I’m becoming a senior the coming school year and I was doing further research about colleges I wanted to go to.
Because I come from a poor undocumented family, I’m only applying to schools that can give me a full ride like liberal arts and the ivy’s. But while looking at financial aid forms and stuff, I realized that I needed my parents’ tax returns… which they don’t pay because they dont have an SSN or ITIN. What can I do?
Edited thread title for more info
ED
Edit: I’m DACA
Shouldn’t people with the DACA program be able to help you with this?
Not sure what you mean by DACA program… sorry
@happymomof1 Any suggestions??
Can your parents get ITINs and file 2015 (and earlier) federal and state tax returns and pay any tax due?
I was wondering about that but i really don’t know much about taxes.
If my dad files for an ITIN, can he get a tax return suitable to use for colleges?
Are your parents married?
Are the willing to file tax returns and pay any overdue taxes and penalties?
Do you know about how much they earn?
What are your stats (ACT, GPA, PSAT, SAT)?
My understanding is that if you are not a citizen (you are DACA?), you can’t file FAFSA anyway, but private colleges may provide you aid based on their own financial aid forms.
The first recommendation is to check with your high school guidance counselor, according to this document:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/financial-aid-and-undocumented-students.pdf
Parents are married but mother is unemployed.
They don’t earn much; under 50k
They might be willing; not sure
And I think my stats might be good enough to get me into an ivy or a good liberal arts college that would be willing to give me a free ride.
Having DACA does not mean that you are eligible for Federal aid (you are not). Depending on the state where you live, you may be eligible for state aid.
Do your parents work? IF yes, they should be going to the IRS or the social security administration to get assistance with obtaining a Tax ID number and paying their taxes.
They should be filing and paying taxes (if they owe). When they do this, you should be able to get a tax transcript from the IRS.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin
I think your parent(s) need to get a tax ID number anyway, even if they are not working, so tat they will be able to get a non-filers statement from the IRS.
If they do not work, you need to show documentation as to how your family is meeting their day to day expenses (where do they live, how does the rent get paid, how do you eat, who pays for your clothes.
IF your family is receiving public assistance, food stamps, etc, then you ned to obtain copies of the budget letter.
If you read the financial aid section, most schools will have information as to file to file your paperwork as an undocumented student.
Are you working? Because you have DACA, you are legally eligible to work in the US.
@babibim For my students whom are DACA I have been advised by an immigration lawyer to have them print off the FASFA form and fill it out with pen and send it directly to each college with a cover letter explaining that they are DACA. Submitting a FASFA online is in violation of a provision of DACA (can’t recall exact spot) because you are seeking federal aid as a DACA student. Instead you must obtain financial aid either from a state that provides state aid to DACA students (like California and AB540), from a college that provides institutional aid either merit or financial aid to a DACA student or from a private organization like Jack Kent Cooke Scholars that has private scholarships (some of my DACA students have received JKC money). Colleges may requires additional applications or forms that you must fill out if you are a DACA student.
Some state colleges like Georgia’s do not treat DACA resident students very well and require them to pay out of state tuition despite living in the state and graduating from a Georgia high school. Posters here on CC can give you better advice if you provide your home state.
Some colleges treat DACA students like international applicants and there is not a lot of merit or financial aid from those type of colleges. Other colleges treat DACA students like domestic students and provide merit or financial aid (if my memory is correct, Stanford is one such college as well as St. Mary’s in CA). You really have to research each college on a case by case basis as well as write to the admission office about how a DACA student applies for aid at the particular college.
Here are some resources for you to review:
http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/undocumented-students-guide/
https://www.iacac.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Carolyn-Lawrence-Advising-Undocumented-Students-FAQS-For-College-Counselors-2014.pdf (This is an excellent publication and 2014 is the latest issues. The author (whom I loved her information) retired from college counseling so she is no longer updating it. Be sure to see the last few pages that list DACA friendly colleges).
http://www.nacacnet.org/issues-action/LegislativeNews/Pages/Undocumented.aspx
http://unitedwedream.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DACAStepsforFAFSA2014_Final.pdf (This is also another excellent guide and gives a state by state analysis of state aid for DACA students.
http://www.imfirst.org/#! (I have know DACA students at some ivies who received assistance from imfirst.)
Get Me To College has good resources especially their Diversity Fly-In List. Many of the ivies you mention participate in diversity fly-ins so look over the list and apply if eligible. http://getmetocollege.org/what-colleges-look-for/2016-fall-diversity-visit-programs
I always rejoice when my DACA students get into college with enough money to make it affordable for them. It takes work, but is possible so do not give up. Make sure you list is more than just ivies- check out the state colleges in your home state as well as other privates that are DACA friendly. Just the other day I had dinner with a trustee from Austin College who told me about the special scholarships Austin has for DACA students. Austin is part of the “Colleges that Change Lives” group and a wonderful college so perhaps you should consider it.
Good luck.