How to File FAFSA if my parents live outside the US?

Paying for College
1

I’m a US citizen currently living in the US however my parents do not live in the US. They are not US citizens but they have social security numbers from when they use to live here, and they do not file taxes. How would I fill out the FAFSA form? Do I need any documents for proof for FAFSA?

2

Don’t they earn money & pay taxes in their present country of residence?

3

Never mind, misread.

4

You won’t need any documents until/unless the financial aid office asks for them. Your parents will file the FAFSA using their financial information converted to US$ at the average exchange rate for the time period that those documents cover.

5

Were your parents permanent residents when they lived in the US? or did they have work visas and had tax filing numbers?

@kelsmom can you help?

6

@mom2collegekids They were on working visas

7

@happymomof1 i hope you chime in.

If your oarents were on a work visa, and we’re not permanent residents with green cards, I don’t believe they could get SS numbers. They could have a tax filing number (I forget the name of it), but not a SS number, I don’t think.

8

If your birthdate is 1993 or later, FAFSA considers you a dependent, and you will need to provide both your and your parents’ financial information. Provide your parents’ social security numbers and current addresses outside US. Where FAFSA asks for state of residence, leave blank or enter ‘foreign country’. Are you a resident of a state in US? If you do not have a permanent residence in US, use your family address outside US. Your parents’ assets can be converted to US dollar by using the schedule at www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h10/current. Indicate whether your parents will file a foreign income tax return. You will need to create a save key and provide it to your parents so they can access your FAFSA online and sign it. They will also need to create their own FSA ID in order to do that. After you have submitted your FAFSA, check it carefully. You can make any corrections you need to. The university may request copies of your parents’ foreign income tax report. If so, they will need to provide a translation of the documents.