E-2 visa holders regarding financial aids

<p>Hi, I'm a high school senior in Oregon.
I've just finished my common app essays and I am about to start my supplement for colleges.
However, I have a serious problem regarding my status of residency and financial aids.</p>

<p>First, officially I'm a E-2 visa dependent, which is non-immigrant visa.</p>

<p>Second, my family applied for green card in 2001 and we're expecting to get green cards about the end of the year or before I graduate from my high school.</p>

<p>Third, I have a SSN.</p>

<p>Lastly, my parents will have paid taxes for TWO years by the time I enroll in college as a freshman.</p>

<p>So my status is quite complicated. E-2 visa holder, but green card pending and I have SSN...</p>

<p>And here go my questions:</p>

<p>Regarding my "complicated" status of residency,</p>

<ol>
<li>Am I eligible for FAFSA?</li>
<li>Am I considered out-of-state or international when I apply to out-of-state universities?</li>
<li>Am I considered out-of-state or international when I apply to private universities?</li>
<li>If my green card comes out before I graduate from high school or after graduation, but I already applied to colleges as an international, am I permitted to pay tuition as a green card holder? </li>
</ol>

<p>P.S. I contacted University of Oregon and they informed me that I am considered in-state.
and since the financial condition of my family isn't so great, I must find some way to help pay my tuition if I am not going to University of Oregon...</p>

<p>Thank you for your advice! :)</p>

<p>You are not eligible for FAFSA as an E-2 visa does not make you a permanent resident. If you get a green card, then you will be eligible for FAFSA.</p>

<p>You would need to check with each school for whether you are considered International. With an E2 visa, I believe many schools will consider you to be International, but this may vary so check with each school. </p>

<p>If you get a green card, then you will be the same as any US citizen as far as admissions and FA are concerned.</p>

<p>I am also a student from Oregon, I have the almost exactly the same situation like above. But I heard that financial aids have two types, one is federal grants from Public universities, the other one is grants from private universities. Do you think I can apply for private university grants?</p>

<p>You don’t apply for univ grants, you apply for financial aid. You have to find out if those privates give FA to int’ls, and if they do, what forms do you fill out. Most schools do not give aid to int’ls.</p>

<p>If your stats are high enough, there are some schools that give merit scholarships to int’ls.</p>

<p>You may want to consider a “gap” year, until you actually get green card. A year off from school after HS. Volunteer, work whatever. To many schools, it will make you a stronger candidate. However, and this is very important, do NOT take any college classes. Institutional aid is often better for Freshman than transfers.</p>

<p>I am sorry, but isn’t E2 an investor visa? If this is correct, then OP’s parents should not be in a situation where financial aid is required or needed. Since the purpose of this program is to invest in US, if I were OP, I would not be applying for financial aid, because INS might decide not to extend the visa and/or deny green card based on this action.</p>

<p>Lerkin is right.</p>

<p>E-2 visa is an investor visa. The OP’s parents made a substantial financial investment in something in the US under their control. I think the minimum amount is $200k. And, the holders must be self-supporting. Doesn’t sound like they’d qualify for FA.</p>