<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I studied, worked, and lived in the US for a number of years. A handful of (less than ten) years ago, we returned to my
country of origin, and presently we live overseas. My family and I are US citizens. I would say I am a dislocated worker,
not making a whole lot of money. I am the primary income earner in the family. Due to various reasons, I have had many
job transitions (periods of no employment or under employment ... where I am searching for something, or something better,
as presently is the case). Since my return overseas, my assignments/jobs have also taken me outside of my home/away from
my family for about 50% of the time. During this time I have maintained two households... one for my family, and for me
at my location of work. Over the past decade, I have had many changes in terms of jobs, industry, country-culture,
companies, colleagues etc. </p>
<p>While I am a person who typically is slow to adjust to change, my family and I have had to deal with a lot of changes
I have undergone. Subsequently, due to my many searches, I have neglected paying attention to personal finances (eg.
saving for childrens' education), been delinquent in filing my USA taxes the past 4-5 years etc. </p>
<p>I had a CPA TAX person who has helping me file my returns. However, since some years, I no longer have that support. </p>
<p>My son is presently a senior in high school, and recently determined that he wants to go to college in the US in 2011.
While at this stage, I do not know how I can afford it, I want to support him in this venture. </p>
<p>My son has come up to me with things like filling the css profile, deadlines etc. that he has communicated to me.
All this is coming up in a rush to me, and I am trying to meet that. </p>
<p>So, though I am in the midst of yet another job search, this is the following I have been doing (which is a bit different
than what I have done in the past)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Catch up on filing my USA tax returns [My overseas tax returns are current]. I recently got "caught up" for a couple of
earlier years. It may not be perfect, however, I think it is better to file, than not at all. (We had moved "x" years ago.
I was behind on giving change of address to the IRS also. I finally gave a COA to the IRS also recently).</p></li>
<li><p>Get organized regarding my overseas and USA finances and investments. So at least I know what the status is, addresses
are correct etc. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>In the interest of time/meeting certain deadlines.. this is what I intend doing regarding the css profile:</p>
<ol>
<li>Complete and file my USA Y2009 returns (even though there is a year or two in between where returns need to be completed/filed)
... take a best guess at this, initially without professional CPA help</li>
<li>Complete CSS profile estimates with best guess estimates I have on
a) my financial status,
b) USA Y2009 returns I have computed</li>
<li>Submit estimated CSS profile</li>
<li>Submit USA Y2009 tax returns</li>
<li>Rework/tune Y2009 USA tax returns.. with CPA help this time</li>
<li>Submit accurate CSS profile for 2011 admission </li>
</ol>
<p>My son tells me, the earlier we send the css profile, the more funding we can get.
He is a above average, smart kid, who has a decent academic record, and good SAT scores.
He also just turned 18.</p>
<p>BTW, I also have another son who will be ready for college in 2014. </p>
<h1>Questions:</h1>
<ol>
<li><p>What are your views on the above steps 1 through 6 on filling the cssprofile? Does it make sense/seem reasonable?
[Answers to questions #1-4 are needed most urgently]</p></li>
<li><p>Being US citizens, for the cssprofile, is it okay to use USA Y2009 and USAY2010 tax years? [The overseas tax years
are April through March]</p></li>
<li><p>What is the impact of Financial Aid received, if submitting cssprofiles are delayed?</p></li>
<li><p>What happens if amendments are being filed to your Y2009 tax returns during the course of the FA/admission process?</p></li>
<li><p>How much funding is available for an intelligent child, whose parents may not be able to afford a whole lot of money for college?</p></li>
<li><p>If I moved back to the US, maybe I could find work that fit me better, offer better stability, and paid me a whole lot more
that what I presently make. I am willing to make this move, and work/live in the US for the next decade or more to fund my childrens' education in the US.
Assuming more financial aid is granted year one, in the above scenario, what happens to financial aid in the coming years?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the level of scrutiny of tax returns, and financial statements in granting of FA?</p></li>
<li><p>Any other ideas in funding for college education? .. my S '11 is applying to a mix of colleges</p></li>
<li><p>What I need to keep in mind for plan for college for S '14?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I just signed on to the CC forum today, and am immediately posting the query. </p>
<p>Your responses will be most appreciated.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>