Expediting AOS and applying for FAFSA

[AP16 30]

Good afternoon Visa Journey!

 

So, I have been admitted to Law School recently and I was wondering if you guys think it's possible to expedite my AOS processing in order to qualify for Federal Student Loans. I think it may qualify as Significant Financial Loss, and I have been advised by some VJ members to try. My AOS is already at 178 days, still on "fingerprint fee has been received". So technically I could be asking for a Service Inquiry in a couple of days anyway. Is it worth it to try and expedite it? Also, will it negatively affect the process if my request is denied?

Last but not least, I'm not sure that I need a Green Card in order to qualify for FAFSA. The official website says that parolees qualify, as long as they can prove that they are not in country for temporary purposes. What do y'all think?

 

[databit 328]

You can't have a "financial loss" of something you don't have yet.

[AP16 30]

Just now, databit said:

You can't have a "financial loss" of something you don't have yet.

Off course you can. It's a common figure in many legal systems. For example, you can get compensation for injury and/or any kind of damage inflicted that would possibly keep you from working, based on the profit that you would be making but will not be able to because of such damage.

My point is, if I can't get federal student loans, I will have to get loans from private banks, which are significantly more expensive.

[Hypnos 6,577]

I doubt it, though there's nothing stopping you from trying. 

 

https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotw15a.htm is something you have probably already seen. 

Edited July 29, 2017 by Hypnos

[AP16 30]

1 minute ago, Hypnos said:

I doubt it, though there's nothing stopping you from trying. 

 

https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotw15a.htm is something you have probably already seen. 

Yep, I have seen it. And that is why I wonder if I can get a Federal Student Loan even before I get my Green Card.

[geowrian 22,337]

In general, USCIS does not approve expedites for financial loses that are made by choice. While being admitted to law school is great (congrats!), it's still an expense you are choosing to make. But you are free to try.

[AP16 30]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

In general, USCIS does not approve expedites for financial loses that are made by choice. While being admitted to law school is great (congrats!), it's still an expense you are choosing to make. But you are free to try.

That makes sense. And thank you, I'm very happy 😀

Do you think I could qualify for FAFSA as a parolee?

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, AP16 said:

That makes sense. And thank you, I'm very happy 😀

Do you think I could qualify for FAFSA as a parolee?

 

On what status did you enter the US? Your timeline shows K-1, which is not a parolee. But if you did enter as an eligible parolee (as noted below), then sure....you would qualify fine.

"Other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Indefinite Parole,” “Humanitarian Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant” "

[AP16 30]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

 

On what status did you enter the US? Your timeline shows K-1, which is not a parolee. But if you did enter as an eligible parolee (as noted below), then sure....you would qualify fine.

"Other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Indefinite Parole,” “Humanitarian Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant” "

I must be mixing things up then, I thought that I was a parolee bevause I'm currently waiting for my AOS to be processed. I did enter here with a K-1.

[AP16 30]

11 minutes ago, geowrian said:

 

On what status did you enter the US? Your timeline shows K-1, which is not a parolee. But if you did enter as an eligible parolee (as noted below), then sure....you would qualify fine.

"Other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Indefinite Parole,” “Humanitarian Parole,” or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant” "

Then again the K-1 is not listed as documentation that does not qualify for Federal Student Loans:

 

What if I have documentation that isn’t listed above?

You are NOT an eligible noncitizen and cannot receive federal student aid if

• you have only a “Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence” (I-171 or I-464),
• you are in the U.S. on an F-1 or F-2 nonimmigrant student visa, or on a J-1 or J-2 nonimmigrant Exchange Visitor Visa, or
• you hold a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations).

[geowrian 22,337]

9 minutes ago, AP16 said:

I must be mixing things up then, I thought that I was a parolee bevause I'm currently waiting for my AOS to be processed. I did enter here with a K-1.

A parolee is somebody who is permitted into the country who is otherwise inadmissible (i.e. refugee/asylum entrants, entry for humanitarian purposes, etc.).

 

A K-1 entrant who has filed for AOS is eligible for advance parole (the K-1 itself is single use) and can be paroled into the US once AP is obtained, but it would not be with any of those listed designations.

 

1 minute ago, AP16 said:

Then again the K-1 is not listed as documentation that does not qualify for Federal Student Loans:

True, but I think you're mixing up the rules here. If you meet the "NOT eligible" conditions, then you are not eligible (regardless of otherwise being eligible). However, you must still meet the "is eligible" conditions to qualify.

[Bzlibem 111]

Imho there's little to no chances it's going to work. college in the US is a choice and people go into enormous debts because of it. Plus Financial Aid is a federal help and you are not a permanent resident yet. Even if you apply for FAFSA it's going to be 80% of loans so either way it's a significant financial loss. 

 

 You could try taking a private loan to pay for a first semester and possibly getting a Financial aid to cover the second semester. That's an easy way and what I would do. And also I would prioritize figuring out how to prove your college that you are a resident of your state because usually out of states costs are gigantic. Most of 'additional verification steps' by FAFSA are issued for the state residency proofs. 

 

 

 

[Roel 7,192]

Uscis will probably tell you to apply again later when you have your green cars. You got admitted once, you'll get admitted again. 0 chance for expedite. 

[Unlockable 7,315]

You realize you will be incurring debt not income as a result of FAFSA. And it is by choice. 

 

Tough to argue financial loss.

 

 

[lacolinab13 86]

I don't think you have much to lose by attempting an expedite request. I remember one person on here got their AP expedited to attend their own wedding ceremony that they had planned too close to filing for AOS- which seems crazy - so why not try.

 

Making a service request can help too. My husband's AOS got approved in responses to our service request.