DD accepted to Colleges but they wanted more proof of US Cotizenship. FAFSA directed me to Social Security. Went to my local Social Security office with DD’s US Passport, Original SS card, Picture ID for DD(drivers license) and
my ID. Socoal Security said oops they didn’t update her status for the last 16 yrs! They updated her status. Next did online chat with FAFSA and last step was for the student to cause the FAFSA to be REPROCESSED. DD just had to add extra space to the home addres line and then re submit the FAFSA. It takes approximately 6 business days to complete processing. Once processed contact the Colleges and let them know to update the FAFSA info for your student. If student is under 18 parent can do this without student present at SS office just bring documents listed above. If student is 18 or older then he/she will have to go in person to SS office with all documents listed above. Good luck!
@BklynTwin1 thank you.
Based on your description that the process seems to be painless, I went to the SS office to have them updated DD’s SS.
Had you ever asked for the status to be changed? There is no automatic system for it to be updated if the SSN was originally listed a non-citizen and then the child became a citizen. No one but the person (or parent) can notify the SSA that there has been a status change.
In our case, I think my DD got the SSN after she got the citizenship. I didn’t think I have to tell them for my older DD.
Yeah, FAFSA can be a huge pain in the neck for internationally adopted kids!
The law made them citizens automatically in 2000. But FAFSA simply hasn’t caught up with that, and you still need to provide proof of citizenship in the form of either a passport or Certificate of Citizenship.
My son did all that a year ago at his first college. He has since transferred, and has to do it again.
I checked the SSN status of both my girls over the summer - I called the local office and they checked over the phone (benefit of a small town). They were listed as citizens. I chose to do the Certificate of Citizenship paperwork for both way back when. Neither had automatic citizenship based on timing, and then only me traveling for my second. Maybe having the CofC made a difference in the labyrinth of government information.
So far so good on DD18 - no one has asked about her status, and her financial aid awards have been processed without question.
There’s a pinned post at the top of this forum about internationally adopted kids. You might find good advice there.
^^in fact the pinned post did not give the clear step as posted by @BklynTwin1 , this post “inspired” me to go to SS office yesterday.