DACA, Undocumented Applicants, and Green Card Applicants

Cornell will offer institutional financial aid to admitted and currently enrolled undergraduate international students who have been long-term Green Card applicants but have not yet achieved Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card) status. Undergraduate students who are determined to have satisfied Cornell's documentation requirements will be eligible for need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid like any U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Additionally, undergraduate students who hold DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status granted by the federal government and students who have been long-term undocumented individuals will be considered domestic students by Cornell University for purposes of admissions and financial aid, and thus are eligible for need-blind admissions and need-based institutional financial aid.

We're happy to answer any questions you have before you formally begin the aid application process. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment has two staff members dedicated to assisting applicants with DACA status and with a pending Green Card application through the financial aid process.

Samantha Miller: sm336@cornell.edu, 607-255-0047

Jessica Potter: jlp272@cornell.edu, 607-255-4772

See our requirements below and please contact us if you have any questions.

Deadlines:

Spring Transfer 2020:               October 15, 2019

Early Decision 2020-21:            November 21, 2019

Regular Decision 2020-21:       February 15, 2020

Fall Transfer 2020:                     March 15, 2020

Continuing Students:                March 1, 2020

International applicants should refer to these deadlines.

Note for Regular Decision aid applicants: June 15, 2019, was the final deadline for Regular Decision students to apply for need-based financial aid for the 2019-20 academic year.

Green Card Applicants:

Cornell will offer institutional financial aid to admitted and currently enrolled undergraduate international students who have been long-term Green Card applicants but have not yet achieved Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card) status. Undergraduate students who are determined to have satisfied Cornell's documentation requirements will be eligible for need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid like any U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

As part of the aid application process, students will be asked to document the following:

  • Born on or after June 16, 1981;
  • Came to the United States before reaching 16th birthday;
  • Continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2008 up to the present time;
  • Currently in school, has graduated high school, or obtained a general education certificate (GED);
  • Filed an I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status by no later than June 15, 2008;
  • Meets financial aid application requirements.

If you meet the above criteria, please contact a financial aid staff member to discuss the financial aid application process.

Samantha Miller: sm336@cornell.edu, 607-255-0047

Jessica Potter: jlp272@cornell.edu, 607-255-4772

Long-term Undocumented Applicants:

Cornell will offer institutional financial aid to admitted and currently enrolled Cornell undergraduates who have been long-term undocumented students and who meet the following criteria:

  • Born on or after June 16, 1981;
  • Came to the United States before reaching 16th birthday;
  • Continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2008 up to the present time;
  • Currently in school, has graduated high school, or obtained a general education certificate (GED);
  • Meets financial aid application requirements.

Undergraduate students who are determined to have met Cornell's requirements will be eligible for need-blind admissions and, if admitted, need-based financial aid meeting full demonstrated need.

If you meet the above criteria, please contact a financial aid staff member to discuss the financial aid application process.

Samantha Miller: sm336@cornell.edu, 607-255-0047

Jessica Potter: jlp272@cornell.edu, 607-255-4772

Undocumented applicants residing in the U.S. without DACA status and who do not meet the above criteria should follow the steps to apply for financial aid as an International Student.

Application Requirements for students with DACA Status:

Below are the financial aid application requirements if you currently have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status. Per IRS guidelines, we require parental tax information if your parent's earnings are greater than the minimum filing threshold.

Click each step below to see detailed instructions.

Step 1: Notify our office of your application

DACA students must self-identify to our office so that the aid application process is seamless. Please email one of the liaisons listed below after you have completed the CSS Profile.

Applicants who filed an I-485 prior to June 15, 2008, should contact one of the below liaisons before completing any materials to discuss the application process.

Step 2: Complete the CSS Profile (Custodial and Noncustodial Parents)

Spring Transfer 2020 applicants should complete the 2019-20 CSS PROFILE and 2019-20 Noncustodial PROFILE (if applicable). All other applicants should complete the 2020-21 CSS Profile.

This online form will help determine your eligibility for Cornell student aid funds.

  • CSS Profile is found at https://student.collegeboard.org/profile
  • Cornell’s undergraduate CSS Code is 2098
  • The registration step has been eliminated; applicant information will be saved from the moment you first interact with the CSS Profile.
  • If parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, your noncustodial parent will need to complete a separate CSS Profile. Each parent will access their CSS Profile with different College Board log-in credentials.
    • College Board recommends that the student and the custodial parent start the CSS Profile application first. Although the noncustodial parent can start the application at any time, the noncustodial parent will not be able to complete the application until the student selects a college that requires the CSS Profile from the noncustodial parent.
    • To keep financial information private, the student and parents should not share their College Board account passwords with each other.

College Board has created interactive instructions to assist you.

Step 3: Prepare and submit remaining materials

Please fax to 607-255-6329 or use our secure online upload.

Include the student's name, date of birth, and note "DACA status" on all materials.

  • DACA Documentation (only required the first year you apply for Cornell financial aid)
    • Copy of the written notice I-797 that DACA status has been approved
    • Copy of your Employment Authorization Document
    • Note that should you attend Cornell, we will require that you present these original documents to our office
  • 2017 Parent Federal Tax Returns (Spring Transfer 2019 applicants should submit 2016 tax documents)
    • 2017 federal tax return(s) for custodial parent(s)
    • 2017 federal tax return(s) for noncustodial parent(s) if parents are divorced, separated, or were never married
      • If the noncustodial parent is re-married, the current spouse’s income information is also required
      • Noncustodial parent taxes may be submitted to Cornell

Tax Return Requirements:

  • Must be copies of returns actually filed with the IRS (see Publication 501 for guidance on filing requirements)
  • Must include all schedules, such as A, B, C, C-EZ, E, and/or F
  • Must include business returns
  • Must include all W2 forms
  • Foreign tax filers: please provide us with translated documentation verifying your parents’ annual income for the most recently completed tax year (or the International Parent Non-Filer Statement)

Step 4: Monitor your Cornell To Do List

Applicants have a Cornell To Do List. We communicate our aid application requirements through the Cornell To Do List. Please reference this regularly to see that everything is complete. Items will disappear once they are completed in your financial aid file.

 

Why is our deadline important?

We want you to have all the information you need before making the choice to attend Cornell. Applying for aid by the financial aid deadline will ensure that your financial aid award is available when you receive your admissions decision. If you do not apply by our stated deadline, your award may be delayed.

Federal Withholding Tax

Undocumented students (with and without DACA status) are to be treated, for tax purposes, as any other foreign national student. The Internal Revenue Service classifies grant aid in excess of tuition and mandatory fees as taxable income and requires Cornell to withhold 14% in taxes if you are a non-resident alien and not eligible for exemption from taxes under a tax treaty. If you are deemed to be a "resident alien" based on the amount of time you have been present within the U.S., or if you are from a treaty country that includes a treaty article that would grant an exemption from tax withholding, Cornell would not be required to withhold 14% of excess aid.

In order to evaluate either option for non-withholding, the student will need to complete a Foreign National Questionnaire. Access to the on-line Questionnaire can be gained by emailing cu_fnis@cornell.edu requesting a user name and password.

 

Do you have further questions?

My Undocumented Life provides resources about scholarships for undocumented residents.