He pays always only cash. He even doesn’t have a credit card.
That’s how it works here, if you are not working for an employer, you are self employed.
And your dad keeps his savings under his mattress?
Can you go to school in other European countries?
Yeah, something like that. This can sound weird, but in our country it’s something totally normal. 
Not sure, because I wasn’t looking for the any schools in Europe.
Well it’s none of my business, but I think that is very risky. Especially if it took a long time to save that money.
Why would it be risky?
Please list the US schools you are applying to that guarantee to meet full need for international schools.
@Madison85 I’d be interested in what they said too. I was just thinking that if we didn’t pay taxes we wouldn’t have to worry about merit scholarships.
So let’s get this simplified–your father is a long-time tax cheat, has no record of any income, and you therefore have no way of completing financial aid forms in the US. Then I guess you can’t apply for financial aid here, and look to your father when you place the blame. I’m sorry he put you in this position. Perhaps your father can start reporting his income properly for 2016 so you can apply in 2017.
Where are you applying? While the school’s might meet full need for all…it is highly likely they are need aware for admissions. This means that your ability to pay will be considered when your application for admission is reviewed.
Honestly…folks here can help you more if they know the schools. Some folks might have specific experience with the schools.
@happymomof1 I hope she sees this thread…she has good reserves for international students to gain helpful information.
Because unless he has a fireproof safe the money could be gone if there was ever a fire and someone could steal it.
@MommaJ Sorry, but I won’t call him a cheater and I can’t blame him for doing this.
Look, living in such a poor and corrupted country as Moldova gives you no other choice (maybe you heard about the 1 billion $ that has been stolen from our banks, google it). I’ve seen so many good people who are trying to survive here, as well working without declaring their income.
He isn’t employed nor has a business on his own. He is just trying to make the best for its family and offer some decent conditions for living.
I hope I’ll find a way out.
Thank you for your comment and suggestion. All the best.
@Madison83 colleges like: Bates (ME), Whitman(WA) meet the demonstrated need
Your father is classified as self-employed because he has has the equivalent of a small business where he does work for other people. How that works out with your local tax system is not an issue right now. What matters is that he needs to reconstruct some kind of record of his income and expenses so that you have numbers that you can use on the financial aid applications.
Contact the advisors at the EducationUSA center in Chisinau: https://educationusa.state.gov/centers/chisinau-eac They are the experts on helping students from Moldova find good colleges and universities to study at in the US. They should be able to help you with the whole process.
@happymomof1 Thank you so much!
Yes, we had a talk about our family’s finances and he already gave me the information about his income and the expenses during 2015.
I will contact those from the Education center as soon as possible.
Hopefully they will guide me through this.
Wish you all the best and thank you again! x
@Corina17 Your schools are not among the only 6 schools in the US that are need blind for admissions and meet full need for internationals. Do you understand what this means?
@Madison85 I did NOT say that these colleges are NEED BLIND, but that they meet FULL demonstrated need!
I know what I said
Whitman College website: Need-based scholarships for international students are calculated based on the student’s demonstrated financial need and are renewable for four years. 100% of demonstrated need will be met for students outside of the United States and Canada.
Correct - your presumably very high need of up to $60k or so will be considered as a negative factor against you in determining whether or not Bates, for example, will admit you.
Also, there is likely a student contribution of a few thousands even after they meet the needs. In addition, you need to pay for your transportation and other expenses that are not covered in the financial aid. It is highly unlikely to fit in your budget.
Not to forget health insurance.
You need to apply to Berea since it admits students with high financial need.
You should also apply to Howard as soon as you have your test results, since they have full rides (but these “go” very fast and it’s first come/first served, ie., the earlier you apply the better off you are.)
Monticello, Truman State, Miami-Ohio, Hendrix, UAlabama Birmingham or Huntsville, UMW may be of interest. Many competitive scholarships have deadlines November 1, 15, 30, or December 1st, so check quickly. Note that the test results can arrive during the month of the deadline (ie., anytime in November for a November deadline) provided you application is in by the deadline.
Your best odds are applying to Amherst, women’s colleges like Mount Holyoke, Smith, Scripps, Barnard, and Wellesley.
Colleges that meet need but are need aware will count your high financial need against you. You’d have to bring something exceptional for them to justify the expense. Often, if the choice comes between sponsoring one brilliant student and three less brilliant but competent students who are less needy, the three competent ones get in.
You should take the ACT in November or December, if it’s offered in Moldova. It would count as SAT + SAT Subjects.
Since it’s not on the same day as the SAT, you’d have two sets of results to use on your application.
On the CSS Profile, you’ll need to explain you live in a small town, your father is self employed and is paid in cash.
You should also look into applying to colleges in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark (whichever languages you speak + English-speaking programs in countries where you don’t know the language) since $5,000 are likely enough for them.