Hello!
This is my first time using collegeconfidential, so please forgive me if I am unaware of the etiquette to be regarded on this forum. I am to be an upcoming senior in high school this fall and am utterly confused about how to navigate the financial aid process.
My mother has been my sole support since kindergarten (United States). My parents were never married and life separate from each other/single. My father has lived in the Philippines for the past decade while I have lived with my mother. She makes between 35,000 and 45,000 and has very low assets; my father has not been present in our lives and has not paid any child support over the years. Contact has been limited to a few phone calls each year. I believe he would have dual citizenship at the moment (but am unsure to the details since the US citizenship period may have lapsed, etc). My father is over the age of 65 and does not work / receives some sort of income from retirement or similar in the Philippines.
At the moment, I would most likely be a qualified applicant for top tier colleges that meet 100% of demonstrated financial aid, which is the deciding factor as to which colleges I apply to and attend. At this point, I don’t even know if I should apply to these if they require taking into account my out-of-country and out-of-life father’s circumstances with the CSS profile. He will certainly not pay anything for college and I do not know how he would fill out the required information. I do not believe my mother has sole custody over me as she does not want to get into legal argument with my father.
Please advise me on how I should approach this situation / if I can even apply to colleges that promise to meet full need but may not give anything due to the circumstances (ex: FAFSA does not calculate EFC or fully process an application if leaving one parent’s info out). I am completely lost in this process, concerned, and in search of help!!
Thanks, D
Forgive me for sounding so completely haughty - when I am stressed my words come out in a ridiculous jumble!
If your father (non-custodial parent) has no income…I’m not sure why this is a problem. He would likely be required to complete the non-custodial parent Profile form, which he can complete online from the Philippines. If he has NO income or assets…this would not add to your family contribution.
Since you know where he is at, and have contact with him a few times a year by phone, I doubt you would qualify for a non-custodial parent waiver…but you could try.
Also, you don’t need your father’s information for FAFSA, since your parents are not married to each other and you live with your mother.
Thank you!
Sorry, my wording above may have been wrong. I am sure he does receive some sort of money as, from what I know, he owns a very large estate and has people working at his house 
Thanks BelknapPoint!
I believe the main issue is with the CSS Profile.
However, your father will have to fill out the non-custodial profile in order for you to be considered for need based financial aid for schools that require it. On face, you do not have a case for a non-custodial waiver.
If you are applying to colleges that require the non-custodial parent information, I don’t see why you would not be required to provide it. You know where your dad is.
But to know for sure, contact your colleges and request information on how to file for a non-custodial parent waiver. You might get it…and you might not…But better to know sooner than later what the college will require and if you are eligible.
In the meantime, I would strongly suggest you look for colleges that do NOT require the non-custodial parent Profile.
What I would do is take a look at the CSS form and see what information you need from Dad. Then ask him for it. It doesn’t sound like you have a hostile relationship, just distant. If you ask specifically for what you need and he freaks out, balks, refuses or makes it abundantly clear that there is no way in hell you are getting the info from him, then you have your answer and proceed accordingly. On the other hand, if he provides the info, or gives clear signals (believeable signals, not just appeasing you to shut you up) then you have that answer and proceed accordingly.
I am not familiar with that is required on the CSS, I imagine it is extensive, but I don’t really know. The people here can help you with that I’m certain. Throw the light on it and see what happens.
Best of luck to you, and congrats on getting started now and thinking this through, keep us updated a year from now on where you are going and what happened!
Legal custody, custody/dependency for the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, and dependency for tax purposes are three different things. Just be clear about the definitions for each situation so that you can apply the rules correctly in each situation.
Who has legal custody does not matter in college admissions or in financial aid. What matters for the financial aid application is the parent that you live with the most. In this case, your mother. She is your custodial parent for financial aid. Your dad is non-custodial. Only your mom’s finances (and your own personal finances) will matter for the FAFSA. Your dad’s might for the CSS Profile. Once you have heard back from him about his willingness/ability to file the non-custodial paperwork for the Profile, you will know whether or not places that require the non-custodial Profile are worth keeping on your application list.
Wishing you all the best!
Keep inundated that while done schools don’t use the non-custodial profile, they may have their own forms for collecting this information. Read the financial aid policies at the schools that interest you