For most student loans, the borrower(s) needs have a citizenship status in the US or US territories. For federal student aid like the Direct Loans, borrowers must :
- Be US citizen
- Be US national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island)
- Be US permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C, also known as a "green card."
- Have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing Refugee, Asylum Granted, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Conditional Entrant (if issued before April 1, 1980), or Parolee (for least one year and have evidence of the intention of becoming a US citizen or permanent resident)
- Hold a T non-immigrant status (for victims of human trafficking) or your parent holds a T-1 non-immigrant status.
- Demonstrate that you are “battered immigrant-qualified alien” who is a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse, or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).*
Be aware that there are restrictions on the types of financial aid some citizens of US territories can receive. For instance, citizens of the Republic of Palau are eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal Work-Study. Also, citizens of the Federal States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are eligible for Federal Pell Grants only.