<p>Basically I'm an English international student applying to Brown University. I'm attempting to complete my CSS Financial Aid Application, as well as my FAFSA Financial Aid application.</p>
<p>I've completed up to the section that asks for my Social Security Number, near the beginning. Except I'm english, and we don't have social security numbers.. we have national insurance numbers, which include alphabetical characters, whereas social security numbers do not - meaning I cannot use my national insurance number. </p>
<p>Are you a US citizen or eligible non-citizen (permanent resident, refugee, etc)? If so, you probably have a social security number; if not, you should apply for one because you’ll need it to apply for federal financial aid and for other financial business once you move to the US.</p>
<p>If you are not a US citizen or eligible non-citizen, you cannot file the FAFSA to apply for federal financial aid. Most international financial aid applicants use either the CSS Profile (online) or the International Financial Aid Application (paper). Note however that not every college gives financial aid to international students.</p>