Office of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs

Yes! All students regardless of immigration status can apply and attend CUNY. You will not be discriminated against from attending CUNY based on your immigration status. Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez has consistently highlighted the importance of welcoming undocumented students to our campus.

No, although the CUNY application asks for a Social Security Number, you do not need to answer that question.

Yes. According to the New York State Dream Act, undocumented students are able to apply for opportunity programs. Undocumented students must complete the New York State Dream Act Eligibility form and Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application to be considered for the full benefits offered by the program (including tuition scholarship support).

Some Opportunity Programs will consider undocumented students who are no eligible for the New York State Dream Act. The services provided to students who are not eligible for the New York State Dream Act are limited to: academic advising, tutoring, etc. Unfortunately, students can not receive financial assistance unless they have completed and proven to be eligible for the New York State Dream Act and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

See our guide to Opportunity Programs.

All CUNY students, including undocumented students, benefit from a 2001 New York State law that expanded who qualifies for in-state tuition. That law allows anyone to pay in-state tuition if any of the following apply:

• • • They were enrolled in the City University of New York (CUNY) for the Fall 2001 semester and qualified for in-state tuition at that time.
    • They attended a New York State high school for two or more years, graduated, and applied to attend a CUNY institution within five years of receiving a New York State diploma.
    • They attended an approved New York State program for the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) or General Educational Development (GED) exam preparation, received the TASC/GED from New York State, and applied to attend a CUNY institution within five years of receiving the New York State TASC/GED. Note that TASC/GED holders who graduated from high school either in the United States or overseas are not eligible for this benefit.

Please see CUNY Citizenship Now!’s guide.

If you do not qualify under the rules described above, you still may qualify for in-state tuition if you have continuously resided in New York State for at least one year immediately preceding the first day of classes and one of the following applies:

• • • You are a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or you have a permanent resident application pending. Note that you must have filed Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. It

is not sufficient to have solely a pending or approved Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative or Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker.

• • • You have been granted asylum, withholding of removal, or refugee status.
    • You have applied for asylum and have been granted USCIS employment authorization.
    • You have applied for or have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    • You have been granted Deferred Action.
    • You have been granted Deferred Enforced Departure. • You have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood

Arrivals (DACA).

• • • You are a “late amnesty” applicant, a NACARA applicant

(Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief

Act), or a Cuban or humanitarian parolee.

• • • You are in one of the following nonimmigrant statuses:

A, E, G, H-1B, H-1C, H-4 (where the primary status holder is here in H-1B or H-1C status), I, K, L, N, O, R,S,T,U,orV.

Students enrolling at a community college, in any status above could be eligible for in-state tuition if they have resided in New York City for the 6 months immediately preceding the first day of classes and they have a bona fide intent to reside in New York permanently.

Please see CUNY Citizenship Now!’s guide.

Eligible non-citizens can apply and submit FAFSA, this includes folks with asylum and refugee GRANTED statuses, you can see the complete list here.

While undocumented students or those with Temporary Protective Status, DACA, asylum pending, or other status are not eligible for federal financial aid like FAFSA, they may be eligible for state financial aid through the Tuition Assistance Program. As of Fall 2019, anyone who qualifies for in-state tuition, including undocumented immigrants, qualifies for NYS financial aid, including the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provided that the students meet income and other requirements. To learn more about TAP, go to www.hesc.ny.gov/dream/.

Yes, according to the General Counsel 2018 Memo “Scholarships and Other Payments from Private Funds to Students without Lawful Status in the United States” CUNY students are eligible for private financial aid regardless of immigration status.

Yes, each CUNY campus has at least two Immigrant Success Liaisons. You can reach them here.

Currently only John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Brooklyn College have immigrant student success centers. If you are interested in efforts to open a center at your campus please reach out to your campus liaison and Cynthia Carvajal at [email protected]

While work study is limited to those who are eligible for FAFSA, internship and fellowships are open to anyone regardless of immigration status.

However, if it is a paid opportunity please keep in mind how they are compensating you. If you have an Employment Authorization Document you are able to be placed on payroll. If you do not, you can utilize an Individual Tax Identification Number. For more information on this please review the guides under Career & Graduate Resources.

In addition to private CUNY scholarships you can also apply to external scholarships such as TheDream.US, you can also view several scholarships lists on this page.

Individuals under Persons Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL) are eligible to receive certification and licenses in the state of New York. This includes DACA and TPS recipients. Please review this list of occupational licenses in New York. If you do not have this status you are not eligible for certification and licensure. However, there is a proposed bill that could change that, please see more information on the Empire State Licensing Act.

Some things to consider, in addition to licensing and certification availability. Similar to internships and fellowships, keep in mind how they are compensating you. If you have an Employment Authorization Document you are able to be placed on payroll. If you do not, you can utilize an Individual Tax Identification Number. Having these resources can open up opportunities for independent contracting and entrepreneurship which can be a viable way to earn income and engage in your career. There are many things to keep in mind if you pursue this route, take a look at the New York State Youth Leadership Council’s Guide to Working as a Non-Citizen.

CUNY does not and will not share student records without a warrant, subpoena, or court order. CUNY also does not track or document students’ immigration statuses.

The federal government characterizes colleges and universities as “sensitive locations,” which are places where, in the normal course of things, immigration enforcement actions should not occur unless extraordinary circumstances exist.