FA for US citizen, not living in US!

<p>Hi! I'm a hs senior planning on applying to selective schools in the US. I know that most of them are need-blind to US citizens and i have to fill the FAFSA.
But though I'm US citizen, neither of my parents are and we don't pay taxes to the US and haven't lived there in like..ten years? This seems to complicate things a bit and i was wondering if anyone cud pleassssee tell me whether i would be eligible for need-based aid or if i'd run into probs fillling in the fafsa, cuz i was trying to do the FA calc thing on collegeboard, and cudn't rlly fill any of the criterion about healthcare, taxes, etc. as i don't live in the US.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>You need to contact the financial aid offices at each of the schools that you are interested in and address this specific problem directly. They have had applicants similar to you before and will be able to advise you.</p>

<p>In general terms, as a US citizen you are eligible for federal financial aid. You may find that you have to complete a paper FAFSA instead of the on-line version so that you can account for the foreign income, etc.</p>

<p>You also should make an appointment with the counselors at the EducationUSA office closest to you. They are the real experts on helping students who live in your country of residence find good universities in the US. They also will know of other US citizen students in your situation.</p>

<p>Educational</a> Advising Centers ? EducationUSA</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>thanks a lot!</p>

<p>actually. my counsellor went to seattle and checked. he said i shud be eligible. it'll just be glaring that the tax section is empty. i asked other schools and because of my citizenship i will be eligible for 'need-blind' enrollement, but i will also need to attach tax forms from canada. </p>

<p>i am also considering canadian schools just because its so much cheaper.</p>

<p>hope that helps anyone else in my situation ;)</p>

<p>well, i keep writing on my own thread... but w/e~ haha</p>

<p>umm, i've asked some college admin and stuff and htey said that basically i should attach a tax form separately to the fasfa.</p>

<p>plus individual schools have their own supplement forms, for eg, for business owners and stuff liek that</p>

<p>and schools will contact you if more info is needed~</p>

<p>Thanks for the updates!</p>

<p>Sunshine, I know many Canadian citizens who received need based aid at places like Princeton, Colgate, Brown, etc. So no problem with institutional aid. You can provide your Canadian tax returns for financial eligibility, the one I wonder about is state aid, like WA state grant or a Cal grant. If you are actually Canadian residents then you are likely not residents of any state.</p>

<p>hey i have the same situation as you.
and i am rather confused now.</p>

<p>how is a paper fafsa version different from an online one ?</p>

<p>Basically they are the same thing. One you fill in online which makes the process speedier. The other you fill out and mail. The content is the same. If you are able to do the online that is the best option in my opinion. However, some people are not eligible to do the online one. For instance, the student must be a US citizen or eligible non citizen with a SSN to file either paper or online FAFSA. But his parents may not have a SSN so cannot get a PIN. A PIN is required to electronically sign the online FAFSA. If the parents cannot get a PIN then they must sign a paper FAFSA.</p>

<p>thanks for the reply. =D</p>

<p>hmmm i think i figured it out.</p>

<p>its not that complicated really.</p>

<p>basically, you fill teh FAFSA, and leave all unapplicable parts blank, so like social welfare, taxes that pertain to the US only is basically 0000000000.</p>

<p>And then later they'll send you sth called the IDOC, where if you are a non-us tax filer you have to sign this declaration and then i think attach ur canadian tax forms.</p>

<p>it's really not that hard actually. gluck ppl!</p>