If you have information that would be of assistance to the many non-US students out there, please, I encourage you to share that information with us here. Write an article and click on Submit a Story - I will then add it to FreSch!, and be mor than happy to consider featuring it, too!

If you have any of the following immigration documents or a "green card", you ARE eligible to apply for federal financial aid, such as PELL grants, student loans, work study, and other assistance.

• I-151, I-551, I-151C, or I-688
• I-797 along with approved immigrant visa
• I-94 which is for asylum, refugee status, "indefinite" parole, humanitarian parole, and immigrants from Haiti or Cuba

To apply for federal aid, you will need to fill out the "FAFSA" form. From this, you will receive a "SAR" (Student Aid Report). This form will show what, if any, Federal financial assistance you are eligible for.

Even if you do not think you are eligible for federal aid, I strongly encourage you to file a FAFSA form. The Financial Aid office at the college or university you plan on attending most likely will require this form in order to be considered for any aid directly from them.

• FAFSA on the Web

While many of the scholarships I have listed in FreSch! do allow "permanent legal residents" to apply for them, they may or may not allow those who are on student visas to apply. You might want to call or write a few organizations that do not specifically prohibit international students from applying, to see if they will accept your application. Most won't, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Most international students are going to need a STUDENT VISA. What used to be known as the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) is now part of the Department of Homeland Security, and called Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). You can find LOTS of information - and many forms! - by visiting the BCIS website

The most common visa is the F-1 Student Visa, which is for full-time students attending a college or university, pursuing a traditional Associate's, Bachelor's, or Graduate level degree. The F-1 visa is usually not available for high school studies. The J-1 visa is intended for "exchange" students, who are usually in the U.S. for a year or less. The J-1 visa can be used for high school level exchange student programs. To apply and receive one of these visas, you will need to be able to prove:

• That you are proficient in English
• That you have enough funds to support yourself and your studies
• That you are healthy and have no communicable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS)
• That you are not a felon or a wanted criminal
• And possibly other restrictions or requirements.

If you are being sponsored by a U.S. citizen, such as a relative, they will need to file an "Affidavit of Support" form with the BCIS.

You will also be asked to prove that you intend to return to your home country once your studies are completed. Sometimes, BCIS will ask you to deposit some money with them as a "bond" assuring that you will leave the country.

When you have decided on a college or university in the U.S. that you would like to study at, you should contact their International Student Advisor for advice and assistance on obtaining your student visa. If your school does not have an International Student Advisor, ask the Admissions Office or Financial Aid Office if they can assist you.

Working in the U.S.

Students on an F-1 visa may be allowed to work in an ON-CAMPUS job. During the school year, you may be permitted to work part-time (roughly 20 hours per week). During the Summer (unless attending classes) you may work full-time (provided the job is available during the summer! Many on-campus jobs are only available during the school year.) Check with the BCIS for the latest rules/regulations regarding on-campus jobs. You should also contact your school's Employment office for assistance in finding an on-campus job.

After you have attended college for a year on your F-1 visa, you can ask permission of the BCIS to work OFF-CAMPUS. Usually, permission is only granted if you can prove exceptional financial hardship (like the exchange rate for your country's currency has drastically changed for the negative). Check with the BCIS for the latest rules/regulations regarding off-campus jobs. You will need your school's International Student Advisor to verify that you are a full-time student in good standing.

To apply for a student visa, go to your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate office and ask for the necessary forms. When you have completed the forms, you will need to submit them, with all supporting documentation and a fee. For more information, talk with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate office, your school's International Student Advisor or the BCIS.

• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) formerly the INS
• Department of State, Foreign Student Visa Information

Generally, there is more funding available for Graduate students than for Undergraduate students - while both will have great difficulty in finding financial assistance, the Graduate student will have a slightly easier time than the Undergraduate student.

Individual colleges and universities may offer funds to international non-resident students to assist them while they attend. One of the first places you should check for aid is with the Financial Aid Office of the college or university you plan on attending within the United States. Your odds of actually receiving assistance from the college you plan on attending are greater if you have outstanding test scores, grades, and high TOEFL scores.

Your own government may, occasionally, have aid available to study abroad. Assistance, if any, is usually only available to students planning on studying in areas that the government considers to be of the greatest need to your country; for example, medicine, engineering, or other areas where your country is experiencing skills shortages. You will usually be required to work for your government or in an area of need for a number of years upon graduation.

Some large International Organizations such as the United Nations, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the World Bank, and some Private Organizations and Foundations (scroll down for listings) offer assistance to international students. Be aware that this aid is EXTREMELY competitive, and that these organizations receive thousands of requests for assistance every year. Some of them receive more than 20,000 applications yearly! Only the very best of students are going to have any real chance of receiving aid from these organizations. YES, despite the level of competition, you should still try these organizations, but be aware of the odds.

Foundations and other Organizations within your own country might be able to assist you. The best way to find out is to ASK them. Look in your local phone books for organizations and foundations, in particular, look for organizations that concentrate in your area of study (meaning, if you are a medical student, look for your local Association of Physicians or related organizations). If you are active in your Church, you may want to ask your church if they offer assistance to students. Even if they do not offer assistance, they may be able to give you some suggestions on who or where to ask. Ask your local business organizations, Chamber of Commerce, social and professional organizations for assistance. Remember, the worst thing that can happen is they say "no" :)

Be creative. If none of the above have funding available or you still are short of funds, maybe they can help you in other ways. Ask if they can help you find someone willing to "sponsor" you, by loaning or gifting you some money, or help you raise funds in other ways. One student, Karik, reported that his community helped him out by having several community "yard sales" where everyone donated the proceeds from the "yard sales" to him and three other students. Another student told me of how his local Catholic church passed the basket twice each Sunday for months: First for the Church, the second time to assist the congregation's best students. Every little bit helps!

Don't get deported:

• Coming to the United States on a Tourist visa, then enrolling in college but NOT getting your visa changed to a student visa may get you deported.
• Working on a Tourist visa may get you deported.

• Working off-campus on a F-1 visa WITHOUT permission from the BCIS may get you deported.
• Getting involved in drugs or other illegal activities may get you deported.

Deportation isn't pretty. You may sit in a jail cell for days or weeks, you may end up forbidden from returning to the United States for 2-10 years or even longer. There can be other serious repurcussions from deportation - sometimes, if you are deported from one country, OTHER countries may not let you enter. You may even face legal repurcusions within your own country. Please, don't risk deportation. It really is NOT worth it.

Don't get Scammed:

As you already know, funding for international students is very limited, very hard to find, and very competitive. Because of this, there are a number of companies out there that will offer you "too good to be true" opportunities, such as "guaranteed" scholarships, "no interest" (or low-interest) loans, "guaranteed" employment visas, and other opportunities, provided you pay them an up-front fee. Unfortunately, many of these offers may be scams... the companies will take your money and never provide you with what they promised. As a guideline, if anyone GUARANTEES you a scholarship or loan for money, RUN AWAY.

Information for non-U.S. students studying in the United States is not easy to find, so I ask you to PLEASE HELP ME HELP YOU. If you have any information on scholarships for anyone, in ANY country, please share your information and Submit a Story. I will be more than happy to post it here on FreSch! so that others may benefit from your experience.

Again, I apologize for not being able to be of more help at this point in time.

Frequently Asked Question: What does "GPA" or "Grade Point Average" Mean?

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