I was considered a non-resident of Texas after submitting my applications-- because of a very technical misunderstanding. According to the college admissions staff, I am considered a non-resident of Texas since I am a dependent and my residency status depends on my parents who are in China-- who have Green cards. My parents are in China and they have jobs there but they still file their taxes for Texas (that’s what my dad told me). The Office of admissions counselor told me I had to fill out a long form with nuances I think would be very time-consuming to prove my residency.
So is there any way to prove on FAFSA that-- perhaps because my parents fill out taxes for Texas-- I am a resident of Texas?
You don’t use the FAFSA for that purpose. FAFSA is simply a form that collects information used to determine eligibility for federal aid. Schools do use the info for their own purposes, but “proving” anything is done outside of the FAFSA process. You need to do what the school’s admissions counselor told you to do.
FAFSA is a federal form.
Texas does not have a state income tax.
My opinion is that it is unlikely that you can use a federal form (FAFSA) to prove your parents ‘still file their taxes for Texas’, especially since Texas has no state income tax.
Exactly what type of Texas taxes are your parents still paying??!
If your parents have green cards, I believe there is a time limit on how long they can be out of the country. At this point, they work and live in China. They are green card holders who are not living here.
You sound like you don’t hold a green card. I’m not sure you can prove permanent resident status while your parents live elsewhere. Who are you residing with?
The FAFSA is only used by students who are citizens or green card holders themselves. It doesn’t sound like you fit this.
What sort of visa do you hold to be here?
It doesn't make a difference where they file taxes, your parents are not texas residents, they live in China. If you are a citizen and you live in Texas who is your legal guardian? Who pays your bills?
And for sure, the GC is not a travel document, if your parents are out of the USA now for over a year they need a reentry permit.
As for the misunderstanding, there isn't one. I suspect there are trigger answers that the college admissions see and you are required to prove further details. My kid got that from our local U even with his school transcript for years of school here, he is a citizen, has SS etc LOL but his parents are GC holders and we have been here for many years now.
Your parents should have sought advice before this step.
This sentence makes it sound like the student does not have permanent residency status here…and is not a U.S. citizen.
Punct…could you please clarify what visa you have to be here?
I suspect OP has a GC and FAFSA should be non issue for a GC holder whatever his parents status, that is a whole different issue to admission status. OP needs to address the status with the schools. FAFSA is a moot point if the schools see him as a non resident for COA. FAFSA won’t confirm anything about your parents, expect that they live overseas and are non resident for tax purposes and probably take deductions for that status.
I read this as the OP being concerned about not being considered a Texas resident when he/she felt that Texas residency should be a done deal based on parental residency of some kind in that state. The parents could well be using a Texas address as their permanent address in the US for any number of legal purposes - drivers licenses, bank accounts, you-name-it. The OP needs to verify whether or not that kind of address (especially if the parents own real estate) and evidence of intent to return when the international assignment ends, is going to be good enough for in-state tuition purposes.
In the past, some public institutions in Texas would grant in-state status to enrolled students if that student owned taxable property in Texas - even a tiny piece of undeveloped land in some remote cheap location. That might be an angle worth investigating.
I have several extended family members who traveled back and forth between life in the US and temporary or semi-permanent jobs outside the US while in green card status. So it doesn’t surprise me at all that the OP could have been left here to finish up high school while the parents work elsewhere.
I’m curious who the student is living with in Texas (presuming the OP attended and graduated from a Texas high school.) That would be the strongest argument - that the student has been living continuously in Texas. I’m sure the GC is correct and there is a form that the student must use to clarify the residency status. That is not unusual. But I don’t think that would necessarily impact FAFSA…only the schools COA and the institutional financial aid.
Use this to see if you MIGHT be considered a TX resident.
http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/giadownload/ra.pdf