Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Undocumented Student FAQ

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals allowed some individuals who entered the country as minors and entered or remained in the country illegally to receive a renewable two year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit.

An undocumented student is a foreign national who entered the United States illegally. Most college bound undocumented students: have lived in the U.S. most of their lives, were brought to the U.S. by their parents at a young age, learned English and think of themselves as American, attended elementary, middle, and high school in this U.S., excelled academically in high school and want to pursue a college education, and currently lack a way to become a U.S. legal citizen

Student status does not prevent students from being admitted to college or a vocational program, or from enrolling in classes. Undocumented student status does limit the type of financial aid a student can receive and could impact tuition charges.

Financial aid counselors are not required by federal regulations to report undocumented students to  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services who seek counseling or other services from the financial aid office.

As a noncitizen, you are unable to complete the FAFSA unless you have a Social Security Number. Deferred Action allows students to remain in the country; however it does not make such students eligible for federal student aid, even if students have a SSN.

Students are not eligible for federal financial aid such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans. However, students may be eligible for financial aid from other sources, including college and private organizations. 

 

Undocumented students can apply for an out-of-state waiver at UNF if they: 

 

• Attended a secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state 
• Applied for enrollment in an institute of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation

For additional outside private DACA scholarship information, visit any one of these resources: 

Fastweb

Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Latino College Dollars

Scholarships for Hispanics

Genesco Migrant Center

Mexican Scholarship Fund

SADCO Scholarship Program

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

La Plaza Scholarship and Financial Aid Guide

Florida Trend’s Next

 

As a U.S. citizen, you are eligible to receive federal financial aid, regardless of your parents’ status. However, their status could prevent them from borrowing a Parent PLUS loan to help pay for college expenses. For more information about how this affects eligibility for federal student aid, contact the financial aid office at your school.

Students are not eligible for federal financial aid such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans. However, students may be eligible for financial aid from other sources, including college and private organizations. 

 

Undocumented students can apply for an out-of-state waiver at UNF if they: 

 

• Attended a secondary school in Florida for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state 
• Applied for enrollment in an institute of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation