Hello, I recently got married with my wife currently living aboard. She is a non US citizen and has been waiting for a visa. She is going to come to the U.S in a year. My question is, in the FAFSA, do I need to claim I am married? I’m an US citizen.
If you are married, it would be lying to say you are NOT. Colleges frown on dishonesty. Be honest. Getting financial aid when knowingly providing false information is FRAUD. That’s a crime.
You KNOW you are married.
Yes, I already filled out I am married. However, in the taxes section, they asked:
Q: For 2017, have you completed your IRS income tax return or another tax return?
Me: Already Completed.
Q: For 2017, what is your tax filing status according to your tax return?
Me: Single.
When I was filling out taxes for 2017 it was 3/2018 when I was single. And they responded:
"You said that you are married/remarried but you also said that your tax return filing status is single. If one of your responses is incorrect, change it now. If the information you entered is correct, make sure that the income information you provide on the following pages reflects your and your spouse’s 2017 income.
Any idea, what am I going to do? Do I need to fill out my wife income? Thanks.
Your information is correct IF you included your wife’s income from 2017 …and her assets on your FAFSA form.
The form is completed as of the date of filing…and the information on it needs to reflect your current marital status…married. You then need to include your wife’s income from 2017…and her assets as of the date you filed your FAFSA. And it doesn’t matter if you live in different countries. All income and assets count.
And you can’t use the ITS Data Retrieval Tool either because you weren’t married in 2017.
But…you are now.
Thanks.
This is not an unusual situation. Anyone who got married in 2018 (or divorced) will probably have a different status on their 2017 taxes.