Loans for non-residents

[J.opt]

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What do you guys know about student loans for international students? Are all non-residents ineligible for federal aid?
I called the financial aid office at one of the schools that I??m interested into and the lady there told me that most students there use Citiassist. Is Citi a better than the competition? What are other examples of companies that offer private loans to internationals?
Thanks.

 

[mpp]

You must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:

U.S. citizen
U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)
If you're not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) showing one of the following designations in order to be eligible:

"Refugee"
"Asylum Granted"
"Indefinite Parole" and/or "Humanitarian Parole"
"Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending"
"Conditional Entrant" (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you aren't eligible for federal student aid.

If you're in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa only, or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only, you can't get federal student aid. Also, persons with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible for federal student aid.

 

[Meggs]

J. opt,

This may be late for you, but take a look at this thread,

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81217&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

Scroll down to the post that reads "Financial Aid Links". There are plenty of links to other private lenders for international health students.

 

[J.opt]

Wow, thanks a lot, this is just what I was looking for 🙂

 

[pxz]

The most difficult part for international students is to find a US co-signer, which is required by almost all the private lenders. Unless you have US relatives who are willing to do this (a big risk for them if you ever decide not to pay the loan), it is very hard to borrow. I was in the same boat as you are two years ago and I ended up paying my first-year tuition by my savings and working part-time.

Of course, if you have a house, you can borrow against it.... or there may be some lenders who do not require co-signers. Talk to the FA officers in your school and they might have other solutions. Congratulations and good luck!

 

[The Musketeer]

Also try bank loans and their credit lines. They usually have a better interest rate and no hidden fees compare to other private loans (ie: CanHelp).

 

[J.opt]

Hey you guys,
How am I supposed to know which company is best for me, etc? Should I expect financial aid offices to tell me?
Also, when should I start applying for private loans?

 

[mpp]

Find out from other students...that's usually better than from the financial aid office since they aren't international students. Ask the admissions office if you can get the e-mail of some current students that are in your situation and ask them how they have handled things, what has gone well, what hasn't, etc.

 

[J.opt]

Cool, thanks 🙂

 

[rajs]

how easy is it to get a loan if one is a green card holder.. pliz someone reply