State of Legal Residence Fafsa

U.S. citizens/Nationals: U.S. citizens — those born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or abroad to a U.S. citizen — and nationals — citizens of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and Native Americans of American Samoa and Swain`s Island — are eligible for most federal aid; Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and Marshall Islands are only eligible for Pell Scholarships, Supplementary Federal Study Opportunity Grants, and Federal Work-Study. Assets: an item of value, such as home equity, other real estate, stocks, bonds, cash savings, trust funds, money market funds, college savings plans, retirement plans, and prepaid college plans (FAFSA does not require you to declare home or retirement assets). Sometimes it doesn`t matter if you live with your grandparents, foster parents, or even guardians, unless they have legally adopted you. As far as the federal government is concerned, you are a legal resident in the same place where your parents or parents reside. For example, if your mother lives in Minnesota but your father lives in California, your residence is based on the parent you live with the most. An agreement where you lived in one place for the school year and another place during the summers would result in your legal residency being the state where you spent the school year – a longer period. Different situations require a different answer to this question, and where you live can determine whether or not you qualify for financial assistance.

When it comes to your legal residency, it depends on where your parents live. For FAFSA purposes, legal residency is defined by your parents` permanent residence. That depends. In some states, undocumented students, or especially DACA students, are eligible to receive government tuition. Currently, North Carolina is not one of those states, but equal opportunity legislation on tuition fees has been proposed and promoters continue to work on this issue. Most states also require students to demonstrate their intention to become state residents. Proof of this intent may include: Even if you live on campus during your registration, you will still need to provide your permanent legal address. This could be the home of your parents or guardians, or a permanent residence where you usually receive your mail. Yes. A social security number is required to complete the FAFSA form. When you complete a FAFSA form online at fafsa.gov or via the myStudentAid mobile app, an SSN is also required to create a username and password called FSA ID, which can be used to electronically sign the FAFSA form and access the myStudentAid mobile app. If a student is a dependant, the student`s legal state of residence is usually based on the legal state of residence of the student`s custodial parents.

In all states, a student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is considered a resident of the state if they have lived in the state for five years or more. Your legal residency for FAFSA is usually where your parents or guardians live. However, there are often situations where the answer is not as clear, such as when your parents live in different places. No. Undocumented students, including DACA students, are not eligible for government tuition assistance. However, you may be eligible for state or university grants, as well as private scholarships. One of the issues that confuses many students is residence. FAFSA asks: “What is your parents` legal residency?” If you complete the FAFSA form online at fafsa.gov or through the myStudentAid mobile app and have filed your tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you may be able to access your tax information through the IRS Data Recovery Tool (DRT). If you have not filed a tax return with the IRS, manually enter the requested financial information on the FAFSA website or through the myStudentAid mobile app.

If you are completing the paper FAFSA form, follow the instructions that answer the questions about financial information. Your parents` response should reflect their true, strong, and enduring home. Because each state determines legal residency differently, you should contact your high school counselor or the financial aid office at your college or vocational school for help. It is important that you understand your legal residency before you start completing the FAFSA. If you have a complicated situation, make sure you understand how everything works and how it can affect you. Selective Service Enrollment: Starting in the 2021-22 academic year, Selective Service System (SSS) enrollment for men ages 18-25 is no longer required to receive state financial assistance in California. While registration is not required to receive state financial assistance in California, non-registration may affect future opportunities and/or benefits. For more information, contact the U.S. Selective Service System in www.sss.gov/register/benefits-and-penalties/. However, many states are based on a shorter period of time, usually one year of continuous residency prior to enrollment. Some states have exceptions for children of serving members of the U.S.

armed forces. If a student has lived in the state for less than five years, they will be asked to provide the date they became a FAFSA resident. Most private scholarship funds and foundations require applicants to be U.S. citizens or legal residents, but some do not. The Resources section of the College Board page below contains links to a list of scholarships that may be available to undocumented students. Since your parents` legal residence for FAFSA purposes determines yours, this could affect your financial support if your parents` domicile is located abroad. If your parents are divorced or live in different states, your legal residency is based on the parent you lived with most of the time in the previous year. California Residency: You are considered a California resident if you are a single student under the age of 18 and your parents have been legal residents of California for one year prior to the year you apply for state financial aid. if you have lived for two years with a legal resident of California who is not a parent; or if a parent is in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed in California and on active duty when you enroll. All married students, regardless of age, and single students aged 18 and over must establish their own place of residence.

Most states and colleges use the information collected on the FAFSA form to determine if you qualify for assistance. However, we recommend that you first check with your high school counselor or the financial aid office at your college or vocational school to find out what types of financial aid you could get and whether filling out the FAFSA form is the right way to apply for this assistance. The State of legal residence is your real, fixed and permanent residence. The fact that you are a DACA student does not affect how you must answer this question to complete the FAFSA form. Undocumented Students: Students who live in the United States and are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who do not hold an alien registration card, visa, or other legal documents; This includes students or their families who entered the country legally on tourist or work visas and chose to stay after their visa expires. Need help: financial support based on your own or your family`s income and assets; Most of the financial support from the Länder and the Federal Government is based on need. The questions in this section are about what you consider to be your permanent residence or mailing address. This question appears on the FAFSA form, so the Ministry of Education has a place of residence for you for any relevant correspondence during your school years and for government agencies to determine your potential eligibility for a state grant, if applicable. Note that each state determines legal residency differently.

North Carolina currently uses the Residency Determination Service, or RDS ncresidency.cfnc.org/residencyInfo/. You may want to watch CFNC`s video on how to use RDS if you come from an immigrant family posted in the CFNC Video Library section of this website. Most states require 12 consecutive months or a full calendar year before enrollment for the student to qualify for state tuition at the state`s public colleges. However, there are a few exceptions: if your parents don`t have a Social Security number, they won`t be able to create FSA IDs and therefore won`t be able to electronically sign your FAFSA form. You will need to print the signature page of the FAFSA form online so that your parents can sign it and send it to the address provided. professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/financial-aid/undocumented-students Financial Aid: The total amount of financial assistance offered, usually a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and vocational studies. Student Assistance Report (SAR): The report that summarizes the information you provide through FAFSA. You can also view CFNC`s video entitled “Understanding Financial Assistance for Immigrant Families: Public and Private Institutions” published in the CFNC Video Library section of this website. There is also a video in Spanish for families called “Fundamentos Financiales”. If you need help determining your stay, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Centre by email, live chat or phone. Grant: financial support that does not have to be repaid; usually based on financial need.

If you`re filling out the Free State Study Assistance Application (FAFSA), some of the questions can be a bit confusing — and entering incorrect information can affect your financial aid.