<p>I am posting on behalf of someone else because this person asked my help as to what to do.
She is an american that left to a latin American Country with her parents when she was just a baby.
She is 18 years old now and wants to come back, get her GED and go to college. She wants to go to Community College, and would stay with a family of a friend.
Because she is already 18 years old and will be on her own (her parents will not come with her), and because they have not worked or earned anything here in the US, can she be considered as an independent student for financial aid purposes?
She is willing to work through college, but can she get any pell grants?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks,</p>
<p>No, she would not be considered independent for aid purposes. We have students whose parents are in foreign countries. We ask for income info from them just like we do from students whose parents are in the U.S. If the parents don’t earn any money at all, that is what the student would put on the FAFSA. That will probably result in selection for verification, and the parents would be asked to detail how they survive on no income. The student would need to explain how she supports herself, as well.</p>
<p>What kind of documents will need to be provided to prove income? Where can this information be found?
Thanks,</p>
<p>You’ll only need them if asked. Each school has its own requirements for verifying foreign income, so just ask them what they want if they ask you for it.</p>