<p>I am in my 7th term at The Culinary Institute of America. I have had problems from the start with TAP, but I wasn't in severe need until this year. I was home schooled for a couple of years in high school, therefore I have to fill out these NYS residency forms. I have lived here my whole life and have had my NYS license for ten years. I have filled out the form online at least five times and they claim they have never gotten it. I have even taken pictures of my computer screen where it says they have received it. My financial aid officer faxed the forms right to them that I filled out and still, nothing. I call them and they are rude and basically act like I am a liar and when I tried to contact the Governor, they just transferred me back to HESC. I am at wits end, broke, behind on my rent and cold. I don't know what to do and could really use some help.</p>
<p>Are your parents NY residents? (Sounds like it, but just checking!) If so, I would have them call the HESC - TAP apps are verified with the NYS Tax Dept and there could be a problem (SSNs don’t match, etc). If that doesn’t resolve the situation, perhaps contacting their state legislator’s office will clear up the confusion.</p>
<p>I am a independent, so it isn’t the parent issue. I am free and clear of them and they do live in NY. It isn’t that they are looking into it and coming up short, they just aren’t looking at it because they claim they have never received my info. I don’t know if they are just bad at their job or being lazy over there. I contacted my congressman about it and he said to get in touch with my governor. When I got in touch with my governor’s office they just transfer me to HESC and I go through the same thing again.</p>
<p>I would suggest mailing it to them via certified mail with a return receipt request. You will then have proof of delivery. Also, you’ll probably need to give them a few weeks to process…they are maddeningly slow in Albany. Meanwhile, have you exhausted your student loan options for the semester?</p>
<p>Pretty much. My Grandmother was co-signing because my parent’s credit is awful, but it stresses her out to do it because she has a lot of loans etc out. She had a heart attack and I cant put any more stress on her. So, I have no co-signer.</p>
<p>Have you taken all of your Stafford loans?</p>
<p>Yes, I have.</p>
<p>In that case, I think your best option is probably to appeal to the school for an emergency loan until your TAP situation can be resolved. I’m curious, did you initially file for TAP online and what was the response you got back from HESC? It seems strange that they would be basing residency decisions on a high school diploma for a student at least 24 years old, especially if you’ve received TAP in prior years…have you been filing NY tax returns?</p>
<p>I filed online and have never received TAP. They base it on high school I guess. I am 26 and have filed taxes since I was 16. It isn’t an issue of the information not being there. It is an issue of them “never getting the residency form.” I don’t know if they are sloppy there and bypass things or if sadly it is a matter of disregarding it because they are lazy. With NYS workers, neither would surprise me.</p>
<p>Can you mail it to them as a registered letter with a return receipt? In these cases they have to SIGN a receipt stating that they received your letter in the mail. That way, the next time they say they didn’t receive it, you have a return receipt to prove that they are the ones who are mistaken.</p>
<p>[USPS</a> - Registered Mail](<a href=“http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/registeredmailservice.htm]USPS”>http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/extraservices/registeredmailservice.htm)</p>
<p>You could get Signature Confirmation and a Return Receipt - then not only would you know they received it, you would know exactly WHO signed for it and when.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s based on having a NY high school diploma as the eligibility requirements are just that you have a US high school diploma or GED…you do have a GED, right? When you log in to check your status on the HESC website what does it say?</p>
<p>I have a diploma from a school in MI. It was the one I home schooled through. I am eligible, but I have to prove my residency. It is through your high school that they check your residency. So, I have to prove it.</p>
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<p>Honestly, it sounds as if the problem lies with the CIA not having you properly classified as a NY resident. The schools generally make residency determinations for HESC…if they can’t, they notify HESC and then HESC sends the residency questionnaire. Did you check with the school to see if they actually certified you as a NY resident? If they haven’t, find out if they can do that for you now and provide them with whatever documentation they need to verify this - you may have to find out who in the FA office normally deals with TAP issues (I would start with the Director/Asst Director’s office and stress that this is an emergency!). You may find this info helpful:</p>
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<p>[Chapter</a> 3: Student Information](<a href=“http://www.hesc.state.ny.us/content.nsf/CA/1/Chapter_3_Student_Information]Chapter”>http://www.hesc.state.ny.us/content.nsf/CA/1/Chapter_3_Student_Information)</p>