Immigrants don't get financial aid?

Paying for College
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<p>hi, my friend has a problem with financial aid and i'm asking here for him. So he is a NY resident like me and he's planning on going to a CUNY college in the Fall. He was academically qualified for SEEK at Brooklyn College. However, things went messy after he said he lost his spot for SEEK because he didnt send in his financial aid documents on time. I told him to register at another open admissions school at CUNY and he did so now he was able to sign up for classes at CUNY City Tech.But now the problem is that he isn't qualified for ANY aid.. He told me the reason was because he doesn't have a green card... He came to the US 16 years ago so i'm pretty sure he should be able to take the citizenship test by now and qualify for some aid at this point. Unless do you need to be 18 to do that? What other advice can you give him? He said paying 6K a year is alot.</p>

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<p>Does he have a green card?</p>

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<p>I said he doesn’t have a green card.</p>

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<p>Your friend as an illegal immigrant is NOT eligible for Federal FA and most state aid. And becoming legal is way more complicated than taking a test. </p>

<p>[Advising</a> Undocumented Students](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financial-aid/undocumented-students]Advising”>Advising Undocumented Students – Counselors | College Board)</p>

<p>Note if he were a legal immigrant with a green card he would be eligible for Federal and State aid.</p>

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<p>It is not quite that simple. Your friend however can apply for deferred action and the once approved he can legally work for 2 years.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD[/url]”>http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If your friend is not a US Citizen or green card holder, he is not eligible for federal (FAFSA) or State (TAP) aid. While he may be eligible for supports given through SEEK he will not be eligible for the financial aspects because they are paid with state/city funds. Your friend will also not be eligible for EOP/ HEOP or ASAP because state/federal aid are part of the funding.</p>

<p>If your friend cannot pay for college, then he cannot attend.</p>

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<p>

Not quite. See [USS</a> - CUNY - Fellowships](<a href=“http://www.uss.cuny.edu/senate/international/nyic.html]USS”>http://www.uss.cuny.edu/senate/international/nyic.html) & [Comparing</a> College Costs - Financial Aid - CUNY](<a href=“http://www.cuny.edu/admissions/financial-aid/estimating-costs/college-costs-overview.html]Comparing”>http://www.cuny.edu/admissions/financial-aid/estimating-costs/college-costs-overview.html)

& The Tuition & Fees are $5800 for CUNY.</p>

<p>So you need to ask your friend if he/she is really think

I’m sure some undocumented students’ parents could pay the much easily if ask.</p>

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<p>

By the way this thread’s title is misleading.</p>

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<p>^^Sure is.</p>

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<p>He does get in state tuition rates if he’s been in the US for, I believe 3 years.</p>

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<p>Yes he get instate tuition but he doesn’t qualify for aid… I told him to look at the links posted above. I think he told me his parents are US citizens.</p>

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<p>If his parents are US citizens, then he should have legal status thru them. Something is wrong here. </p>

<p>Something isn’t adding up.</p>

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<p>If his parents are citizens, it would be extremely unusual for him to not have that same status. It does happen, but it is rare.</p>

<p>My personal guess is that your friend is either disorganized and just didn’t get the paperwork done on time, or that his parents didn’t want to help him file it. If the first case is true, taking a semester or year off to work, save money, and get organized about this would be the best plan. If the second case is true, he needs to sort out the money issue with his parents before applying to college.</p>

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and then

I think they need immigration lawyer to fix his green card issues. The sooner the better and New York City is full of this kind of lawyers.</p>

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<p>This story is making no sense. If his parents are citizens, and he has been her for 16 years with them, one would think he would also have citizen status through them.</p>

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The problem is we heard this story through third person. Anyway, if Op’s friend wants financial aid, he need to get a Green Card. With his parents are US Citizens, it should be easy (compare to others) for him to get a Green Card.</p>

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<p>If parents are US citizens, kids born in the US or declared to a consulate or brought to the US are automatically citizens. If his parents became naturalized, he would get naturalized too if he is a minor (or was a minor when they became citizens). That’s a paperwork problem.</p>

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<p>The point is not in-state tuition. Op is concerned because his friend is not eligible for financial aid (apparently friend needs money to make college happen).</p>

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The child would become citizen too only if the child has a green card already. I suspect their immigration situations are complicate.</p>

<p>Anyway, Op’s friend needs to get a green card in order to get financial aid. Otherwise, he needs to find scholarships and loans that are available to undocumented students. See [DreamActivist</a> | Scholarships for Undocumented Students](<a href=“http://www.dreamactivist.org/faq/education/scholarships/]DreamActivist”>http://www.dreamactivist.org/faq/education/scholarships/)</p>

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<p>Sorry for the confusion. His parents don’t even have a green card either…</p>

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<p>

If your friend can not pay for college, he needs to find scholarships and loans that are available to undocumented students. See DreamActivist | Scholarships for Undocumented Students</p>