You are considered an “eligible noncitizen” if you fall into certain categories, such as the ones listed below:
1. You are a
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U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island) or
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U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a "green card."
2. You have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing*
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“Refugee,”
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“Asylum Granted,”
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“Cuban-Haitian Entrant,”
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“Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980), or
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“Parolee” (you must be paroled for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or permanent resident).
3. You hold a T nonimmigrant status ("T-visa") (for victims of human trafficking) or your parent holds a T-1 nonimmigrant status. Your college or career school’s financial aid office will ask to see your visa and/or certification letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.*
4. You are a “battered immigrant-qualified alien” who is a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse, or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).*
5. You are a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau. If this is the case, you may be eligible for only certain types of federal student aid:
*To qualify for federal student aid, certain eligible noncitizens must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that they are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Certain Native American students born in Canada with a status under the Jay Treaty of 1789 may also be eligible for federal student aid.
If you do not fall into a category above, including DACA recipients, then you are not eligible for federal student aid, but you may still be eligible for state or college aid, in addition to private scholarships. More information can be found here: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens
You are NOT an eligible noncitizen and cannot receive federal student aid if:
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you have only a “Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence” (I-171 or I-464),
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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
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you hold a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations).