jxjlee990

Hi,

My friend is really confused about what type of an applicant colleges will look at her as. She was born in a different country, Australia, but moved to America and has lived here since she was 7 years old. She doesn't have an American citizenship or permanent residence, but has lived in America for 10 years now. Will colleges look at her as an international student or as a normal applicant?

Thanks.

tomofboston

From your description, she would be an undocumented student, formerly known as an illegal alien, in which case she would not be eligible for federal financial aid.

b@r!um

^ Not necessarily. She could also be on a visa, e.g. as an H-1B dependent.

Academically, her application would be read side-by-side with her American classmates. However, she may not qualify for in-state tuition or in-state scholarships in her state, depending on her actual immigration status and the rules of the state. She would not qualify for federal financial aid until she's a permanent resident.

jxjlee990

Thanks, I will definitely tell her that! She just got really confused about what differences she would have when applying. And yeah, she's on a visa so she is legally allowed here.

aunt bea

She does not qualify for FAFSA based financial aid so she may want to look at the privates.