Find the description below that matches your citizenship and dependency status to figure out which documents you will need to fill out the FAFSA for the 2020-21 school year. All U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal aid.
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If you are a U.S. citizen and dependent student
- Your Social Security card.
- Your driver’s license (if you have one).
- Your 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your 2018 federal income tax return.
- Your 2018 untaxed income records.
- Your current bank statements.
- Your parents’ federal income tax return.
- Your parents’ 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your parents’ bank statements.
- Your parents’ untaxed income records.
- Your parents’ current business and investment records.
If you are a U.S. citizen and independent student
- Your Social Security card.
- Your driver’s license (if you have one).
- Your 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your 2018 federal income tax return.
- Your 2018 untaxed income records.
- Your current bank statements.
If you are a dependent student, but not a U.S. citizen
- Your driver’s license (if you have one).
- Your 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your 2018 federal income tax return.
- Your 2018 untaxed income records.
- Your current bank statements.
- Your parents’ federal income tax return.
- Your parents’ 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your parents’ bank statements.
- Your parents’ untaxed income records.
- Your parents’ current business and investment records.
If you are an independent student, but not a U.S. citizen
- Your driver’s license (if you have one).
- Your 2018 W-2 forms.
- Your 2018 federal income tax return.
- Your 2017 untaxed income records.
- Your current bank statements.
How to answer FAFSA questions based on your status
Family structure (dependent students):
- My parents are married.
- My parents are divorced.
- My parents were never married.
- I live with legal guardians or foster parents.
- My parents are same-sex partners.
- One of my parents has died.
Family structure (independent students):
- I don’t know the whereabouts of one or both parents.
- I have an abusive or neglectful parent.
- One or both of my parents is incarcerated or institutionalized.
- I have no contact with one or both parents.
- I am legally emancipated.
Immigration status: