so what? if she went to school here, she wouldn’t see them at all. if she goes to school in Brazil, at least she’d see them even if she were a year behind them. (they’re graduating in May…so they would be sophs when your dd would be a frosh…so not 2 years behind)
Are you aware of college costs in the U.S.?
Do you have any idea how much the father will pay towards your daughter’s college expenses? Is it in writing?
In writing? That wouldn’t be enough for me. I would want an iron clad account set up with the funds allocated solely for this kid’s college costs.
As the mom, do you plan to contribute anything towards college costs? Since right now she isn’t eligible for federally funded need based aid…that will likely be an expectation too.
I know you aren’t asking for this advice, but I think you, the mom, needs to see an immigration lawyer ASAP and get your immigration status straightened out too.
Once the kid has her citizenship sorted, she can sponsor her mother, right? Is this the big picture? College is the also ran?
To sponsor someone, I believe that they have to show income and commit to support that person for up to 10 years (this is to prevent people from getting green cards and then going on welfare).
I sense quite a bit of hostility in your post, but it also shows me you are not aware of how educational systems in other countries.
In Brazil (as it is Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia or Singapore), the school year begins in January/February and ends in November/December.
We came here in July/15. My daughter had started 7th Grade in February/15. Upon arriving here, she had to re-start 7th Grade in September/15. That got her 6 months behind her homeland peers.
Now, once she finished HS here (June/21), she’ll be 1 and half year behind Brazilian students in general.
Then, again, the next school year in Brazil will only begin in February/22. By then she’ll 2 years behind.
Simple math, once you follow the logic (and know the differences in schools systems, of course).
That has already been taken care of, but I appreciate your concern and advice. 
Her unweighted GPA is 4.0 and she’s currently Top 5% of her class (actually, top 3%, since she’s #8 out of 292 students).
As for your other questions, yes, I’m fully aware of the costs. I’m a Journalist (with emphasis on Research), so I value due diligence.
Thank you for your input and your help!
Even if she is 2 years behind her original classmates, she can just make new ones. Here in the US most kids don’t go to college with a group of kids they’ve been with for a decade. If the student goes to a state flagship, they may know 10-20 other kids, and may know some older and younger kids from the same school, but most make new friends. Even if they do go to school with a group from high school they may drift apart in college because of different majors, different interest, meeting new friends (especially a romantic partner).
I think what the other poster was saying is that if she stays here in the US she won’t go to school with those childhood Brazilian friends, and if she goes back to Brazil and is two years behind them she still won’t be in that old gang. So what? She’ll go to school and meet new friends. In no scenario will she be with them again. That decision was made a long time ago and you just have to go on from here.
Yes, you’re right.
If there’s anyone who knows about having to adapt, be flexible and make things work with what you’ve got, it’s immigrants.
In Latin cultures, relationships tend to be quite long-lasting. Even though we’ve been here for 5 years, her former classmates are still very close, even those who switched schools or what-not.
In fact, I’m still in touch with the parents of my very first students, that I taught back in 2004 (and with most of the subsequent ones as well).
I wish I could post pictures, but it’s very cute that her friends (who have now graduated last year) posted picture collages of them going to school together when they were 3 or 4 years-old (baby faces, chubby cheeks and all), and now in their caps and gowns for High School graduation. So adorable!!! 
I know a woman in a similar situation here in NY. Her daughter’s paperwork did not come through on schedule but she did graduate from a NY highschool and was able to get funding from the SUNYs and maybe the state though no federal funds until recently, two years into college. She’s been commuting to a community college. She was a very good student with good test scores but going away to college was not affordable. They are hoping that she can transfer to some school next year. She’s now eligible to federal money but SUNYS dont tend to give money towards anything other than tuition. She’ll likely commute to a 4 year SUNY. She has very good grades
Oh, yes, absolutely.
I don’t really want him to pay for her college education (especially if I can afford it myself). I mainly wanted to exclude him from the process (as I briefly mentioned in my original post).
I just hoped people here at CC would be able to tell me WHO should I count on to guide me through the process. I wanted to talk to someone who does this for a living, knows the rules and regulations and is not just guessing or making assumptions. Maybe I’ll just meet with her Guidance Counselor or College Counselor.
As far as affordability goes. 90% of the colleges my daughter is interested in (mainly LACs) meet 100% of Financial Need for Undocumented Students as well, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Of course, there’s always a few thousands that parents and students need to contribute with, but I can certainly cover that and, if I couldn’t, my family would just send us the money.
My daughter is one of only two grandchildren. My father is very comfortable investing in her Education, and has already offered to do so.
Many posters who are highly knowledgeable with the admissions process and financial aid have asked good questions and given you good feedback.
For US colleges this will shake out in one of two ways…
1)your D gets her green card by college application due dates and can then apply as a domestic student, or
2)she doesn’t have her green card by application due dates and will have to apply as an undocumented student…which is considered an international student at most schools. All but 5 schools (HYP, MIT, and Amherst) are need aware for international students.
Most private schools will require the CSS Profile to determine financial need…which will also require your D’s dad’s (and his wife’s) income and financial info. Because your D is in contact with her dad, it is very unlikely she would qualify for an NCP waiver. Meet full need schools tend to be reaches for all students as well, as they have low acceptance rates.
Do you have a sense of your D’s dad’s finances? Without knowing this, you will have no idea what schools will calculate as your daughter’s financial need. Schools that meet full need do so based on their determination of need, not what you (or he) think you can pay.
I don’t see much of a way to exclude the dad from the process…although if your D gets her permanent residency and applies to FAFSA only schools, then she would not need her dad’s financial info. But most FAFSA only schools do not meet full need.
Did your D take the PSAT in the fall? Or has she taken the ACT or SAT yet?
The challenge is while your D applying to schools that meet 100% demonstrated need for undocumented students, her chances of being admitted to those schools are very very small. Some schools will also look at her ability to pay in the admissions process.
there is a long thread going now that reflects an undocumented student’s journey through the college process. He did not have any affordable options last year and had to reapply this cycle once he received his green card
If you are in NYC, worse case scenario, your D can attend SUNY/CUNY under the Peralta Scholarship, which covers tuition. If there is no financial aid, you would be responsible for room and board.
https://www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/
Also look to see how her stats line up for the Macauley Honors program at CUNY (covers 2 years of housing at Hunter College, if admitted to their program)