January 2025

Tuesday Tips

Resources for New Mainers

1. Help Determining Eligibility for Federal Student Aid

One of the first steps for students who are new to the U.S. is to determine whether they are eligible for federal student aid. To be eligible, students must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen. To determine if students meet the criteria, use the interactive tool on the New Mainers section of our website. If students are eligible for federal student aid, the next step is to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If students are not eligible, many other options exist to pay for higher education. Learn more about those options here.  

2. FAFSA Resources for New Mainers

Filing the FAFSA is easier than ever, and we have resources to help! Start by visiting the Paying for College page in the New Mainers section of the FAME website. Under the “Yes, I’m eligible for federal student aid” section there are multiple resources including FAME’s FAFSA 1-2-3 for New Mainers, that provides an overview of the FAFSA filing process. The first step to filing the FASFA is for students, and their parent(s) if parent information is required, to create a StudentAid.gov account (often referred to as an FSA ID). This tool can be used to determine which parent(s) needs their own StudentAid.gov account. Check out the “Important StudentAid.gov Account Information” section for worksheets and instructions to help create StudentAid.gov accounts. You’ll also find helpful videos and FAFSA tips on this page.

3. The Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Grant Program

The Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Grant provides grants of up to $1,000 to qualified immigrants living in Maine who are not yet eligible to work in the United States. Grants are available to help pay for eligible costs associated with becoming work-ready while waiting for the issuance of a work permit. Learn more by visiting the Foreign Credentialing Grant Program page.

4. Scholarship Opportunities

All students, including those who are not eligible for federal student aid should research and apply for scholarships. There are scholarships available to students with various immigration statuses. A great place to start is by exploring the Adult Learner Scholarship, USM’s Promise Scholarship, and the Maine Community College System’s Free College Scholarship. Also visit the Scholarships for New Mainers page for a curated list of scholarships specifically for new Mainers and links to other scholarship searches. 

5. One-to-One Support

New Mainers do not have to navigate the paying-for-college process alone! FAME is pleased to have Floreka Malual, New Mainer Specialist, as part of the team. Floreka is an expert in assisting new Mainers with college planning and offers free assistance to help new Mainers navigate the process. Connect with Floreka for new Mainer-specific questions or to set up an appointment.

Additional Information for New Mainers

·      Visit the New Mainers section of our website for more information and resources.

·      Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

·      Schedule an appointment with Floreka Malual via email.

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