To receive federal student aid, you must be one of the following:
- a U.S. citizen
- a U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island)
- a U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551 or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card)
If you’re not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the following designations:
- “Refugee”
- “Asylum Granted”
- “Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending”
- “Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
- “Parolee” (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and that you intend to become a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.)
If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you’re not eligible for federal student financial aid.
If you’re in the United States on certain visas, including an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, you’re not eligible for federal student financial aid.
Also, people with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible for federal student financial aid. For more information about other types of visas that are not acceptable, check with the
Financial Aid Office.
Citizens and eligible noncitizens may receive loans from the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program at participating foreign schools. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are eligible only for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants or Federal Work-Study. These applicants should check with the
Financial Aid Office for more information.