I’m a US permanent resident and it’s been a month since I arrived in US. So, I haven’t filed any taxes.
My parents are in my home country, are not permanent resident and we don’t have tax filling system like US.
I’ve applied to colleges for Spring 2018 and they want me to fill FAFSA.
I’m currently living with my sponsor who is covering my living expenses. Do I need to show my parents income from earlier years or just add 0 there since it is not US income ? Morever, the income is so low compared to US that I don’t expect them to be able to contribute anything. What should I do?
Here is the explanation for reporting non-U.S. income:
If you filed or will file a foreign tax return, a tax return with Puerto Rico, another U.S. territory (e.g., Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Swain’s Island or the Northern Marianas Islands) or one of the Freely Associated States, use the information from that return to fill out this form. If you filed a foreign return, convert all monetary units
to U.S. dollars, using the published exchange rate in effect for the date nearest to today’s date. To view the daily exchange rates, go to Federal Reserve Board - Foreign Exchange Rates - H.10 - May 22, 2023.
(If your parents did not have to file the equivalent of a tax return, they will need to report all income, and taxes paid will be 0. Be sure to report the income in U.S. dollars, as explained above.)
If it is for spring 2018, make sure you file the 2017-18 FAFSA, not the new one that just became available.
Answer the questions as asked, using your parent’s income (converted into US $$). Also, since your parents do not have SSNs, you’ll have to print off the FAFSA and they’ll have to sign it and send it in. This will take a while, so start it as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that even though you live with your sponsor, because your parents do not have a physical presence in the state in which you live, and the fact that you just got here a month ago, you will not be eligible for in-state tuition or any state aid that your state provides
@mommdc I’m not sure about that. I had applied to US universities as an international student and had offers where I needed to pay around 12 - 19k out of pocket. I’m looking to apply need blind universities now.
Need blind is an admissions term. It has nothing to do with financial aid awards. It simply means that the school won’t consider your ability to pay when they consider your application for admission.
Are you applying to schools that guarantee to meet full need for all accepted atudents?
You might want to check how many Spring admits there are at these schools. My guess…not many.
I’m definitely out of luck. None of those colleges/university that meet full need take students in spring.
Anything you guys could suggest? I definitely have 0 money and mediocre scores ( new SAT - math: 740, english - 660 ). I want to take as less as possible loan and certainly can’t wait till Fall.
If you are looking for spring as others have stated you are going to have few options outside of community college in your home city/state. If you go this route keep in mind that there is not a lot of money for transfer students because the best packages go to first time freshmen. If you go to community college you will need to stay until you complete an associates so that you can transfer with minimal credit loss
Take your time get yourself together. At this time waiting until next August to start is nothing in the big scheme of things. However waiting will give you many more opportunities.
If you are trying to go away or if you need merit money to make things happen, take the time to get your transcripts translated (especially if they are not in English) find out the admissions requirements.
Look at the automatic merit scholarship threads above.
Get your high school records evaluated formally. Evaluations from WES.org are accepted by all of the colleges and universities that I know of. While you are taking care of that, get a job and start putting away some money for your education. If your grades are very good, you might find a place that will offer you enough aid. If not, you will probably need to start out at a community college and then transfer to a public U in the state where you live.
You also should take advantage of any training available in your area for recent immigrants. For example, the community college where I work offers free or very affordable training to immigrants in jobs that have high demand such as Certified Nurses Aid, computer repair, and apartment maintenance. Something like that could give you financial independence quickly, and you could support yourself while you look for and eventually attend college.
Should not take any classes in the spring. Apply for fall only. Don’t ruin your incoming freshman status by taking courses in the spring. You have no money. You need as much aid as possible.
@Newkidintown69 and @mom2collegekids - Sorry that I didn’t make my advice clear. The coursework I was thinking of at our CC is in the non-credit division. Students in the CNA, computer repair, apartment maintenance, phlebotomy, etc. programs do not earn college credit, just continuing education credits. And where appropriate, they can take state/local/federal certifying exams that license them for a job, but again aren’t college credits.