Hello everyone, I'm a greencard holder but my son (who has been in the country for for about 13 years who is now 17 years old) is still waiting for his card to arrive. about 8 months has passed since his interview and there is no word on his status. He has been accepted to the college of his choice and we need to fill out a FAFSA form so he can be eligible for student loans. However, since we don't have his green card yet, we cannot file the FAFSA b/c they request a green card number. Deadlines are approaching and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
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Help my son needs to get into college
- Thread starter jelhelp
- Start date
Hello everyone, I'm a greencard holder but my son (who has been in the country for for about 13 years who is now 17 years old) is still waiting for his card to arrive. about 8 months has passed since his interview and there is no word on his status. He has been accepted to the college of his choice and we need to fill out a FAFSA form so he can be eligible for student loans. However, since we don't have his green card yet, we cannot file the FAFSA b/c they request a green card number. Deadlines are approaching and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
You said that you are "waiting for his card to arrive." Does that mean his has already been approved but there is a hold-up in the actual production of the card? Or is the application still pending?
If the former, you can go ahead and file the FAFSA. The green card number is the A-number on his I-485 receipt notice.
Thank you, his status is "PENDING"
Then you will have to contact the DHS to find out what the delay is.
The deadline for submitting a FAFSA for the 2008-2009 school year is June 30, 2009 (though by the time school-based funds will probably have been depleted).
You said that you are "waiting for his card to arrive." Does that mean his has already been approved but there is a hold-up in the actual production of the card? Or is the application still pending?
If the former, you can go ahead and file the FAFSA. The green card number is the A-number on his I-485 receipt notice.
Ok, I just realized that I have the A-number, however FAFSA also requests the date he had been declared permanent residence. I do not have this date, is there a workaround to this?
Ok, I just realized that I have the A-number, however FAFSA also requests the date he had been declared permanent residence. I do not have this date, is there a workaround to this?
They automatically match the A number you provide to the DHS computer records. If the number does not belong to a green card holder they will notify you.
I'm sorry but can you clarify? My son's case is "pending," however I have his A-number from the receipts. I believe that I still have to wait until his status is approved to fill out the FAFSA, correct?
Yes he must be approved first if he is to get federal financial aid. I was saying in my earlier post that even though he has an A number now it will not work. Nothing stops you from sending in the FAFSA form. But the Department of Education confirms the A number with DHS records. Because he is not approved they will ask him to produce a copy of his green card to his school which he cannot do.
You should concentrate your energies on getting his case approved asap.
You should concentrate your energies on getting his case approved asap.
I am going to Infopass next week. I called DHS and all they can tell me is that he is a "pending" status. I don't know what else to do. We filed in 06, interview was actually 8-9 months ago. With all these financial aid/loan deadlines approaching, it is very stressful. Is there anything else I should be doing?
I am going to Infopass next week. I called DHS and all they can tell me is that he is a "pending" status. I don't know what else to do. We filed in 06, interview was actually 8-9 months ago. With all these financial aid/loan deadlines approaching, it is very stressful. Is there anything else I should be doing?
I understand your stress. You might want to hire an immigration lawyer to help push for your son's case be processed.
You can still get Pell Grants and Stafford Loans after the deadline.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
How is your son eligible for a green card ... as a dependent of your green card application? If yes, is your priority date current for your green card category? Dependents cannot be approved without the primary applicant's priority date being current, so it may be that retrogression of the priority dates is preventing your son's case from being approved.