<p>Hello, I'm a senior in high school right now. I'm in a very very terrible situation. So I've recently been admitted to U of Rochester. I have done FAFSA and CSS despite the fact that I was considered an international, and turned in everything they required. However, the financial counselor has told me that I must have documentation as a permanent resident to be eligible for financial aid, so a green card. My green card application has been approved, as in I've finished all the steps required (interview, fingerprint). I have just done the interview in late march. So basically, I'm waiting for the actual green card in hand. I've received a 10k merit scholarship, but that really isn't much seeing that i would still be paying 46000. Let's say that I will receive it by August which is before the start of the school year, will I be able to receive financial aid by that time or is it way too late? If they do give me financial aid, will they give me a substantial amount?</p>
<p>Call and ask them.</p>
<p>You get proof from the INS that your GC was approved.
Years ago, we had to travel abroad before we had the physical green card. We told the INS and got stamps in our passports which were good for travel.</p>
<p>The school CANNOT give you any federally funded aid without that permanent resident status proof.</p>
<p>Ask the financial aid office what you can give them for proof that they can accept. Then do all you can to get it. If you cannot get what they need by the due date, you either have to come up with the money and hope the card or whatever you need comes soon, or take a gap year. Sometimes, it can take a year before the card comes after all the approvals are in place. The system is horribly slow. Also, that your application has been taken and the paperwork has been submitted is absolutely no indication that you will be approved.</p>
<p>If you have been approved, and the card just has to be issued, you can get a something that will say that, and that may suffice, but if you have just applied, you may have a several year wait and no guarantee of approval. </p>
<p>What part of the aid is government funded? Rochester’s private funds are not of an issue unless they were given with the stipulation that you had to have a green card.</p>
<p>The other thing you need to find out is what additional aid U of Rochester will give you IF you get that green card on time. It may be sufficient for you to attend…and it might NOT be. If the amount is still not going to be sufficient…then that creates a different scenerio than if it will be. Simply put…if it’s not going to be enough even WITH your green card…you will need to look at less expensive options.</p>
<p>These are the rules for the national merit scholarship and I think the same will apply. If you have already been approved, then go to your local immigration office and get the I-551 stamp on your current passport. They will do it.</p>
<p>Then follow instructions in point # 2 i.e. *or a copy of your passport including the identity/biographical page and the “I-551” stamp showing that you have been granted lawful permanent resident status.
*</p>
<p>That should be sufficient till you get the physical card. (This is assuming you have been approved and are waiting for the card. If you approval is still pending, then you wait for the approval.)</p>
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<p>Your second question on how much aid will depend upon a lot of factors including your EFC, your grades, SAT scores, how much they want you etc. But by getting the from I-551 stamped, you can start the process right now.</p>
<p>UR does not meet need for international students. UR does meet need for US citizens and permanent residents. However,I have a feeling that you are unlikely to get additional FA (other than Stafford loans) this year even if your green card is issued since UR has publicly announced that this year they will be “need aware” when going to their waitlist–meaning it’s likely they have already exhausted their institutional grant funds for this enrollment year.</p>
<p>They never stamped my passport… Can i just contact the INS and get it stamped?</p>
<p>I have contacted the financial counselor and said that if I can get it before the school year, I will receive financial aid. However, I will still need to find a way to pay the bill.</p>