if possible, and letters from third parties (like school counselors, social workers, or clergy) who can verify your situation. 3) Each college has their own process for this, so you'll need to work with each one individually. The good news is that students in your situation typically qualify for significantly more aid, including full Pell Grants, since only your income will be considered, not parent income.

hey ive ben in a similar spot. my mom passed and dad was in prison. you can get whats called a 'dependency override' but its a HUGE pain. you gotta contact each school financial aid office. they ALL want different stuff. some wanted court documents proving i was on my own others just wanted letters. honestly it was different for every school i applied to

I know someone who worked in financial aid who specifically handled cases like yours. You need to check the box on the FAFSA that says you have a special circumstance and can't provide parent information. Then you submit the FAFSA without parent data. It will be rejected initially, but that's normal. THEN you need to immediately contact each school's financial aid office to request a dependency override. Each school will have their own form and documentation requirements, but typically they'll want: - Father's death certificate - Any legal documents regarding mother's deportation - Letters from professionals who know your situation (teachers, counselors, social workers) - A personal statement from you explaining everything Do NOT wait until you're accepted. Start this process now as it can take weeks or months depending on the school.

wait isnt it impossible to get financial aid without parents??? my cousin had to join the military because his parents wouldnt sign his fafsa. this is so messed up that they make it this hard!

I've been through this exact process with my younger brother after our parents died. The financial aid officers at colleges can be your biggest advocates, but they're also overwhelmed with cases. You need to be persistent. One thing that helped us tremendously was using a service called Claimyr to actually get through to a real person at Federal Student Aid when we had questions about how to complete certain sections of the FAFSA. Regular phone lines had us waiting for hours or getting disconnected, but Claimyr got us through in minutes. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ But the most important step is getting documentation from anyone who can vouch for your situation - teachers, counselors, even parents of friends you've stayed with. The more evidence you can provide, the smoother this will go.

I process financial aid at a community college. Here's what happens behind the scenes: When you submit FAFSA without parent info and check the special circumstances box, your FAFSA gets flagged. You'll get an SAI (Student Aid Index) of -1, which is actually GOOD - it means you'll likely qualify for maximum aid IF the school approves your dependency override. The school will require you to submit a Dependency Override Request form along with documentation. Be prepared to write a detailed statement explaining: - When you last had contact with each parent - Where you've been living and how you've been supporting yourself - Any other special circumstances Also, the override is only valid for one academic year, so you'll need to renew it each year until you turn 24 or meet another independent student criterion (married, veteran, etc.).

YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR SHOULD BE DOING MORE!!!! This makes me so angry. They are literally paid to help students navigate exactly this kind of situation. Ask to speak with your school's college counselor specifically, or even the principal if the counselor won't help. They should be writing you a detailed letter explaining your situation and advocating for you. This is LITERALLY their job.

One important thing no one has mentioned: when you file your FAFSA without parent information, you'll see a message saying your FAFSA is incomplete and no SAI will be calculated. THIS IS NORMAL in your situation. The override process happens after submission, not during the FAFSA completion. Also, make sure you answer the dependency questions accurately on the FAFSA. Don't be tempted to answer incorrectly just to qualify as independent - that's considered fraud. Instead, answer truthfully and then pursue the proper dependency override process with each school.

what helped me was finding an actual person in the financial aid office who kinda took me under there wing. i would always email them directly insted of the general office. made a huge difference! try to get a specific persons name and contact at each college ur applying to

After reading through all the advice here, I want to add one more important point: make sure you gather your own financial information. Since you'll be considered independent if the override is approved, the FAFSA will evaluate your finances only. You'll need: 1) Your tax returns if you've filed (or income information even if you didn't earn enough to file) 2) Information about any assets in your name (bank accounts, etc.) 3) Documentation of any unusual expenses you've had to handle on your own Also, ask each school about additional institutional aid that might be available specifically for students in your situation. Many colleges have special funds set aside for independent students who have experienced hardship.

I'm really sorry you're going through this, but I want to emphasize that you're not alone and there IS a path forward. Based on what you've described, you definitely qualify for a dependency override, and once approved, you'll likely be eligible for maximum financial aid. Here's my advice for immediate action: 1) Submit your FAFSA NOW without parent information - check the box indicating special circumstances. Don't wait for the override approval first. 2) Create a spreadsheet with all the colleges you're applying to and their financial aid office contact information. Email each one TODAY explaining your situation and asking for their dependency override process. 3) Start gathering documentation immediately: - Your father's death certificate - Any records about your mother's deportation - Letters from adults who know your situation (teachers, friends' parents, clergy, etc.) - Your own financial documents (bank statements, W-2s if you work) 4) Write a detailed personal statement explaining your circumstances - be specific about dates, living situations, and how you've been supporting yourself. The key is to be proactive and persistent. Financial aid offices deal with these situations regularly, and they want to help students in genuine need. Don't let one unhelpful counselor discourage you - there are people who will advocate for you once you connect with the right resources. You've got this! Start making those calls and sending those emails today.