Eligibility for financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education and the state of Delaware is restricted to U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens who are in the United States and intend to become citizens or permanent residents.

To qualify for aid as an eligible noncitizen, a student must be

• a U.S. permanent resident holding a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), Resident Alien Card (I-551) or other acceptable documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
• a conditional permanent resident (I-551 or I-551C);
• a citizen of the Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Palau);
• lawfully present in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and must hold an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) or Departure Record (I-94A) with one of the following endorsements: (1) "Refugee," (2) "Asylum Granted," (3) "Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)," (4) "Conditional Entrant" (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980) or (5) "Parolee" (must be paroled for at least one year);
• in the United States under provisions of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act; or
• in the United States under provisions of the Violence Against Women Act. 

A student with a nonimmigrant visa (for example, a student visa, visitor visa, or work visa) is ineligible for federal or state of Delaware student aid. Also, a student who has only a "Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence" (I-171 or I-464) cannot receive federal or state of Delaware student aid. 

If you do not meet the noncitizen eligibility definition above, you should contact the financial aid office at your school for information about any aid programs that might be available.

Last updated 3.1.12