I was wondering if anyone can assist me in figuring out this situation I’m in. So I was born in the U.S. by immigrant parents and long story short, my mother eventually gained U.S. Citizenship and with the hope of granting my father an opportunity to get papers, they got married around the middle of last year. Unfortunately my father has yet to find a clear cut way to do so considering that he has to go through a long process. Now with me needing to reapply for FAFSA, I’m in a situation in which I don’t know to continue putting my mom down as Unmarried since my dad doesn’t have a social security number. I don’t know if there is any risk of further investigation that would lead to unforeseen consequences whether I do it one way or another. Would anyone be willing to help me out in figuring out what the best course of action would be?
Your dad could get an ITIN. No need for SSN.
As they are married, you must file it that way. Does he live with you? Have an income?
Find out from the FA office of the college what to do. Do you have to file the FAFSA in paper form because your father doesn’t have a social security number?
3). In order for me to complete the FAFSA, do my parents need Social Security numbers?
No; since your parents’ citizenship does not affect your ability to complete the FAFSA, they do not need Social Security numbers. If your parents do not have Social Security numbers, you must enter 000-00- 0000 when the FAFSA asks for parents’ Social Security numbers.
If your parents do not have Social Security numbers, you must print out the signature page from the online FAFSA so that your parents can sign it and send it in.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/financial-aid-and-undocumented-students.pdf
@HRSmom, thank you for this info!
Just have your mom be the parent to sign up for a FSA ID since that should be easier with a social security number I assume.
Alright, sounds great. So let me ask, if my father were to have a social security number but once again, with the predicament that I am in where my father has yet to have paid taxes, would would the best course of action be after? I actually just had a conversation with my both my parents and they said that they’re going to pony up and pay the x amount of back taxes necessary in the nearby future for my father. Would I put down his social security number down anyways or would they investigate such a case further? It’s just really with the matter of his legal status that I’m confused with since in reality, he really is illegal with the fact that he doesn’t have his papers but he is in a possession of a social security number that pertains to him.
There is no investigation for fafsa. You put the information down and then match up the tax information by the DRT. If your father has a SSN but no income, that’s what matches up. If your mother states that she makes $50k but the match up shows $60k, you’ll have to explain the difference.
FAFSA does not go on a search for employers. If the SSN is his, it’s his. If it is not, don’t use it. You don’t have to be a citizen to have a SSN, but you do need to have a certain status to get the number (resident alien, right to work, visa).
Basically you describe the current situation on FAFSA. Never falsify a FAFSA, you must sign and attest that it is correct. You do not want to receive aid fraudulently. I do not believe the aid form is used to come after people. So if you live with both parents and they are married, you must list both parents and Married status. So if he has a real SSN in his name use it. If not use the zeros as explained above.