Attending College in the US

[Henley1989 10]

So ive been in the US now for 1.5 years on my greencard and im looking to start a part time associates to get some post high school education. 

 

Ive applied to a local in county college but im struggling with FAFSA. Has anyone been down this route that could help?

 

- Fafsa require something called Selective Service Registration as im older that 26. Going through the system it wants records of my entry into the US e.t.c - anyone done this before?

- I would assume I need to have my UK GCSE/A Level certificates translated?

 

There is so much and its so confusing. Any help would be appreaciated

[Ketsuban 1,034]

So I can help with Selective Service. Were you 24/25 when you entered the US? If so then you were legally obligated to register for SS before turning 26: https://www.sss.gov/Registration/Why-Register

 

If you didn't register then you will find it very, very hard to receive federal student loans or citizenship. There may be some recourse though: https://www.sss.gov/Home/Men-26-and-OLDER 

 

I'm not sure if you need a lawyer. I would start searching around this website and some others to see what other men experienced when they didn't know they had to do this. 

 

Edit: I think some States automatically register you when you register for other things such as a State ID/driving license. You can check if you're registered already here: https://www.sss.gov/Home/Verification 

 

Second edit: Also, you are a man, correct? Wanted to double check because of your picture. Women aren't required to register.

Edited May 19, 2017 by Ketsuban

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

27 minutes ago, Henley1989 said:

So ive been in the US now for 1.5 years on my greencard and im looking to start a part time associates to get some post high school education. 

 

Ive applied to a local in county college but im struggling with FAFSA. Has anyone been down this route that could help?

 

- Fafsa require something called Selective Service Registration as im older that 26. Going through the system it wants records of my entry into the US e.t.c - anyone done this before?

- I would assume I need to have my UK GCSE/A Level certificates translated?

 

There is so much and its so confusing. Any help would be appreaciated

whether your certificate needs to be translated, is up to the school not FAFSA.

 

[Henley1989 10]

1 hour ago, Ketsuban said:

So I can help with Selective Service. Were you 24/25 when you entered the US? If so then you were legally obligated to register for SS before turning 26: https://www.sss.gov/Registration/Why-Register

 

If you didn't register then you will find it very, very hard to receive federal student loans or citizenship. There may be some recourse though: https://www.sss.gov/Home/Men-26-and-OLDER 

 

I'm not sure if you need a lawyer. I would start searching around this website and some others to see what other men experienced when they didn't know they had to do this. 

 

Edit: I think some States automatically register you when you register for other things such as a State ID/driving license. You can check if you're registered already here: https://www.sss.gov/Home/Verification 

 

Second edit: Also, you are a man, correct? Wanted to double check because of your picture. Women aren't required to register.

Thanks. I am a man. So i entered the US for vacation when I was 20/21. I then came to work here for a year when I was 23/24 (B1 visa) and then moved here on a K1 when I was 26. I only got my SS once I was 26. Does this mean I cant get student loans?

Edited May 19, 2017 by Henley1989

[WandY 430]

You will probably need a U.S. citizen with good credit to co-sign a federal student loan. This website may be of help:

https://www.iefa.org/international-student-loans

 

Glad to hear you are pursuing higher education. Don't overlook vocational training. This country needs welders, heavy equipment operators, and other technical workers. Pay is great and work is steady. And this kind of training can be found at many community colleges, which are inexpensive (compared to 4-year). Good luck!

[Henley1989 10]

Thanks for the help. Thankfully i have been in a growing career for 10 years now. This is purely so that a lack of degree does not hurt my future prospects. I dont understand how this selective thing works? What happens if someone is 30 years old, moves to the US to get married and wants to study with loans? What are they supposed to do?

[yuna628 9,671]

13 minutes ago, Henley1989 said:

Thanks for the help. Thankfully i have been in a growing career for 10 years now. This is purely so that a lack of degree does not hurt my future prospects. I dont understand how this selective thing works? What happens if someone is 30 years old, moves to the US to get married and wants to study with loans? What are they supposed to do?

All men (US citizen and immigrants) must register with Selective Service age 18-25. If you immigrated to the US over the age of 25 you are not required to register. For immigrants it is within 30 days of entering the US. https://www.sss.gov/Registration-Info/Who-Registration Failing to do so has consequences, as it shows ''not good conduct''. One of the biggest consequences can be applying for citizenship down the road and applying for loans, grants, and financial aid, and applying for federal jobs. Visitors are in the clear of course - but you have stated that you worked here in the past, which implies you had residency here to me at some point. You'll need to examine the charts to figure out if you qualified to register in the past. For those that were too old to register by the time they arrived to the US, they can easily provide proof of age and entry, and obtain documentation from the SSS show them being exempt.

[Henley1989 10]

13 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

All men (US citizen and immigrants) must register with Selective Service age 18-25. If you immigrated to the US over the age of 25 you are not required to register. For immigrants it is within 30 days of entering the US. https://www.sss.gov/Registration-Info/Who-Registration Failing to do so has consequences, as it shows ''not good conduct''. One of the biggest consequences can be applying for citizenship down the road and applying for loans, grants, and financial aid, and applying for federal jobs. Visitors are in the clear of course - but you have stated that you worked here in the past, which implies you had residency here to me at some point. You'll need to examine the charts to figure out if you qualified to register in the past. For those that were too old to register by the time they arrived to the US, they can easily provide proof of age and entry, and obtain documentation from the SSS show them being exempt.

