My fiance is not a US citizen. How would getting married while I’m in undergrad affect my FAFSA? We are bith students, me in the US, him doing online school while working in his home country.
No way to answer.
If you EFC is already $0, then there would be NO change in that if you are married.
You could try filling out the NPC as if you are married and enter his income and assets. However, you probably should also talk to the financial aid people at your university. You will need to know his income and assets when you talk to them.
I am thinking that you might want to wait until you graduate to get married, although I can see that this might have an impact on many other issues including but not limited to his ability to move to the US immediately after graduation.
You also need to determine how to file your federal and state income tax returns if you marry and your spouse does not become a legal resident.
Where do you intend to live after marriage? Is there a particular need to marry before you finish your education? If you marry now, will your fiance move to the US? Have you discussed your situation with an immigration lawyer?
He does not plan to become a US citizen, and will stay in Japan to work during my senior year of undergrad (I’m currently a junior). I am applying to grad school in Canada. We would like to be married before then, so he can come with me and work.
We are trying to figure out how getting married before my senior year of undergrad impacts my financial aid before we decide a date.
I think you need to figure out how getting married would affect his immigration status first…especially since he has no intention of becoming a citizen here or in Canada.
You need to get all of his immigration stuff sorted out…or you may find he can’t work here or in Canada.
If you are a junior now, you will be filing a 2019-2020 FAFSA and Profile if required by your college for need based aid consideration for your senior year. If you marry before you file that form, your husband’s income from 2017 will be included on your financial aid application forms. And his assets as if the day of filing will also need to be included.
He will be able to work in Canada only if we’re married.
Do you attend a FAFSA only school?
Depending on your school, if you are receiving need based institutional aid, you may still have to include your parents income and assets along with your husbands.
Many schools have policies in place that if you start as a dependent student, you finish as a dependent student even if you have a life event that makes you independent for federal aid.
Are you a Canadian citizen? If not, I’m not sure being married to you will help your spouse in terms of working in Canada. Many jobs there require that the employers seek Canadian citizens FIRST for jobs, and can only hire others if no qualified citizens can be found.
@happymomof1 is that still the case?
@alwaysamom ??
I am going to talk to my school on Monday. I don’t believe my school has that policy as other students have gotten married. Many choose to wait or leave.
My parents have changed jobs and make less, but FAFSA goes by taxes from their former jobs. My parents do not provide any contribution as I have little siblings still living at home.
It’s not still the case. We’ve researched and are currently getting advice from a Brazilian student in Canada who attended undergrad at my school.
The US is more complicated and we aren’t sure if he’ll be able to work without the intent of becoming a US citizen.
As of now, after graduating grad school in Canada, I’d like to work there and apply for permanent residency and pursue my education further.
What financial aid will this get you? Without knowing your future spouse income, it’s hard to say if you will gain…or lose financial aid.
If your college doesn’t guarantee to meet full need for all…all you might be eligible for is a portion of the Pell Grant, and a $7500 Loan.
If your parents aren’t paying NOW…how are you paying your college costs?
I have enough academic scholarships that I only take out about $3000 in loans, that me and my fiancé will have to pay.
I was wondering if getting married would get me a higher pell grant and federal aid since mine and his income is less than my parents.
I am still a dependant of my parents for insurance and to help save my family some money.
It is not the intent to become a citizen that matters, but getting a green card. My niece married a Canadian and he does not intend to become a US citizen. He had a green card and works in the US. They live in Washington so go back to Canada every month.
It took more than 2 years to get the green card after they were married. Mostly paperwork issues. During that time, he lived in Canada to work and she lived in Montana and they just visited whenever they could. It is difficult to get everything processed, and this was Canada. I imagine Japan would be harder, and then you want to add a third country into the paperwork?
good luck.
What is his income from 2017 added to anything you earned?
How much Pell do you get now? What was your FAFSA EFC?
What other federal aid do you think there is? Because…there isn’t! The Pell and Direct Loans are really it.
Really, if you are doing this to avoid a $3000 Loan…I suggest you wait. That loan is likely a Direct Loan…and the amount doesn’t change regardless of your income.
Why do you want to get married? How do you know each other?
You need to stop getting advice from a Brazilian student in Canada who used to attend your school. Period full stop. You need to consult an actual immigration attorney. This is a huge decision and you are making it with some very faulty assumptions. What happens if you don’t get into a Canadian grad program? What happens if he decides he wants to stay in Japan? What happens if you DO get into a Canadian grad program and he can’t find a job in the city you are living in?
You need to find a lawyer and get all your ducks in a row before you get too far down the path here. And if you think I’m making this up- do you know how many people end up in immigration limbo because they got married, assuming they’d get a work permit quickly, and discover that they can’t? Do you want to be married to someone you get to see twice a year (assuming you can afford to fly to Japan to visit him and that he can afford to fly to Canada to visit you).
Pay someone for a two hour consult.
With some insurance companies, if you get married, you might void your access and they might take you off of your parents insurer.
Has your Brazilian advisor mentioned anything about having to pay for your own insurance?
You won’t be going to grad school in the US, so, some of your loans, depending on the company, may come due. Are you prepared to pay your loans off?
This plan is so full of holes, you’ll be stuck for years. I agree with @blossom, pay an attorney. It will be worth every cent.
If you come to Canada on a student visa, that will not necessarily allow your husband to come, too. And for him to be able to work would be unlikely without some sort of work permit. You need to consult an immigration lawyer before planning any of this. Getting advice from a student who happens to be in Canada is unwise.
And US immigration is a clusterfest. Do not assume anything. Marriage might be a negative for your own aspiration to Canadian entry.