Undocumented Students in Higher Education: Applying for financial aid. Presented by: Maria Luna-Torres, Director Education Finance Initiatives

Transcription

1 Undocumented Students in Higher Education: Applying for financial aid Presented by: Maria Luna-Torres, Director Education Finance Initiatives

2 Objectives Part 1: Undocumented Students Understand facts about undocumented students Learn about challenges and barriers undocumented students face Learn about in-state tuition law in Texas concerning undocumented students Part 2: TASFA Gain understanding about the TASFA Learn answers to Frequently Asked Questions Part 3: Resources Know resources available to better advise students about financial aid

3 Citizen & Immigration Categories U.S. Citizens Immigrant (legally living in the U.S.) e.g. legal Permanent Resident Refugee/Asylee Non-immigrant (living temporarily in U.S with visa) Undocumented Immigrant (living in U.S with no authorization)

4 Seeking Legal Immigration To gain legal permanent resident (LPR) status: Family Job Refugee or Asylee Status Diversity Visa Program If undocumented in the US: Marriage to U.S. citizen or LPR if lawfully entered the US. If a person unlawfully entered US, more difficult Legal representation necessary

5 U.S. Immigration Family-Based System Backlog Priority Category Worldwide Mexico China & India Philippines First: F1 Spouses & Unmarried children of USC July 2005 June 1993 July 2005 June 1997 F2A Spouses & children of LPR February 2010 February 2010 February 2010 February 2010 F2B 21+ Unmarried children of LPR May 2004 January 1992 May 2004 December 2001 F3 Married children of USC April 2002 January 1993 April 2002 July 1992 F4 Siblings of USC January 2001 June 1996 January 2001 February 1989 Source: U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin, July 2012

6 Estimates of Undocumented Immigrant Population in US Source: Pew Hispanic Center, 2011

7 11.2 Million Estimated Undocumented Immigrants in % California Texas 36% Florida New York Texas 14% Illinois New Jersey 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 6% Arizona North Carolina Other Source: Pew Hispanic Center, 2011

8 Undocumented Students in Texas High School In 2005, there were approximately 135,013 undocumented students in Texas College/Universities In 2006,.36% of all students attending public colleges and universities were undocumented In 2009, roughly 1% of total college students in Texas were undocumented In 2010, roughly 16,000 undocumented college students in Texas colleges

9 Students Enrolled Under S.B Institution Type (Fall 2010) Total Number Enrolled Public Universities 4,403 Community & Technical Colleges 12,028 Health-related Institutions 45 All students 16,476 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2011

10 Challenges for undocumented students & families No/low opportunity to legalize status Cannot get driver s license Difficult to open bank account Cannot travel outside of US Fear of deportation/police Language barriers High financial/economic need High mobility Negative stigma for being illegal

11 Challenges specific to seeking a higher education First-generation Lack of information on college application process Low level of parental education

12 Limited Financial Opportunities for Undocumented Students Low scholarship eligibility (require SSN) Not eligible for federal financial aid Limited state financial aid Limited institutional aid offered by colleges

13 Texas In-State Tuition Law H.B passed in 2001 by Texas Legislature and revised in 2005 S.B allows students to pay in-state tuition. As Texas residents, eligible for state financial aid at Texas public colleges and universities. Currently 11 other states have similar laws.

14 Requirements for In-State Tuition Undocumented Students & Students in Immigration Process Graduate from high school/receive a GED in TX Reside in TX for at least 3 consecutive years before graduation Reside in TX for at least 1 year leading up to college enrollment Sign a notarized Affidavit of Intent

15 Scenario #1 Maria My family and I came to Texas when I was 8 years old. I went to Reagan High School during the 9 th grade and then transferred to Lanier HS in the 10 th grade. I will graduate from Lanier HS in May Do I qualify for in-state tuition?

16 Scenario #2 Ricardo I have lived in Texas since April I was not able to graduate from high school but plan to get my GED in May Do I qualify for in-state tuition?

17 Scenario #3 Jacob I have lived in Texas since I was 5 years old. I am now 18 years old and will be graduating from high school in May After I graduate, I will be going to live with my Aunt in Florida so that I can save some money for college. I intend to return after a year so that I can start college in Fall Will I qualify for in-state tuition?

18 TASFA Texas Application for State Financial Aid

19 TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) What is the TASFA? The TASFA is an application that is used by the financial aid office at most Texas colleges and universities to determine a student s eligibility for state financial aid.

20 Preparing to complete the TASFA - Timeline September December (Fall of senior year,12 th grade) Apply for admissions Fulfill all residency requirements set by SB 1528 (e.g. complete affidavit) Register with Selective Service (17 years 3 months) January March (Winter/Spring of senior year) File taxes if meet minimum income requirements set by IRS Verify college included in Appendix A of TASFA Complete the TASFA Mail TASFA directly to the college s financial aid office Follow up with the college

21 Filing Taxes for undocumented families IRS 2011 Income Thresholds $19,000 for family or $9,500 for student Tax Payer Identification Number W-7 Form

22 Types of Aid Eligible to apply for *state aid including: Texas Grant Texas Public Education Grant Texas Equalization Grant Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Top 10% Scholarship Program State exemption programs (e.g. valedictorian)

23 Types of Aid State Aid Not eligible for B-On-Time Loan College Access Loan cosigner must be Legal Permanent Resident or U.S. citizen Federal Aid Not eligible for federal aid including federal student loans, grants or work-study.

24 Overview of the TASFA Over 100 College/University participants Form first released in 2006/2007 award year Total 41 Questions vs. 100 in FAFSA Section I: Student s Personal Information & Dependency Section II: Household Information Section III: Additional/General Information (e.g. enrollment) Section IV & V: Income & Assets Section VI: Selective Service Registration Section VII: Signatures

25 TASFA: Frequently Asked Questions Question 1: If my parents don t file taxes and they get paid in cash, how do I report their income on the TASFA? Question 2: Do my parents or I need to file taxes if we don t have a SSN? Question 3: I support my family (and have filed as head of household). My parents do not work. Do I use my tax return to complete the TASFA?

26 TASFA: Frequently Asked Questions Question 4: One of my parents lives out of the country, whose income do I report on the TASFA? Question 5: Once the TASFA is complete, where do I take the completed application? Question 6: If I have questions once I start filling out the TASFA, who can I call?

27 Resources

28 More Resources Texas Financial Aid Information Center Monday Friday (bilingual representatives) TG s Public Service website TASFA Videos Tu Futuro Online Spanish Course: FAFSA & TASFA

29 Contact Information Questions? Director, Education Finance Initiatives To order additional copies, or to request permission to reproduce any of the information provided, please call TG Communications at (800)

30 2010 Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation To order additional copies, or to request permission to reproduce any of the information provided, please call TG Communications at (800)