<p>Hello, I am trying to help out a girl I mentor who's trying to go to college. The girl was born here so she is an American citizen. However, her parent is undocumented, so how does she fill out the FAFSA? I understand that she is supposed to put 0's for the SSN but her parents DO file income taxes. I believe her father has a valid social security number that was issued to him long ago and he is currently obtaining unemployment benefits. However, her mother does not have a valid one but does file taxes, though I'm not sure how.
Any help would be appreciated, thank you.</p>
<p>Yes, she does filll out the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Yes, Her parents put in all 0"s for the SSN number </p>
<p>Her have taxpeyer ID numbers which they use to work and pay taxes. It is not the same as a social security number and cannot be used on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>The father cannot have a valid SSN as an illegal. If he has an SSN it is invalid or stolen.</p>
<p>Iron Maiden, that is not true at all…the SSA regularly issued SSN’s to undocumented workers until the early to mid-90’s. Some of them were marked “Not Valid for Employment” or had an INS restriction. Depending on their length of time in the US, it’s entirely possible that the dad obtained one then. The IRS issues TINs to undocumented workers all the time…they do have to file taxes here!</p>
<p>I was not aware of the practice in the past. I stand corrected. But a TIN is very different from a SSN. </p>
<p>Undocumented = illegal. I refuse to use undocumented.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wrong!! they have been given a taxpaper ID by a US government agency giving them the legal right to work in the country, so they are not here illegally. they are simply non-citizens</p>
<p>If the father is collecting unemployment benefits, that means he worked at some point and his SSN is valid.</p>
<p>Sybbie so by your definition someone who has a work visa is “undocumented”? The PC thing to do now is to refer to people who crossed the border without paperwork as undocumented. Wrong! They have broken the law and are illegal.</p>
<p>Missvee,</p>
<p>If the father has an SSN, and is collecting unemployment benefits, he may very well be a legal worker. This is worth finding verifying because then you would use his SSN.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What about the people who came in on visas which expired while they were mired in trying to work within the immigration system? I know several families like this who have children who are US citizens and have been here for several decades, own property, file taxes, etc…but are now undocumented. PC or not, people are human beings…not illegals!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Regardless of all their stories, they broke the law of this land and they ARE illegals. Yes, I know several law-abiding families that return to their countries when their visas expire. No such thing as undocumented. Yes, all are human beings, nobody is disputing that. But the term illegal also applies to (some) human beings. Don’t tell me they were “mired in the immigration system”. That’s a slap in the face to the millions of people who entered this country legally, went thru the process of immigration and became citizens perfectly legally.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.
Though to the debate going on here, you’d have to take a class on the history of US Immigration policy to see the unfairness of the immigration system. And yes, ‘undocumented’ should be use, they aren’t violating federal law, it’s a civil violation. Did you know it can take over 20 years to come here legally.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but if your kids are starving and in dangerous situations, as a parent, would you care about legality or not? Probably not. Hear the stories of these immigrants and you might have a little more sympathy. Also, analyze where those feelings come from.</p>
<p>People forget that survival is a basic human instinct. Having worked with a refugee population, I’ve heard truly horrendous stories…and seen the scars. I would certainly do whatever was necessary to remove myself and my children from the situation, regardless of whether it was in violation of a civil law or not, and I’m normally a very law-abiding citizen!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Undocumented aliens absolutely ARE violating federal law. Under Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, “Improper Entry by Alien,” any citizen of any country other than the United States who:</p>
<pre><code>* Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers; or
- Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers; or
- Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact;
</code></pre>
<p>has committed a federal crime.</p>