UMBC was also in my bucket for maybe safeties
We had to a non-filer’s statement for one of our kids. I think the basis for the approval was that she didn’t have a job. I don’t think the IRS will give one to somebody who just doesn’t want to pay.
You will have to apply as an international at most colleges…which is typically the most competitive group. There are a few colleges that allow DACA students to apply as domestics (as was the case of hkim, in the thread linked in #38), not sure about undocumented without DACA status… you would have to check websites.
The reality is that even if you get in to college in the US and it is affordable for you, right now there is no path to citizenship or a Green Card for you, and no path to legally work in the US upon graduation.
how is that a safety? how much merit money would it give you?
and are you saying that your parents will pay $6k per year? or a one time contribution ?
Is your visa status overstay? Or did you enter illegally? Have your parents ever discussed the big picture? There is no option of returning home and entering legally? I am of the view that this immigration situation is not ever improving for undocumented people. You are now entering adulthood, you need to work out your plan independent of your parents choices.
Applying to MIT in this situation is like buying a lottery ticket - go for it if you want, but assume it won’t happen, because realistically it won’t.
Getting actual need-based aid is a long shot in this situation, for all the reasons others have described. And the longer-term question of how you’re supposed to make the leap to legal status and be able to gain employment here once you have a degree is a very significant one as well.
You’re in a tough spot that isn’t of your own making. It isn’t that you can’t get an education here while undocumented. There are schools you could probably pay for with off-the-grid income. This article, for example, lists several MA public U’s with very affordable sticker prices for internationals; and you might even be able to get some merit scholarships to reduce the cost further. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/15-most-affordable-colleges-for-international-students?onepage
But if you don’t start this process from outside the US, and get a legitimate student visa to be here and pursue your degree, then what happens after that? You’ll have a degree that proves you were here illegally in order to earn it, and that will throw up an additional barrier to getting onto a citizenship path as you hope to do. I’m not an immigration expert, but I don’t see how this serves your goals. A Canadian degree obtained with student-visa status would be better than that, as would a degree from a university in India or Europe or wherever you can legally be a student. Now, if you can afford to attend a college here based on full-pay minus merit, and you can get a student visa to do so, then that’s different. Even starting at Bunker Hill on that basis could get you a foot in the door. Make sure you get good advice at this stage and don’t end up digging yourself deeper into a hole that will make naturalization impossible in your future.
Also, be cautious about posting about your situation here on CC. There’s helpful advice to be had, but posts here are public and forever - CC will not remove old posts even when they are causing real problems for the OP. You’re clearly being cautious about personal info and not making yourself recognizable, but we’ve also all read the stories of international students being denied entry to the US based on surprisingly inoffensive social media activity and affiliations. So do err on the side of caution.
You might want to look into this app: https://www.forbes.com/sites/viviannunez/2018/09/21/this-latinas-app-helps-undocumented-students-find-ways-to-pay-for-college/?fbclid=IwAR2KXuLGHQtGfiCW1KmeXtfHShq9B9s8ClrpDW6J14CkM3nQCK_AUnO2Vz0#566ed5c94039 And any other resources that might lead you to more confidential sources of advice.
How would UMBC be a safety for you? You would be an out of state student. How would you pay for this Maryland public university
UMBC was in my bucket because they seemed very fine with me enrolling as an undocumented student and still applying as domestic student. Not so much to the affordable side but rather the once who can accept me as a domestic student.
About my status. I am undocumented because I am over stayed on a (b2) visa. When I was brought to US by my parents I wasnt told that I will here for a real long time but rather only a 20 day vacation…
Unfortunately, you have no safeties. Safeties are schools where you will be accepted, which you can afford, and where you will be happy to attend. Many schools might accept you but will not give you enough financial aid to make them affordable to you.
Unfortunately (#2), Massachusetts is not a state that gives instate tuition or FA to undocumented students who graduate from their high schools. Check to see if there are any community colleges in your area that might be affordable to you.
There have been cases in California where an undocumented student has attended college and been able to get a professional license (law, medical) without documentation, but they are very rare. DACA students have SSNs and can legally work, but you cannot. You need to look at other options because as it stands right now, you would go to school for 4 years and end up where you are now - undocumented and unable to work in the USA.
If Canada or India are options, look at those. School in Massachusetts is just not a good option right now. MIT is giving you boilerplate answers, that IF you are accepted they will work with you to get the CSS completed. That doesn’t mean there will be a pot of money for you but they will HELP you get the documents they need. I have to agree with those above that if your parents are required to file taxes, they will need to do so. You said your sister has a tax ID number and that’s what your parent(s) would need to file too.
UMass Boston actually welcomes Undocumented students to apply and has merit scholarships available. There are likely other such schools.
As for the CSS Profile, it might be a good idea to talk to the MIT financial aid office for advice and direction in how to complete that form.
There are many illegal residents working and attending college here in our country. How they prepare for the future, their children’s future really goes into difficult avenues beyond the scope of a College advice board.
This^^
You need to look at this long term. 4 years of college goes by fast. Then what? It sounds like you came to the US in 2015 or 16, so you haven’t been here that long (not like DACA kids who’ve literally been raised here and really don’t know their home country.). BTW…I think that many/most of the students that @cptofthehouse is referring to are DACA students who can work here.
Do you have relatives in India that you could live with and go to school there? If so, you might be able to then get legal entry into this country via US relatives that are legally here.
Also, since MIT is a crapshoot, particularly since you mention in another thread that you’re not a strong applicant (and likely MIT gets a ton of applicants from strong applicants from India), what other realistic options do you have here for education? How would it get paid?
Are you saying that your parents will pay $6k per year? Or $6k total?
When do you turn 18? If you left the US while still a minor, your overstay doesn’t count against you, but once you are 18, you will be banned from legal reentry for 10 yrs with your length of overstay. Are you fully aware of the consequences of being undocumented? You just won’t have the DACA sympathy in your favor as you were so old when you arrived. Have you ever talked with an immigration adviser?
There are many, many children and young people in OP’s situation. There often are no good alternatives. You pick the least damaging, usually for the here or now.
If OP gets into MIT, gets through MIT, prospects will be much brighter. If OP gets through a school like UMass Boston that does have merit money for undocumented students advertised front and center on a website, prospects also likely improved.
In terms of going back to home country and other venues, likely the family has discussed these things and the risks and drawbacks , particularly immediate make them not as attractive. Spending next 4 years at axUS college is probably the best over all choice for OP who is likely still a child right now.
Those I’ve met in similar circumstances did not have better choices than to keep head down to grindstone and get best education and trading.
But as I said above, advice on life choices way outside the scope of this forum. The question at hand is how an illegal immigrant can fill out PROFILE when parent did not file or pay taxes (doesn’t look like he owed any income taxes; FICA and Medicare a whole other story). Also whether this same student can get any aid to go to college, given circumstances