1. FINANCIAL AID AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES
When a person with a permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wishes to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis (i.e. Tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study). Form-94 with one of the endorsements given in the eligible document section. Nonimmigrant visas include the F-1, F-2, or M-1 Student Visa, B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa J-1 or J-2 Exchange Visitors Visa, H series or L series Visa (which allow temporary employment in the U.S.), or a G series Visa (pertaining to international organizations). Someone who has only a “Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I- 171or I-464)” cannot receive financial aid funds.

2. FEDERAL STUDENT AID GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen(who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C [Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card], also known as a “green Card.”
Have an Arrival-Departure Card (I-94) from USCIS showing Refugee, Asylum Granted, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Conditional Entrant , or Parolee;
Have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
Hold a T nonimmigrant status or your parent hold a T-1 nonimmigrant visa. Your college’s financial aid office will ask to see your visa and/or certification letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Once a T nonimmigrant visa is granted, a victim can apply for permanent residence after three years.
Hold a U nonimmigrant status. Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking ad Violence Protection Act (including the Battered immigrant Women’s Protection Act). This visa is valid for four years.
You ARE not an eligible noncitizen and cannot receive federal student aid with only a “Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence” (I-171 or I-464), you are in the U.S. on an F-1 or F-2 nonimmigrant student visa, or on a J-1 or J-2 nonimmigrant Exchange Visitor Visa or you hold a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations).

3. SUMMARY CHART OF ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTATION
U.S. Citizen or National: U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, current or expired (except limited passports); or Certificate of Naturalization (form N- 550, or N-570),or Documentation of Birth of Citizen Abroad (form FS-240, FS-545, or DS-1350). Note: if you do not have the above documentation because you recently were naturalized, or you became a U.S. citizen as a minor, and you have not yet received a Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Passport, submit an explanation.
U.S. Permanent Resident: Form I-551; or Resident Alien Card (form I-5510; or departure record (form I-94A) or Arrival Record (form I-94) with the endorsement: “Processed for I-551”, “Temporary I-551. ” Temporary of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence Valid until Employment Authorized” or other documentation of permanent resident status.

4. Conditional Resident Aliens: Valid I-551C, I-94, or a passport with an MRIV bearing the statement “Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551C evidencing permanent residence for 1 year.” Valid if documentation has not expired.
Refugee: form I-94A or I-94A annotated with a stamp showing admission under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (NA). Refugee Travel Document (Form-571) or the newer U.S. Travel Document annotated with “Refugee Travel Document I-571 (Re ).”

5. Person Granted Asylum: Form I-94 or I-94A with a stamp showing admission under Section 208 of INA or documentation as provided to refugees above.
Person Paroled into the U.S. for at least one year: Evidence from the DHS that you are in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose and intend to become a citizen or permanent resident. The documentation must have a stamp indicating that you have paroled into the United States for at least one year, with a date that has not expired.

6. Cuban-Haitian Entrants: Form I-94 with a stamp indicating “Cuban-Haitian Entrant or “Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)” stamp. Showing class of admission and date admitted on their passport.
Conditional Entrant: States as a conditional entrant dated prior to March 31, 1980.
Victim of Human Trafficking or Spouse, Child or Parent of Victim: Victim must submit certification or eligibility letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Spouse, child, parent or victim may submit a copy of the victim’s certification letter and a copy of their I-94 with a T1, T2, T3 or T COA code.
Battered immigrants Qualified Aliens: Form I-797 or a court order from an immigration judge confirming your status.

7. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THE FAFSA
The Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is only available by US citizens and permanent residents, meaning international students are ineligible. However, the financial aid department at each school still will use information from FAFSA to determine eligibility for aid from the school. Therefore, it is recommended that international students file the FAFSA.
There is also some information needed for international students, including a Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number, to fill out the FAFSA that may cause complications. If a international student receives a social security number, the card is stamped so that there is no mistaking it for citizenship. When a international student with a social security number submits a FAFSA, they should apply their social security number in the answer to question 8, and question (“Are you a U.S. citizen?”) to indicate that they are not eligible for federal student financial aid.

8. NONIMMIGRANT: WHO CAN STUDY
Only F and M students are limited to attendance at Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools. However, these nonimmigrants must abide by the rules of their current status and cannot extended their stay in the United States for the purposes of completing a program of study or a degree. Spouses and children who derive their status from that of the principal may not remain in the United States beyond the period approved for the principle in order to continue schooling. In most cases, children lose their derivative status at the age of 21 and must apply for a change of status to F-1 or M-1 if they wish to remain in the United States to continue their course of study. For more information about this issue, go to Who can study?