Applying for FAFSA

[LaSoleil 0]

I want to apply for FAFSA as soon as I get my greencard. I have 2 questions concerning the FAFSA form and I can't get ahold of anyone from my college.

1. Its asking me if I have completed an IRS tax return or another tax return for 2010. In 2010 I was still living in my home country. I filed taxes there but of course not here. What am I supposed to select there? Should I answer with "already completed" or "not going to file"?

2. In the next step they are asking me how much I earned from working in 2010. And here again, at that time I lived and worked in Germany. Am I supposed to convert my wage from Euro into USD?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I want to apply for FAFSA as soon as I get my greencard. I have 2 questions concerning the FAFSA form and I can't get ahold of anyone from my college.

1. Its asking me if I have completed an IRS tax return or another tax return for 2010. In 2010 I was still living in my home country. I filed taxes there but of course not here. What am I supposed to select there? Should I answer with "already completed" or "not going to file"?

2. In the next step they are asking me how much I earned from working in 2010. And here again, at that time I lived and worked in Germany. Am I supposed to convert my wage from Euro into USD?

We just did a FAFSA for our youngest son 3 days ago. We used the 2011 tax return and income information. Why wouldn't you?

Edited March 9, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[LaSoleil 0]

We just did a FAFSA for our youngest son 3 days ago. We used the 2011 tax return and income information. Why wouldn't you?

I'm just confused because I wasn't here yet at that time and if the form is only related to the wages, income etc. in the states.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm just confused because I wasn't here yet at that time and if the form is only related to the wages, income etc. in the states.

It is, but if you use the 2011 tax and income information the situation changes, right? You were here in 2011 and have a joint tax return for 2011?

[LaSoleil 0]

It is, but if you use the 2011 tax and income information the situation changes, right? You were here in 2011 and have a joint tax return for 2011?

No, I came here in October 2011. My husband filed taxes here before I got my SSN (that was at the beginning of this year). So I'm not really sure what to do now because I don't wanna make any mistakes.

[Enigma11561 336]

The purpose of FAFSA is to determine how much money out of your pocket you will need to pay for your education based on your income. And the school uses it to determine if they can provide financing such as grants or scholarships if your income is below certain levels.

1. You did not file US taxes for 2010 so the answer here is not going to file

2. I would put zero. You earned no income here and that is the basis of the computations. Your earnings there cannot be verified.

3. As you work your way down the 15,672 questions they will ask you ( ) you will find questions such as amount of taxes paid/received and others that you cannot answer.

Then use your 2011 earnings. Remember that the figures can be updated/changed as circumstances permit. I just love FAFSA Since you were married in 2011, you need to use your JOINT income.

I assume you are filing now for the Fall semester, starting in September? You need to get this done now as the schools are beginning to formulate their budgets. The schools finance department can help you and as I said above, you can change line items later on. The FASFA requires a SS number, but I don't think a GC in hand is needed to start the process.

[Messybrownhair 251]

I just did my FAFSA a week ago. I needed my SSN, alien # and 2011 taxes. Your earnings is how they can determine how much you can get, I think. Last year I couldnt do fafsa since i havent done taxes yet and wasnt a perm resident, so instead i did work/study in my school and got a graduate assistant position. It pays for 9 out of my 12 credits each semester and has a stipend too. Maybe you can do that? There is a GPA requirement though. For Fafsa i got approved for the direct stafford loan for next fall.

Edited March 9, 2012 by Messybrownhair

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No, I came here in October 2011. My husband filed taxes here before I got my SSN (that was at the beginning of this year). So I'm not really sure what to do now because I don't wanna make any mistakes.

Use your 2011 return. I presume it was a jont return if you were married. You could have gotten an SSN immediately on arrival but moot point.

State your husbands income for 2011, your is -0-.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The purpose of FAFSA is to determine how much money out of your pocket you will need to pay for your education based on your income. And the school uses it to determine if they can provide financing such as grants or scholarships if your income is below certain levels.

1. You did not file US taxes for 2010 so the answer here is not going to file

2. I would put zero. You earned no income here and that is the basis of the computations. Your earnings there cannot be verified.

3. As you work your way down the 15,672 questions they will ask you ( ) you will find questions such as amount of taxes paid/received and others that you cannot answer.

Then use your 2011 earnings. Remember that the figures can be updated/changed as circumstances permit. I just love FAFSA Since you were married in 2011, you need to use your JOINT income.

I assume you are filing now for the Fall semester, starting in September? You need to get this done now as the schools are beginning to formulate their budgets. The schools finance department can help you and as I said above, you can change line items later on. The FASFA requires a SS number, but I don't think a GC in hand is needed to start the process.

A GC is required for any federal funding, I never tried to do an application without one as it does ask for the "A" number.

As you noted the FAFSA ia simply a worksheet that indicates what can be available to you, it is not an application for funding in itself.

[LaSoleil 0]

Thank you for all your replies. It really helped me a lot!