<p>@annoyingdad I just realized based on the post and MIT’s definition of “separated,” my parents would be considered both married and separated then. I will have my dad fill out the NCP PROFILE.</p>
<p>So your parents are still a fully married couple. So I think you should file profile listing them as married and including his financial info on the main profile. You don’t need to deal with the NCP waiver or the NCP supplement.</p>
<p>One of the reasons there is an NCP supplement for truly separated parents is because neither parent wants the other to know the details of their finances. So with the profile and NCP supplement each can provide their finances without the other knowing the details. That’s not your situation.</p>
<p>Read the last few pages of this current thread. The OP there erroneously put her parents as separated in similar circumstances to you and is now having to explain everything to the schools she is applying to:</p>
<p><a href=“I'm confused about the signed tax returns. - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>I'm confused about the signed tax returns. - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;
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<p>I don’t think this was a clear statement of your situation to MIT. You didn’t mention that your parents still consider themselves married and your dad is only physically separated due to family issues in China.</p>
<p>Zga…you have me mixed up.</p>
<p>For these schools, you will still need to do the Profile if required. It sounds like some will not require the non-custodial parent parent Profile. </p>
<p>So…check to be sure…but if they require the Profile…get it done on time. If they require the non-custodial parent Profile, get that done if you can…or apply for a waiver.</p>
<p>You don’t get a waiver for the Profile…only the NCP Profile.</p>
<p>ETA…did you tell each school that your parents file U.S income taxes married filing jointly? That could make a difference in their decision.</p>
<p>I sent MIT an email again:
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<p>They replied:
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<p>A direct yes or no would have been more clear but I assume this means that I should list my parents as married on the CSS/PROFILE and then explain the circumstances somewhere else. @annoyingdad Thank you for linking to that post btw. </p>
<p>@thumper1 I’ll just list them as married and provide extra info somewhere else. I’ll come back for help if I encounter difficulties completing the PROFILE this weekend. Thank you guys for the help so far!</p>
<p>Do read this: <a href=“Divorce and Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid; It’s for the FAFSA which you will be filing after 1/1/2015 when it becomes available. Though a bit outdated, the info there goes well into issues in filing as separated for FAFSA purposes. You will need to fill out a FAFSA which generally gets verified against the 2014 tax forms, and PROFILE often gets checked against that or through IDOC, a verification process. Any inconsistency will be questioned. Yes, you can be married and separated/ Those who are separated on 12/31 of a year can so file on the 1040 series with the IRS and generally do so if permitted since tax rules are favorable that way, especially for HOH status. However, you do not have to meet IRS definition of separated in order to be separated for FAFSA purposes, but when the information does not jive additional questions will likely be asked by the financial aid officer. The PROFILE will also have to be consistent. A question that may come up is whether your parents consider themselves as a married couple who just happen to live apart, or if they are indeed living separate lives. My husband and I were separated for job purposes, with separate residences, but we did not consider ourselves separated in status and would not have so filed on any form regardless of financial aidvantage. But I do know couples who live separately, run their lives separately and have separate finances and though they are together as a married couple when together </p>
<p>Your parents do not fall under the definition of being separated. They are fully married and just happen to be living in two different places. That does not mean they are considered to be separated for financial aid purposes. Both of your parents info would go on your custodial parents information.</p>
<p>Your father is your custodial parent. He is not your noncustodial parent.</p>
<p>Would the number of people in my household be 2? Or 3 (to include my dad even when he doesn’t live here)?</p>
<p>It would be 3. You are including his financial info on the profile so you get to include him even though he’s physically located elsewhere.</p>
<p>Thank you @annoyingdad :)</p>