<p>I'm in quite a predicament. So I've been accepted for grad school for Spring 2013 and that is right around the corner (Boston University). The FAFSA says "The Social Security Administration did not confirm that you are a U.S. citizen. Provide your financial aid office with documentation of your U.S. citizenship (such as
your U.S. Passport, Certificate of Naturalization or Birth Certificate). If the documents support your status as a U.S. citizen, the financial aid office at your school
will make a copy of your documentation and can continue to process your federal student aid."
That's normally not a problem but I've lost my passport a few years ago getting back in the country from the Philippines. I'm in the process of trying to replace my lost passport just for the FAFSA. During my undergrad years I originally did not have this problem. Though the last year or so they did ask me to prove I'm a citizen. I just asked them if they didn't need it before why do they need it now? They fixed that problem then and there.
Now that I'm aiming for grad school this whole process came up again. I never thought I would need the passport for anything besides international travel which is why I never bothered to replace it.</p>
<p>My questions are this. Why does FAFSA keep asking me to prove my citizenship? Do I have to do this forever? Also I think I a reason might be the name I put in. Originally I was born with Xavier Jose as my first name and ______ as my middle name. Though in the States I've been using Xavier as my first name and Jose as my middle name. Could it be they're asking my citizenship because I put a different name than what my SSN card says or other documents? Thanks! I hope my freaking out is for nothing.</p>
<p>Yes…you need to verify your citizenship and being asked to do so annually is not unusual. That you changed your name order could end up being an issue even WHEN you get your passport…the names will NOT match. </p>
<p>You’re right, you are in a predicament. You keep getting asked to prove your citizenship because US taxpayers fund the government and its citizens, including colleges and universities, but especially grad school.</p>
<p>If you didn’t bother to correct the issue during your 4 years as an undergrad, didn’t you think the issue would eventually come up with HR firms for employment? Bullying your way through the FA office didn’t fix the problem “then and there”. It just delayed it because they didn’t want to deal with you. Now that you’ve changed your name, the FA office could suspect fraudulent paperwork. Start saving some money.</p>
<p>I’ve proven to them that I am a citizen before. I did not have this problem every year of my undergrad. Just the last few years. I didn’t bully anybody like most people seem to do at the school. I just asked them a simple question in a nice way and they seemed to have fixed it.</p>
<p>I just got off the phone with a FAFSA person and asked if fixing the name can change the citizenship part. He said it’s a possibility but not a guarantee. I’m really hoping it does work out. I’ll find out in 3 days. In the meantime I’ll send in my passport application.</p>
<p>Presumably you either have a birth certificate or certificate of naturalization which doesn’t require replacement. Use one of those.</p>
<p>I suspect it’s a “where does this name break” thing, too. My D’s birth certificate shows her name as First Middle Last1 Last2. The IRS thinks her last name is just Last2, not Last1 Last2, because they parse the SSA database differently than SSA does. </p>
<p>You may well have to do it forever. Those kinds of notices are usually automatically ginned out by computer, and computers are literal-minded.</p>
<p>If you are a US Citizen, even a copy of your birth certificate from the county clerk’s office will suffice. You mentioned that you have a SSN. Copy that as additional documentation.</p>
<p>As to why you didn’t get a new passport umpteen years ago, well that’s water under the bridge. You need one now. It will make your life easier whenever you get a new job. Without a passport, you have to show up with your certificate of naturalization (if that is what you have) or your US birth certificate plus a current state issued photo id, or one of the other documents that are acceptable when you file that I-9. Presumably you have this kind of documentation in your possession now. Pick up the phone, call the financial aid office, and ask which of these multiple items can be used to verify your status for FAFSA.</p>
<p>I called the school and they said I have to present a passport in person. Easier said than done since I’m in Florida at the moment and Boston is in… Boston. In the slight chance that fixing my FAFSA fixes all this that would be great. In the meantime I’m in the process of applying for a lost passport. Thanks for all the help. </p>
<p>Oh yeah I was born in the Philippines and went through immigration in 1999.</p>
<p>The school can and will ask for verification regardless of whether FAFSA “fixes it” as the penalty for them not verifying the information is very steep (something like $1million dollars). So regardless of whether or not the FAFSA fixes it, you still need to get a passport. I would recommend gathering your information going to your local passport office and apply for another passport (pay for expedited service if you must). </p>
<p>At the end of the day, it is the school that will disburse any financial aid that you are given. IF you are out of compliance with their rules and processes you will not receive any aid.</p>
<p>Could it be they’re asking my citizenship because I put a different name than what my SSN card says or other documents?</p>
<hr>
<p>Yes. It’s sort of difficult to confirm citizenship when the name is wrong. You are going to have to show proof of eligibility (citizenship, permanent residency, etc) in any case. You absolutely should be using the name that is on your social security and other legal paperwork.</p>