Can my Parent get a Federal PLUS loan for me?

Hello, guys. I’ve had a few good schools to decide from for my college. the thing is that even after their fin aid package, there’s still a lot of amount left to pay. I am a dual U.S citizen, however my parents are not U.S citizens. I read a similar discussion on CC before writing down my own query. My father has a social security number that he put in while i was completing my FAFSA. i don’t know that if that makes him an eligible non-citizen. However, as a non-citizen, i know he might not qualify for the loan but can i still get a loan if there’s an eligible co-signer? thank you.

Is either parent a permanent resident/green card holder? Do your parents live in the US? What is your other country of citizenship?

From the StudentLoans,gov website:

To be eligible to borrow PLUS loans as a parent you must:

Be a U.S. Citizen or National or Permanent Resident/Other Eligible Non-Citizen
Be the biological or adoptive parent of the student
Be the spouse of the student’s parent and considered to be a parent in accordance with the instructions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for purposes of reporting income and assets on the FAFSA
Have made satisfactory arrangements to repay the amount owed after receiving more money than you were eligible to receive from one of the Title IV programs (e.g. Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, a federal student loan)
Have made satisfactory arrangements to repay the amount owed on any loan you are in default on from one of the Title IV programs (e.g. Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Pell Grant, a federal student loan)
Have fully repaid to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) or to the loan holder in the case of a Title IV federal student loan, if convicted of, or pled nolo contendere (no contest) or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in obtaining funds under a program authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

@TomSrOfBoston @dygibbs they are not permanent residents/green card holders and have not live in the U.S. my other country of citizenship is Pakistan. but then again, what constitutes a non-eligible citizen, considering i can sponsor them for citizenship when i’m 21? and that just by being the parents of a U.S Citizen, are they considered non-eligible citizens?

and yeah i would just like to correct that my father was on a full bright scholarship when he came to the U.S and also stayed for academic research. that period of time was 2 years. it was during this time i was born, so yeah, they have lived in the U.S

No, your parents have to be actual us citizens/permanent residents

Eligible non citizens are people who cane to the US on asylum, temporary protective status, neither which your parents will have

@sybbie719 what if there’s an eligible co-signer, who’s a U.S citizen and has the finances to show for it? plus, my father does have a bank account in america and doesn’t have an adverse credit.

Not for the Fed. Plus loan…the parent must be a biological or adoptive parent of student, as stated in post #2.

He can apply for the PLUS loan, and when he’s denied (and he will be), you will then qualify for an addition amount of PLUS loan, $4-5k per year.

That’s a LOT of money to borrow. You’d be at close to $50k when you graduate with the direct loans. Don’t do this lightly. It’s a lot of money to start paying back if you have no cushion to live on when starting your first job. You’ll need to rent an apartment, buy a car, set up your life.

thank you, everyone!

@kelsmom

Can a non citizen or permanent resident parent even apply for a Plus Loan…and get denied…so the kid can get additional Direct Loan money?

I didn’t think so. But hoping @Kelsmom can clarify.

How much money in loans do you need?

If parents apply and be denied because they are not US citizens/perm residents, Op would still be eligible for additional unsub monies.

Thanks @sybbie719