Filling Fafsa: A Guide For International Students

International students cannot apply for federal student aid in the US, but they may still be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order to be considered for other types of financial aid, such as private student loans or US state and university scholarships. To apply for FAFSA as an international student, one must fill out the form, print it, and mail it to the Federal Student Aid Office. This is because a Social Security Number is required to fill out the FAFSA online.

FAFSA is only available to US citizens and eligible non-citizens

FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form of financial aid for US students to access grants, federal student loans, and work-study funds. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible to fill out the FAFSA form as it is only available to US citizens and eligible non-citizens.

According to the Federal Student Aid website, eligible non-citizens must fall under one of the following categories:

• Be a U.S. national (including natives of American Samoa or Swains Island)
• Be a U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151 (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a “green card”. You will also need an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S.

However, it is still important for international students to complete the FAFSA form, as it is used to determine their eligibility for various US state and university scholarships. Additionally, some schools may require international students to fill out the FAFSA in order to process their loan if they are taking out a loan from the US.

Since international students cannot fill out the FAFSA online, they must take a printout of the form, fill it out, and mail it to the Federal Student Aid Office or the address mentioned on the form. Once FAFSA receives the application, they will reject it, and the student must inform their school of this, which will then sanction the loan.

International students cannot apply for federal student aid

International students can apply for private international student loans, which are offered by some companies. Additionally, in very rare cases, a school may require international students to fill out the FAFSA form to receive institutional aid. However, this is uncommon and would have to be submitted on paper as a Social Security number is required to fill out the online FAFSA form.

There are other options for financial aid available at the institutional level, including grants and scholarships. For example, first-time international students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., can qualify for merit aid through Howard University Freshman Scholarships, which expire after four years of enrolment.

International students can also gain tax exemption if their financial aid is designated as an educational award rather than a work-related award.

International students must submit a printed form by mail

Although international students are unable to receive federal student aid, it is still important to complete the FAFSA form. This is because the form is used to determine eligibility for other US state and university scholarships.

It is important to note that the FAFSA form is available in English and Spanish. If translation assistance is required, it is available by contacting FSAIC at 1-800-433-3243. Additionally, the FAFSA Partner Portal can be used to make corrections or updates to the form. However, it cannot be used to start and submit a new FAFSA form on behalf of an applicant.

The FAFSA form must be submitted by June 30 for each academic year. However, it is recommended to submit the form as early as possible as most FAFSA student aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

FAFSA is required by some schools to process a loan

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the process of applying for financial aid from the US federal government. The primary purpose of the FAFSA is to determine how much financial aid a student qualifies for, including need-based and non-need-based aid. This includes federal need-based grants, such as the Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), as well as subsidized and unsubsidized federal student loans. Many schools require the FAFSA to be on file before any aid awards are distributed.

While international students cannot receive federal aid from the US government, some schools may require international students to fill out the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for institutional aid. This is because the FAFSA provides a Student Aid Index (SAI) that calculates a family's financial need based on income and assets, as well as other factors such as the number of children in the family.

To fill out the FAFSA, a Social Security number is required. International students can obtain a Social Security number by applying for a temporary one, which is only for non-citizens who are authorized to work in the US by the Department of Homeland Security. Without a Social Security number, international students can submit a paper FAFSA form to their school to attempt to receive institutional aid.

It is important to note that the FAFSA is not the only option for international students seeking financial aid. There are private international student loans available, which do not require a Social Security number to apply. Additionally, some private colleges offer significant financial aid that can make them more affordable than state universities or universities in an international student's home country.

FAFSA can determine eligibility for US state and university scholarships

FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form of financial aid for US students to access grants, federal student loans, and work-study funds. While international students are not eligible for federal student aid, FAFSA can determine eligibility for US state and university scholarships.

FAFSA is available to US citizens and eligible non-citizens. Eligible non-citizens must be a US national (including natives of American Samoa or Swains Island) or a US permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151 (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a "green card". An Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the US is also required.

In rare cases, a school may require international students to fill out the FAFSA to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid. This is because some universities offer financial aid to international students, and they may use FAFSA to assess an applicant's financial need. However, as a Social Security number is required to complete the online FAFSA form, international students must submit a paper form to their chosen institution.

It is important to note that even if an international student fills out the FAFSA, they may not be eligible for federal financial aid. In such cases, there are other options to consider, such as private international student loans. Additionally, each US college has its own requirements for how international students can prove their ability to pay expenses, so it is essential to check with the specific institution.

Frequently asked questions