Although I am a US citizen, I’ve never lived there. My parents are divorced and my custodial parent is not an American citizen. I understand that the FAFSA and CSS are used to assess eligibility for financial aid. However, given my rather unusual circumstances, I’m not sure about how to fill these forms out. I ask that you may be kind enough to answer some of my questions.
During the 2018-2019 school year, I will be a high school senior. When, exactly, should I and my parent begin filling out the FAFSA and CSS?
Since my parent is not American, I understand that she will have to mail her signature to FAFSA. Is there a similar requirement for the CSS?
Is there any financial documentation or proof that we should have on-hand?
Since I am not in contact with my noncustodial parent, do I simply ask each college I'm applying to for a noncustodial parent information waiver?
These are my questions for now. I may ask more later on.
It becomes available on October 1. Fill it out as soon as possible after it becomes available. You can look at this year's version now to see what it looks like.
Not sure about that. Someone else here will know. Not sure why that would be.
You should have your tax returns on hand to refer to. If selected for verification, you will get further instructions.
For Fafsa you only need to supply financial info of the parent you spend more time with. For CSS, You can apply for a waiver from each school but it's not so simple to get. You have to attest that you do not know where the NC parent is located and have no way to get in touch with him/her -- you don't even know who he/she is.
@brantly
Thank you so much. So, if I understand correctly, I should fill out both forms beginning October 1st, correct?
Well, I have not seen my father since 2003. For all intents and purposes, he is a stranger to me.
You’ll need your tax returns (if you have any), and those of your custodial parent or whatever tax type documents that parent has for her country. You’ll also need bank records, and other information about assets (value of home, value of second home). You’ll use the income and tax information for 2017, but the asset information (bank accounts) as of the day you file (be it October 1 or a date after that).
If your father has completely and utterly disappeared since you last saw him in 2003, and if there are witnesses (such as your school pricnipal, a clergy person, etc.) who can support this statement, then yes you definitely should apply for NCP waivers.
However, you need to understand that not seeing him in person won’t be sufficient. Have you or your mother had any communication with him since 2003? Have you or your mother received any child support or other financial assistance since 2003? If so, when was the last communication or financial assistance?
If you have a notion of where he is living now, you might be considered an in-state student for public colleges and universities in that state.
@twoinanddone
So, in our case, would that just be something showing that our only income is a non-taxable amount of $6,000 per year, and $10,000 in savings?
Yes, just answer the FAFSA questions as they are asked. If the income is not taxable, you might not even have to report it. Be prepared for the colleges to ask how you live on $6000 per year It may be that that is a huge income in your country, but be prepared for them to ask.
As noted, the FAFSA and Profile for the 2019-2020 academic year should be available on October 1, 2018. You will be using 2017 tax year information…income, and taxes paid in 2017. So…get that information.
Hmmm…I think so…but honestly I don’t remember!
You will need your 2017 tax return or statements of income from 2017. You will need your asset a,punts as of the date you file the forms.
In your case, If you are applying for a non-custodial parent waiver for the Profile, you will need some kind of independent verification that your NCP is out of the picture, and for how long.
Yes…you ask each college.
Additional…if you didn’t file taxes in 2017, and your parent didn’t…you will each need to complete a non-filers statement.
@thumper1
The income is child support from my stepfather for my siblings. @twoinanddone
No, it isn’t a lot of money. As I’ve said on previous posts, I come from an extremely low-income family. Hence, why financial aid is of the utmost importance.
@Slavic2000 So, you and your mother and siblings have ZERO income except for $6,000 in child support per year? How do you pay for your food and shelter? Are you on any kind of public assistance? Are you living with someone else, such as a grandparent or friend?
@brantly
My mother and siblings will be leaving me with a foster family in two weeks. She will go live with my grandmother in Moldova while I finish my senior year (I live in Kenya).
Financial aid decisions come either with or shortly after a received acceptance.
Your low income will only get you tons of financial aid at schools that are very generous…and guarantee to meet full need for all.
So…what are your SAT or ACT scores, and your GPA…because unless you get accepted to a very generous school…or one that has very significant guaranteed merit aid for your stats…your low income isn’t going to get you anything except a Pell Grant and Direct Loan…and those are a drop in the bucket for college costs here.
@thumper1
I am aware of the costs. That is why I am only applying to colleges that meet full need (most of them without loans).
Currently, I have a 30 ACT, 1390 SAT, and a 3.983 unweighted GPA.
I should hopefully benefit from affirmative action policies when it comes to admission chances.
I am also a QuestBridge Prepscholar.
When I said answer the questions about ‘income’ carefully, it is this situation I was referring to. In the US, child support is NOT income. There is a place on the FAFSA where you do put in the child support received, but in your situation you may never get to that question. If your famly has no income, most of the questions on the FAFSA can be skipped.
You are likely to have to provide proof of citizenship too. Do you travel on a US passport? Keep all your paperwork safe. Since your mother is moving and you’ll be doing a lot of this long distance with her and then with the school, things will get complicated. If you can get into college through Questbridge, that will help a lot.
@twoinanddone
Very well then.
Yes, I have a US passport. I could also use my Social Security Number. Indeed, things will get complicated. That’s why I’m asking now; we can plan in advance.
I do hope the QuestBridge College Match works out.