Hmmmm. Unsure of where to go from here. I think im still good to get a loan as I got SS when I arrived here. My initial B1 was a B-1 Temporary Business Visitor, so I dont think that counts as needing SS. If im still good, its confusing what I need to send in e.t.c

[Henley1989 10]

Id be grateful if someone could just confirm if i should be ok based on the following visits to the US:

 

First came here for vacation in 2009 when I was 19

I came again on a B1 visa (nonimmigrant) for a year (2012/2013) to complete some projects  - Did not get SS, lived as a tourist. Still younger than 26.

I then back and forth for vacation multiple times over the next few years. During these years I turned 26

I then arrived on a K1 after I was 26, immediately got SS, got married, got my green card and now trying to apply for a loan.

[millefleur 5,046]

46 minutes ago, Henley1989 said:

Id be grateful if someone could just confirm if i should be ok based on the following visits to the US:

 

First came here for vacation in 2009 when I was 19

I came again on a B1 visa (nonimmigrant) for a year (2012/2013) to complete some projects  - Did not get SS, lived as a tourist. Still younger than 26.

I then back and forth for vacation multiple times over the next few years. During these years I turned 26

I then arrived on a K1 after I was 26, immediately got SS, got married, got my green card and now trying to apply for a loan.

Like yuna said: If you immigrated to the US over the age of 25 you are not required to register.

 

Key word being "immigrate"....so as I understand it, you're in the clear. Not sure why FAFSA is asking about being over the age of 26, seems like they would be asking for people under that age.

 

If you were here on a B-1 or the VWP before, you weren't considered an immigrant.

Edited May 20, 2017 by millefleur

[Henley1989 10]

3 hours ago, millefleur said:

Like yuna said: If you immigrated to the US over the age of 25 you are not required to register.

 

Key word being "immigrate"....so as I understand it, you're in the clear. Not sure why FAFSA is asking about being over the age of 26, seems like they would be asking for people under that age.

 

If you were here on a B-1 or the VWP before, you weren't considered an immigrant.

 

Right thats what I thought. The college is telling me this:

 

Selective Service Verification - INCOMPLETE

Description

If you are female, please log onto your FAFSA and correct question 21 to Female. If you are male, at least 18 years old, and born after December 31, 1959, to receive federal student aid, you must be registered with selective service. You can log onto your FAFSA and correct question 22 to "Register me". If you are 26 or older, you must send a "Request for Status Information Letter" (click the link below) to the selective service system, which will return a "Status Information Letter" to you. You must submit the "Status Information Letter" along with a detailed explanation of why you did not register for selective service to the Enrollment Services in West Hall, Edison campus, or at the New Brunswick or Perth Amboy Center.

 

 

I am filling out the form to send off but this part is so confusing.. The first time was for vacation.. Does that count? What was my status then?

 

NON-CITIZEN / UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT:

* Date you entered the United States for the first time: _______________________________________ * Month / * Day / * Year *

USCIS (formerly INS) status at time of entry: ____________________________

[Henley1989 10]

48 minutes ago, Henley1989 said:

 

Right thats what I thought. The college is telling me this:

 

Selective Service Verification - INCOMPLETE

Description

If you are female, please log onto your FAFSA and correct question 21 to Female. If you are male, at least 18 years old, and born after December 31, 1959, to receive federal student aid, you must be registered with selective service. You can log onto your FAFSA and correct question 22 to "Register me". If you are 26 or older, you must send a "Request for Status Information Letter" (click the link below) to the selective service system, which will return a "Status Information Letter" to you. You must submit the "Status Information Letter" along with a detailed explanation of why you did not register for selective service to the Enrollment Services in West Hall, Edison campus, or at the New Brunswick or Perth Amboy Center.

 

 

I am filling out the form to send off but this part is so confusing.. The first time was for vacation.. Does that count? What was my status then?

 

NON-CITIZEN / UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT:

* Date you entered the United States for the first time: _______________________________________ * Month / * Day / * Year *

USCIS (formerly INS) status at time of entry: ____________________________

Actually just reading it a little it ask for the dates of entry as an IMMIGRANT. The only time was when I arrived to get married recently so I dont think I need to list every time I visited the states whether on VWP or B1...

[millefleur 5,046]

17 minutes ago, Henley1989 said:

Actually just reading it a little it ask for the dates of entry as an IMMIGRANT. The only time was when I arrived to get married recently so I dont think I need to list every time I visited the states whether on VWP or B1...

That's what I was thinking. So you can go from your date of entry when you arrived on your immigrant visa.

[Henley1989 10]

48 minutes ago, millefleur said:

That's what I was thinking. So you can go from your date of entry when you arrived on your immigrant visa.

Thanks. I have to look at what I have to send them in as evidence. I assume a pic of the passport/visa/entry stamp..