FAFSA For Indian Students – unischolars blog

FAFSA, commonly known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a vital application mandated by the U.S. government for U.S. or non-US eligible students to access financial aid seamlessly. FAFSA for Indian students  aids candidates in accumulating university fees with financial assistance like student loans, work-study opportunities, scholarships, and grants. 

Getting a FAFSA scholarship or other financial aid for international students is challenging. If you are an Indian student seeking to complete a FAFSA application online, ensure you or your parents have a Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible for federal aid while you continue studying in the U.S. 

Importance Of FAFSA For Indian Students 

FAFSA is an official form that offers undergraduate and graduate students studying in the U.S access to federal financial aid to meet education expenses in the USA. However, as an Indian student applying for FAFSA, you must ensure the eligibility criteria to manage education costs at your preferred U.S. university. 

To help you understand the significance of FAFSA for Indian students and other international students, we list a few factors that FAFSA offers when a student meets the eligibility requirements. 

• If students meet eligibility criteria, the FAFSA form is ideal for managing expenses while studying in the U.S. 
• When Indian students get eligible for grants, they don’t have to repay the amount. 
• The information mentioned in the FAFSA form determines the federal aid to be given to a candidate. 
• Student loans for Indian students are available at lower interest rates, and students don’t have to repay the amount before completion of graduation. 

The FAFSA eligibility criteria must be met at the right time to benefit from these aspects. Contact our team to learn more about the process, benefits, and FAFSA for Indian students. 

2024-25 FAFSA Updates

• Everyone filling out the FAFSA needs their own FSA ID (username and password) to access the form. This includes students, parents, and any other contributors.
• For divorced parents, the parent who provided the most financial support in the last year is now the one who completes the FAFSA, regardless of who the student lived with primarily.
• The new “Student Aid Index” (SAI) replaces the old “Expected Family Contribution” (EFC) as the number used to calculate financial aid eligibility.
• More students will qualify for the maximum Pell Grant under the new formula, and incarcerated students regain Pell eligibility.
• The FAFSA is now available in 11 languages besides English to increase accessibility.
• The form has way fewer questions now, as few as 18 for some students, compared to over 100 previously.
• You can list up to 20 colleges on the FAFSA instead of just 10.
• There’s no longer a “sibling discount” that reduces your expected contribution if you have multiple kids in college at once.

Eligibility Of FAFSA Application For Indian Students

To be eligible for FAFSA for International students, Indian students must meet eligibility criteria before filling out the FAFSA online form. Let us understand essential FAFSA criteria to simplify your journey to secure admission and acquire federal aid in the U.S. 

• To acquire a based scholarship, you must have a few documents like a Certificate of Naturalization ( Form N 550 or N 570), a Certificate of Citizenship ( Form N 560 or N 561), or Documents for the Birth of a Citizen Abroad ( Form FS 240, FS 545, or DS 1350)

• Along with Form I-551 or Arrival-Departure Record Form I-94, students must have at least one of the documents to apply for the FAFSA form, such as – temporary I-551, process form for I-551, temporary evidence for valid permanent residence till authorized employment, or other valid document for permanent residence in the U.S. 

• Evidence document showcasing candidate has filed for permanent resident application via DHS stating candidate or their parents are residents of the U.S. and intend to become Citizens. The documents must state that the candidate has been released in the USA for a year with a date that is non-expired. 

• Submit an accurate working Social Security Number (SSN)

• The authority’s signature is on a statement of the FAFSA form that mentions that the candidate has no potential defaults on federal student loans, no existing liability against federal student grants, and intends to use the federal aid money for education purposes.

• To meet the eligibility requirements for a few scholarship programmes, students must maintain top academic performance across the academic year. 

Deadline For Submission of FAFSA For Indian Students

The varied Universities in the USA have different deadlines for submitting the FAFSA for a Master’s Degree or other programmes. However, students can contact the University authorities to access accurate deadlines for FAFSA form submission. To help you understand the standard process for submitting the FAFSA application in the U.S., we list a few factors below. 

Academic Year	First FAFSA Submission Date	Correction Process Post Submission	Central Time
2021-2022	30 June 2022	10 September 2022	11.59 PM
2022-2023	30 June 2023	10 September 2023	11.59 PM

Documents Requirements For FAFSA Form

Whether you are an Indian student or have your guardians working in the U.S., you need to prepare a set of documents beforehand to apply for the FAFSA form and enhance your chances of acquiring federal financial aid. 

