Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Our 17-year old daughter has applied to several University of California campuses and we are sat here with the dreaded FAFSA form in front of us. We have tried (in vain) to get her a SSN - we were turned down on the basis that she is not eligible to work inthe USA. It seems to us that every possible source of financial aid to help with college fees is shut off to her for the lack of a SSN. My husband's company is sponsoring his Green Card (on an L1 at present) and we have lived in the state for 19 months now but think it will be some time before the Green Card is granted. My question is, is there any ex-pat out there who successfully got some financial aid through the FAFSA (or college) without a SSN? Did anyone plead hard enough at the Social Security Office to get a SSN Your thoughts would be welcome!

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Ain't eligible for a SSN for now, simple as that....but if you've got the greencard app in, once it's reached a certain stage and your able to apply for a EAD, then you'll be able to get her a SSN.

Without the actual greencard though you won't be eligible for most federal student loans.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Thanks - it seems discriminatory to me though.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

It is.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Even if your daughter had a SSN#, are you sure she would get any free money or cheap loans? You, the parents need to have very little in savings or stocks & be low income or unemployed.
Then of course, lots of parents, would say we have been paying taxes for 18 years & we can't get money for our children. Education & Medical, not easy in the USA.

Good luck trying.

Reg. Frank R.
Ps. Maybe hubbies employers, can offer some scholarship money?

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Not to those who are USCs or PRs. It's a Federal program... why should non-USCs or non-PRs be able to take advantage of it?

Ian

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

As far as I'm aware, a person must be a US citizen or Permanent Resident to qualify for Federal Financial Aid. I don't find this discriminatory at all. The US gov't needs to protect itself and not give aid to just anyone here on a visa. Since there's no guarantee a visa holder will remain in the US, much less stay here the length of time it will take to repay loans, I understand why they don't want to extend loans to these individuals. (I know that sometimes USCs don't pay back loans and PRs could always leave too, but there is less chance of that happening than a visa-holder leaving the US)

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Fair point, but the unis here go on about wanting to open doors to students with a diverse background, about it being a way of improving the dynamics etc. etc. and about not discriminating on the basis of nationality and then shut doors to aid. There, I've said my piece. Guess, we're too used to the open access UK system!

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

No, it is discriminatory - even American English has not yet moved so far that "discriminatory" has completely lost its original meaning of "making distinctions" - which is what we are talking about here - distinctions made based on what most people think are reasonable and objective criteria.

So, yes, it is discriminatory, but "discriminatory" is not always synonymous with "biased" or "prejudiced" ...

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Actually UK universities charge pretty hefty fees (although admittedly not as much as US universities) to foreign students.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

No need to change the word -- it is discrimination. In the OP's case, there is nothing bad about it.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

I thought California had non discrimentory funding. I seem to remember you do not not need to be in status in CA.

The UK has bigger issues, seems like quite a scam has been going on.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

Indeed, and in the OP's case, her daughter will presumably be eligible for financial aid once they have green cards. Seems fair enough to me. Also (I think) the daughter will qualify for in-state tuition rates based on the time of their residence and the fact that they're here on an L1/2. I would check that really carefully though.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

They don't discriminate on nationality, they discriminate on whether or not you're here "permanently".

With it's huge fees for overseas students and requirement of three years of residence before a course starts in order to get resident tuition. Also would be interesting to know what, if any, financial aid is available in the UK to children of parents there on temporary visas.

Re: Financial Aid & FAFSA but no Social Security No.
 

When they say "diverse backgrounds" and "improving dynamics" they really mean an increase in the % of minorities that are part of the schools system currently.

Without seeming rude, can I ask what your ethnic background is? Feel free not to answer.