So upset! Immigration Status and Fin. Aid

<p>I guess the ultimate deciding factor as to whether or not I attend college will be my immigration status, not my grades. My mom just informed me that the law under which we applied for residency is "taking a break" (for lack of a better term) from issuing visas until October. Prior to this, we have been waiting for nearly two years for the final interview. So in other words, unless I can come up with $40k a year, I won't be going to college. I've been looking at scholarships from different websites and they all require at least permanent residency status. I have a social security number, it just says "only valid if presented with a valid worker's permit", which I also have. Does anyone know if its still possible to get financial aid with just this? Or if not, do any scholarships not take into account immigration status? Any information provided will be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>You and I are on the same broken boat. It's really frustrating, considering that I've lived here almost all of my life. Grrrr...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.cosaonline.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.cosaonline.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>good info on this site</p>

<p>paulchem, thanks for the link.</p>

<p>SpookyAlien: If you think you're likely to get the visa before April 1, I'd contact the admissions offices of the colleges you're applying to and ask whether it would be possible to submit the FAFSA and other forms late (after the official deadline). If they decide to relax the rules because of your special circumstances, you should be able to qualify for regular aid. That only works if the visa comes through before the decision date, though.</p>

<p>EruditeWriter: So am I...there seem to be more of us here than I thought.</p>

<p>what is the minimum immigration status needed to be quilified for and eligible non-citizen? does anyone know? I will be applying to colleges next fall and want to know if my status is OK...</p>

<p>^Green card holder/permanent resident.</p>

<p>Wow I just noticed there were replies. Thanks for the advice thisyear, I'll be sure to do that. Although first, I need to figure out where I'm going to apply and if its advantageous for me to do EA/D.</p>

<p>I wouldn't suggest ED, since you never know if that particular college is going to be accommodating in regard to financial aid. EA is a better choice, since it gives you the option of negotiating aid offers between schools by the time RD results start coming in.</p>