• Student’s Social Security Number (SSN)
• Student’s driver’s license number (If available)
• Parent’s Social Security Number (If a student is dependent on guardians)
• Alien Registration Number (Non-US Students)
• Candidates must submit tax information, tax documents, or tax returns, including IRS W2 details, IRS form 1040, and the parents’ foreign tax return if they depend on the guardians. 
• Evidence of untaxed income, such as interest income, veterans’ noneducation benefits for students, the student’s parents (if dependent), and child financial support. 
• And More

If you want to access a detailed list of documents to apply for FAFSA for Indian students, contact our team to improve your chances of seamlessly getting financial aid from the U.S. Government. 

Tips To Apply For FAFSA For Indian Students?

The FAFSA form application process is simple, focusing on following the steps and factors mentioned below to acquire financial assistance as soon as possible. Remember, this process applies to international students and caters to the process of FAFSA for Indian students as well. 

Start Early

Once you select your ideal college or university for your preferred programme, consider beginning to save as soon as possible, keeping in mind prepaid tuition fees. You can connect with college authorities to access details for the support provided via FAFSA grant or scholarship. 

Steps to Fill The Form Of FAFSA

Colleges in the U.S., like Princeton University, Stanford University, and others, consider the FAFSA form to check whether a candidate is eligible for financial aid or scholarships for international and U.S. students. To complete the FAFSA successfully, focus on a few steps listed below. 

If you’re a student with US citizenship and a social security number, you can apply directly for FAFSA. But if you’re dependent on your parents, who are working in the US and have a social security number, they’ll need to file FAFSA on your behalf. Here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: Create an account and get an FSA ID, which is basically your username for accessing the application.
• Step 2: Go to fafsa.gov, log in and choose whether you’re the student or the parent. Then, follow the prompts to fill in your info.
• Step 3: Pick the school year you’re applying for financial aid. If you’ve applied before, you might be able to renew your info from a previous application.
• Step 4: List all the US colleges you’re thinking of applying to, even if you haven’t sent in your applications yet.
• Step 5: Answer questions about your dependency status. This helps determine if your parents’ info is needed.
• Step 6: If you’re considered a dependent, you’ll provide your parents’ details. If not, you’ll fall into categories like being 24 or older, married, a graduate student and so on.
• Step 7: Share your family’s or parents’ financial info in this section.
• Step 8: Finally, sign the FAFSA and submit it. Without your signature, the application won’t be complete.

Remember, applying for FAFSA is free, and it’s important to use the official website. Follow these steps carefully before you start your application.

When applying FAFSA for Indian students, they must fill in the form, print it and mail it to the Federal Student Aid Office. To access more details about the form submission, contact our team today!

How To Submit FAFSA As An Indian Student

If you’re an Indian student tackling the FAFSA online, you’ll hit a roadblock when it asks for Social Security numbers, including your parents’. Since you won’t have these numbers, the workaround is to go old-school and fill out a paper version.

You can get a PDF of the FAFSA for international students on StudentAid.gov. Print it out, grab your trusty pen and fill in the blanks as best you can. Don’t forget to mark clearly that you’re an international student. Once you’ve filled the form, add the sign to verify its accuracy. Then, make a copy for your records and pop the original in the mail to:

Federal Student Aid Programs

P.O. Box 7650

London, KY 40742-7650

Remember to stick to English when filling out the form.

What Are The Benefits Of a FAFSA Form?

The benefits of FAFSA are multiple. Students can seamlessly accumulate the cost of university fees and other expensive education costs by meeting eligibility criteria. Let’s explore a few benefits of U.S. federal aid. 

• There is no age limit, as federal student aid is granted based on their needs and eligibility factors. 
• Varied FAFSA programs have specific criteria for academic grades. Hence, students must score better grades throughout the academic year. 
• This form aids in researching better scholarship programmes
• FAFSA does not demand a credit history from students
• FAFSA does not demand co-signer signatures from family members, unlike loans.
• It provides flexible payment-based options, which means students can pay as per their income. 

FAQs

1. Is Parent Information Required In FAFSA Form? 

Yes, parent information is required for the FAFSA form. However, independent students who meet specific criteria do not need their parents’ details.

2. Can A Non-US Student Apply For FAFSA?

FAFSA is a programme operated by the U.S. Department of Education. However, U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens can apply for FAFSA and get financial aid based on eligibility factors.

3. Who is Eligible For The FAFSA Scholarship?

The FAFSA scholarship is available for U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens with a high school diploma or GED, and students with evidence stating financial need.

4. What Should I Do If I Miss The FAFSA Guideline? 

If you miss the guidelines of FAFSA for Indian students, consider submitting the form maximum by December to enhance your chances of receiving federal financial aid.

5. Can I Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool In Order To Fill The Necessary Tax-related Details In The FAFSA Form? 

You can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer tax information directly into the FAFSA form. However, if you encounter any issues, you should focus on a few eligibility requirements and alternative documents.