Paradise Valley Community College
18401 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
www.pvc.maricopa.edu/finaid/
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Phone: 602-787-7100
Fax: 602-787-7105
Request for Independent Status
2012-2013
Paradise Valley Community College
Office of Student Financial Assistance
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE IN INK. This office will NOT accept soiled or crushed material.
Student Name
Student ID Number
Current Mailing Address
Phone number
Federal Law governing Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid Funds assumes that the family has the primary
responsibility for meeting the student’s educational costs. Therefore, a student must meet certain federal
criteria to qualify for Federal Financial Aid as an independent student. If you do not meet one of the criteria
listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) worksheet, you will be evaluated as a
dependent student, This means that your parents must provide income and asset information to determine
your financial aid eligibility. There is no law that requires parents are to contribute to a student’s education.
The Paradise Valley Community College Office of Student Financial Assistance may determine the
dependency status for students who have documented, extreme, and extenuating circumstances where it
would be unreasonable or impossible to provide parent(s) information on the FAFSA.
A. The Office of Student Financial Assistance MAY consider appeals based on the following (but not
limited to) reasons:
 You are a refugee whose parent(s) are in another country.
 You have a documented estrangement.
 You have been legally removed from your parent(s) home.
B. Write a letter explaining your special circumstances and gather your documentation (see side two).
Bring them into the office and meet with a Financial Aid Technician. Your appeal and its related
documents will be reviewed. You will be notified of the results in writing.
C. The Office of Student Financial Assistance WILL NOT consider appeals based on the following. These
examples are NOT considered extreme, and extenuating.









You do not live with your parent(s).
You have not been in contact with your parent(s).
Your parent(s) have not claimed you on their Federal Income Taxes.
You have income sufficient to support yourself.
You received financial aid as an independent student at another school in the past.
You are not a refugee, but your parent(s) live in another country.
You are divorced or widowed.
You were a ward of the state (not to be confused with ward of the court).
Parent(s) refusal to complete their portion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
All conversations and related documentation will be held in the strictest confidence!
Paradise Valley Community College
18401 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
www.pvc.maricopa.edu/finaid/
Office of Student Financial Assistance
Phone: 602-787-7100
Fax: 602-787-7105
Attach the following information to this form:

A signed & dated letter from you explaining the unusual, extreme and extenuating circumstance that
you feel warrants a change in dependency status (please print your name and student I.D. number on
the letter). Do not use pencil! The letter should include explanation as to:
o
o
o
o

The nature of your relationship with your parent(s).
The location of both parent(s) and when you last had contact with them.
Why you cannot obtain information and/or support from your parent(s).
How you have been supporting yourself.
A minimum of two (2) letters (Must be on Letterhead) or verifiable, documentation regarding
your circumstance is required.
ACCEPTABLE LETTERS DOCUMENTING YOUR SITUATION: can include a statement from a
responsible adult, not a relative or friend. Letters from doctors, clergy, counselors, psychologists,
high school administrators or teachers, etc. are acceptable. This individual should be aware of your
situation and can corroborate the facts you present in your letter.
ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTATION: legal court documents, police reports, high school records, etc.
The documentation must clearly verify your statement of appeal.
RETURN TO: Paradise Valley Community College, Office of Student Financial Assistance
18401 North 32nd Street, AZ 85256. 602.787.7100
******************************************************************************************
To be completed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance Only

Approved:
o
Student must have a completed FAFSA for the current award year with the Department of Education.

Denied: You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as a DEPENDENT student providing your
parent(s) information.
ADMINISTRATOR SIGNATURE
DATE