<p>Lore, your problem is that your parents are doing illegal, fraudulent things. And it’s their info that is what deterimines what you get in financial aid. You have your back against the wall regarding this, I know, but no one here should be giving you any advice that is doing anything illegal, and you have one big illegal mess on your hands. </p>
<p>My advice is to fill out your part of the forms honestly, and then have your parents fill out their parts. You do not want to to put down things that you know are not true, that are lies on the forms. FAFSA is a federal form and you don’t want to start your adult life with fraud, IMO. Have your mother and father get the help of whoever does their taxes to fill out the parents’ part of the PROFILE and FAFSA. </p>
<p>Fraud is a huge problem in everything and it isn’t just the illegal immigrants doing this. If, the OP’s parents were US citiznes, the issue is just as confusing and illegal, as the college process does not get into the business of our immigration department. That isn’t even an issue. THat the OP is a US citizen makes her entitled to federal aid and other privileges that the citizenship brings to the table regardless of her parents’ status. </p>
<p>Fraud is fraud whether it’s to privates and their funds or the publc schools and their private funds or FAFSA for federal money. However, federal fraud is a very serious issue in terms of possible legal consequences,and, yes, there are those who are doing time for it. You don’t mess around with the feds. It can also impact future job opportunities.</p>