Questions about college?

I was recently admitted to Boston University--which brings up a lot of questions and uncertainties. I don't really know who to ask these questions to, so if you can help, that would be great!!!

1. They want a statement of confidentiality, basically to prove that I have enough funding to pay for the first year of college. Well, I obviously don't have that, so can I call the Financial Aid office to strike a deal of some sort or is that out of question (I didn't-couldn't-file for FAFSA)?

2. What loans are available for undocumented citizens? The Sallie Mae Tuition Answer is not available at the moment--I was looking at Federal PLUS loans; would that work?

3. Once they get my statement, the university will issue I-20, but even with that, I cannot get a student visa. So do I even have a remote chance of going to BU without getting the F1 visa?

I just don't know what I should do, and the only silver lining at the moment is that I have other people to fall back on--I just found this website, and I'm so glad that I did!

1. Yes you definitely have to talk to someone about it, preferrably the office of financial aid, since you cannot prove something they are requiring you to prove. You need to get that waived or something.

2. If you look around the site or do a search you can find threads that talk about this.

3. You have to talk to the department of admissions about your status and see if they will still let you attend. Unless you ask there's no chance of you knowing, and the sooner you ask the better.

i think you should ask the people at your university the questions
dont be afraid to let them know you're undocumented and preferably ask to have an appoittment with someone so you can talk to them privately and in person.
I'll be doing the same thing at a community college next week, pretty sure its less strict then a university but I'm just going to let them know what my situation is and what kind of help can i apply for

Check to see if there are any undocumented student organizations in the campus and talk to them or their adviser. Some Latino organizations might also be helpful.

congrats on BU try the citi assist loan. you do need an eligible co-signer. I got into a similar calibur school..but couldnt attend because of the money, hopefully you will have people willing to help you out.

Also your school might ask you to notary an affadavit of intent for citizenship..meanign you will apply when possible...thats just a form you can easily fill out. Since your already in, it should be cool to explain your situation to someone at the school who can better assit you. Usually these schools dont even care that much and they have seen cases like this. They can tell you what to do..mine told me that i would just have to pay the full tuition. Money is what they really care about.

Yes, definitely tell the college about your status. Mine has no problem with me being undocumented and their actually willing to help me out.

good luck... there's a way to do anything. you just have to find it cause its not gonna come to you. Its a little harder for us, but its there.

I feel your pain, asking never hurt.

As far as the federal plus loan, I have been looking at this for myself, and have found something pretty bad about it that I will have to ask a lawyer.

http://www.nrcys.ou.edu/yd/programs/pdfs/hea1965.pdf

look at page 196 of 499, they talk about creating the federal plus loan, what might make it not work is the provision at the end of this in page 199, point f, which states that the status of the parent AS WELL as the student and the SSN of the parent and student would have to be verified to apply for this loan.

but if you PM me, I will respond to you when I have asked a lawyer if there is still a way for me, though, it seems unlikely as it is in black and white. However, in the dream act allows it, after you become a permanent resident (federal plus loan is in Part B or Title IV of the Higher Education Act of '65)

I would think it is possible to attend with out an F1 visa, that is only for international students, but you are only applying as an international student, you are not an international student.

I haven't been on the site for quite some time now--I've been busy trying to figure out whether I can attend a college this upcoming fall.

I'm so happy to say that I am! Thank you so much for the help! I have the money that I need so I should be able to go now. Thanks a lot.

I have a question about the citi assist loan. I was approved, but now I need to provide immigration documents. i can only provide an i-20 at the most. am i not eligible for the loan now?

The I-20 is to get a student visa. If you are an illegal immigrant you will have nothing to do with the I-20 form.

The I-20 form is to send to USCIS and adjust your status to a student visa. It says "Mr X got $20,000 in his bank account to support himself, pay for school without having to work in the US". But you can't adjust your status because your status has expired and you're illegally in the US (or you even entered without a status to begin with).

So I doubt that it's the way for you to do it.

Talk with the international students department, tell them about your situation. Many colleges accept illegal immigrants and I see no use for you to get an I-20 because you won't send it to USCIS to adjust your status anyway (because you can't).

If you are on a legal status then you need this I-20 to adjust for a student status and get an F1 Visa.