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Almost every other international student aims to study at the best institutions in America. However, the hefty tuition fees make it difficult to fulfill their study dream. International students should know about the financial aid programs offered, like grants, loans, and work-study programs. Also, know about U.S. financial aid programs, is FAFSA—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This aid helps students receive financial assistance from the government. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens are only eligible for this aid. However, international students must also have a basic knowledge of how FAFSA works to assess similar financial aid.
In this blog post from All Assignment Help, we have provided enough information to make students’ planning to study abroad easier. All crucial information is shared to help them understand financial aid mechanisms.
What is FAFSA?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students must complete this form for financial aid for college or graduate school. Fill out the FAFSA application and make yourself eligible for financial aid.
There are not many spots left for international students, as U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are eligible for it. However, as a student abroad, you should know about this financial aid. Understanding the FAFSA will make other processes easier and make studying in the U.S. more accessible.
- It helps in determining students’ financial needs.
- It helps students eligible for various types of financial aid.
- FAFSA can enhance international students’ chances of receiving aid and reduce the overall cost of their education.
- It determines which student is eligible based on their financial circumstances.
- It collects students’ financial information.
- There are three types of financial aid. Grants do not need to be repaid. Federal student loans need to be repaid. Federal work-study programs provide part-time opportunities. With these programs, students can earn and pay for their educational expenses. Students who are working part-time often struggle to complete their assignments on time. Some of them even hire assignment helpers to assist them in the timely submission of assignments.
- FAFSA is not eligible for international students, but it opens doors to other financial aid.
- It is completely free. Students can complete and submit for free.
- If you are someone who is preparing for your studies at an international university, make sure you understand the complete process of the application form for FAFSA. With detailed information, you can apply for federal financial assistance and make your learning easier.
Step-by-Step Procedure for FAFSA Application
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form means you are opening your financial journey in the United States of America.
If you want to receive financial aid in an international country, it will not be possible without FAFSA. Here is what you need to know.
Get Your StudentAid.gov Account
Students and parents applying must create their account at StudentAid.gov. Creating an account is the first step to filling out your FAFSA application form. You can directly go to the website and create your account. When creating your account, you should always enter the correct details. (Do not forget to check the spelling.)
Here is how you can create your account.
- Visit the official website of studentaid.gov and click on the FAFSA form.
- First time users click on the “NEW” button. If not, you can directly apply using your old password.
- Select the year for which you are applying.
- Both parents and students can create and apply for this form. However, make sure you clearly specify who you are.
- Carefully enter student identity information (name, DOB, social security number).
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Gather All Important Documents
The next step is to gather all the necessary information, which is essential to fill out the FAFSA form. Here is what you need before starting the FAFSA.
- US citizens must submit their Social Security Number (SSN).
- Eligible non-citizens must have an Alien Registration Number.
- A driving license (though it is not necessary, it helps in confirming students’ identity)
- Submit federal tax returns. Both parents and students must submit this if they are dependent.
- Records of income
- Records of untaxed income
- Updated savings bank account statements
- Details of investments or business, if any
Students should always prepare these documents in advance to make their application process smoother. Moreover, do not forget to double-check everything to avoid any errors. Also, never mail these important documents without any proper instructions.
Get Help if You Need
Students should be careful while filling out their FAFSA form. Anything incorrect can directly shatter attending a dream school. Therefore, if you need any help in filling out your FAFSA form, get help from the following resources:
- Get help from the official FAFSA.gov center.
- Get assistance from the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC).
- College financial aid officers can also guide you through the form-filling process.
- Check FAFSA guidance for more information.
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Start the Process of Completing Your FAFSA Form
The FAFSA deadline is on June 30, 2026. Make sure you try to complete the application form by the given deadline.
- Create an FSA ID
- Log in to start.
- Make sure your parents’ SSNs and other documents are correct and ready.
- Do not forget to contact the college or career/trade school you are applying to.
List Career Schools in the FAFSA Form
It is important to list the colleges and/or career schools where you want your financial aid information. This step will clearly clarify which school you are interested in. Moreover, it will maximize your chances of receiving financial aid and determine the type of student aid you will receive.
Never limit yourself to any school you are applying to. Because in most cases, you have a chance to get accepted, you’ve already applied to or been accepted at.
- Students must know that listing any school means giving that school access to their financial information. This is one of the crucial steps of the FAFSA form. Here is how you can list schools in your form.
- Log in with your FSA ID and navigate to the “school selection.”
- Enter the correct Federal School Code. (Check the code and select the correct institution from the list provided.)
- Students applying for FAFSA online can list up to 20 colleges or career schools.
- Students applying through the paper form can list up to 10 colleges.
When selecting schools, include a mix of different schools to make the right decision. You can include any public or private, in-state or out-of-state institution, as the colleges won’t be able to see what you are applying for. The best part is that you can always revisit and change your listed schools in the FAFSA form.
Clarify Your Dependency Status
Once done with the above step. The next step in your FAFSA form is to clearly mention your dependency status. Both dependent and independent students can apply for the financial aid program. (A dependent student is one who lives with their parents and whose parents fulfill their financial support.). Independent supporters are the ones who live alone on their own funds.
- As a student applying for the FAFSA form, always provide complete information about your parents. Any issue in this step, and you won’t be eligible for student aid. However, you will still be able to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
- Dependent students should clearly provide information about their parents’ marital status and their mailing address. It is advised to invite only one parent, and the system will invite other parents as per the need.
- Students and parents can create an account on studentaid.gov and fill FAFSA form. However, make sure the information is always the same and correct from both sides.
- Enter the correct Social Security number (SSN) of your parent to avoid any delays in your eligibility to get financial aid.
Correctly Report Your Parents’ Information
Dependent students should correctly answer questions about the parents’ background. These questions will clearly clarify the financial aid that students are eligible for. These questions are used for research purposes in the FAFSA form.
Here are the questions asked in the parent education status section.
- Has any of your parents attended or completed college?
- Are they an active member of the US armed forces?
- Are they serving as a public safety officer?
If you are married, you should clearly provide details about your spouse. spouse’s information on the FAFSA form. These details are essential to know about tax information.
Check FAFSA Application Status
Once you are done filling out all sections, you can directly submit your form. Make sure you carefully read all instructions and answers before submitting. Once you submit, the next step is to check your FAFSA application form. Here is how you can check.
- Log on to the official website to check application status.
- You can also check through a mobile app.
- You can check the form status in 7 to 10 days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is FAFSA?
FAFSA is known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which opens federal financial assistance. Students applying for these programs are eligible for grants and loans.
Question: Is FAFSA for international students?
No, it is not for international students. Financial aid is FAFSA and applies to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.
Question: What mistake should I avoid when filling out the FAFSA application?
Make sure you never leave blank space for any questions. If you don’t have an answer, enter 0 or simply write “not applicable.” Do not leave blank spaces, as it can result in application rejection.
Question: How do I check my FAFSA status?
Log in to the official website fafsa.gov and check the results. The other ways are by the FAFSA mobile app or reaching out to the Federal Student Aid office.
Question: What do the different FAFSA statuses mean?
“Processed” means your application is completed. “Needs correction” means there are some errors. “Selected for verification” means verification is required.
Question: When does FAFSA open for 2025-26?
The FAFSA deadline is on June 30, 2026. Make sure you try to complete the application form by the given deadline.