Students who are permanent U.S. residents and have a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, since 1997), Resident Alien Card (Form I-551, before 1997), or an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151, issued prior to June 1978) are classified as eligible noncitizens for the purpose of receiving federal and state financial assistance. Permanent residents who hold an Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) annotated with an A-Number and showing one of the following endorsements, Processed for I-551 or Temporary Form I-551, are eligible to receive federal and state aid as long as the expiration date has not passed. Students who possess an I-94 indicating one of the following designations are also classified as eligible noncitizens: refugee, asylee, conditional entrant, parolee, Cuban-Haitian entrant.
Students who possess an approved I-797, Application for Voluntary Departure Under the Family Unity Program, are not eligible to receive federal or state student aid. Students who hold an Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A), Employment Authorization Documents (Form I-688B or I-766), or a Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688) are also not eligible to receive federal or state student aid.
International students with an F-1, F-2, or M-1 Student Visa; B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa; J-1 or J-2 Exchange Visitors Visa; H series or L series Visa; or a G series Visa cannot receive federal or state aid. Students who possess only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464) are also not eligible to receive federal or state student aid.
