Many of the migrants who arrive in the United States are young people who want to continue their studies, but their limited resources prevent them from doing so. Besides, your immigration status can make it much more complicated. How to get a student loan if you are undocumented in the country? In Solo Dinero we are going to explain it to you.
More than 1 million foreign students are enrolled in US schools and the number continues to grow. From the outset you should know that if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you are excluded from most federal financial aid programs, which includes federal grants, federal loans, and the Federal Work-Study Program.
However, you have to know that you are not completely disqualified from participating in other programs. So if you are an undocumented student and you are looking for some options to continue your higher education studies, there are other sources of financing, such as pstate support programs, college scholarships, and many nonprofit foundations that offer private scholarships and some federal options remain as well.
The US Department of Education strictly limits eligibility for federal financial aid, and this includes student loans, for both US citizens and eligible non-citizens.
In a nutshell, US citizens, permanent residents are eligible and people who have been admitted as refugees, people on parole, or whose asylum claims have been granted. Otherwise, anyone who is not a US citizen you should check with your school’s financial aid office to determine if you are an eligible non-citizen Before trying to apply for federal financial aid, some experts recommend.
What you need to do to apply for a student loan
There is a format called Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or better known as FASFA. One of the requirements for non-citizens is that they provide their alien registration number and their Social Security number. If you do not have them you will not be able to participate in any process.
In addition, applicants may be required to submit proof from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prove their identity. intent to become permanent residents.
Once you understood that if you are not documented, you are left out of federal aid, there is an idea with which we want you to be clear: getting some financial aid as an undocumented migrant will be more complicated compared to being a legal resident, without a doubt the options they will be more limited but not impossible to get. And these aids can be found in the states.
Several states allow undocumented immigrants to apply for state financial aid and receive state tuition rates.
Which states give financial aid to undocumented students
Everything will depend on the place of residence. For example, in Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia, it is illegal for an undocumented student to attend one of the state’s public universities. However, not everyone takes this position, so those who are willing to help include the following:
-Kentucky
-Michigan
-Rhode Island
-Colorado
-Connecticut
-Floride
-Kansas
-Maryland
-Nebraska
-New Jersey
-New York
-California
-D.C
-Hawaii
-Minnesota
-New Mexico
-Oklahoma
-Oregon
-Texas
-Washington
-Illinois
-Utah
The aid they grant can go in two ways: state-sponsored scholarships or tuition discounts.
Another source can be consulted on the website of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA, for its acronym in English) in which they promote different scholarships, grants and other aid that you can seek by state of residence.
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