<p>Hey! My parents split up a few years ago, but never had any official divorce/separation. I live with my dad who pays for my living and my mom doesn't contribute to it. Do I have to submit her tax returns and statement of earnings when applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>For college, there are two major forms you need to complete for financial aid. The first, which nearly all schools require is the FAFSA. That form only needs financial information from your custodial parent which would be your dad since you live with him more than your mom. If she does not live with the two of you then official divorce/separation papers documents are not needed but they should be filing their taxes as separated, not joint. </p>
<p>FAFSA calculates an Expected Family Contribution that makes you eligible for federal aid. Some schools and most states also use this for aid determination. Your EFC will determine if you can get the PELL grant (max $5550) if you are from a low income family and allows you to borrow up to $5500 in your own name as a freshman and your parent to borrow up to the cost of college less any other aid or scholarships. Any other awards are up to the college and your state programs. Few if any schools guarantee to meet full need based on FAFSA only, though if you are a top student in a given college’s applicant pool it is possible to get that full need.</p>
<p>Schools that guarantee to meet full need tend to want other information and ask for another form as well, usually the CSS PROFILE. THere are some schools that use PROFILE that guarantee to meet your full need as they define it and they will also meet it the way they choose to do so, often with self help (loans and workstudy) in the package. Many such schools require non custodial parent financial information and if you apply to any schools in that category, yes, you will have to get her financial information as well as your dad’s. There are some PROFILE schools that do not require that info, so if this is an issue, get a list of which ones they are.</p>
<p>I just looked at your profile and you list Poland as your locale If you are not a US citizen, those forms and the info I gave will not pertain to you. You need to look at the international students forum and get the scoop on how to procede.</p>
<p>Yes, I forgot to add I’m an international applicant. But anyway, thank you very much for the reply!</p>
<p>I think most schools do not offer any financial aid to international undergraduate students. </p>
<p>A few schools that do offer financial aid are using their own forms or CSS Profile to determine the need.</p>
<p>For example, Harvard see <a href=“http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page244003[/url]”>http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page244003</a></p>
<p>Thanks! I’m applying to schools that do offer aid to int’l applicants.</p>
<p>As an international student, you will likely be expected to provide financial information from both of your parents. </p>
<p>You are not eligible to complete the FAFSA which is for citizens and permanent residents only.</p>
<p>I’m also an international student and I believe we need to submit financial documentation from both parents, even if one of them doesn’t contribute toward your living expenses.</p>