Undocumented Student Resources

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The University of Portland is fully committed to supporting all of our students regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. We stand in solidarity with and support of our students who are undocumented! At the University of Portland, we define Undocumented Student as: a student that holds foreign national status residing in the United States lacking legal immigration status such as citizenship, residency, non-immigrant visas, and or more permanent legal status.

DACAmented students are defined as: an individual that pertains to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. DACA is a non-congressionally authorized administrative program that permitted certain individuals who came to the United States as juveniles and meet several criteria may qualify for. For more information and to see if you qualify visit the DHS DACA webpage.

Please note, at the University of Portland (UP), an international student, for admission purposes, is defined as an applicant eligible for a temporary visa or is already maintaining a nonimmigrant status which allows for study in the U.S. For more information about how to apply to UP, resources, questions, and support for international students please contact Michael Pelley (he/him), Director of International Student Services, at 503-943-7367 or email pelley@up.edu.

This webpage seeks to provide information and resources for current and prospective Undocumented and DACAmented students regarding current support staff, resources, scholarships and more at the University of Portland and the larger community.

On-Campus Contacts:

• Cecilia Guerra (she/ella), Financial Aid Counselor - guerrac@up.edu - (503) 943-7311 [Hablo Español]

Applying to University of Portland

Applicants completing the Common Application or the University of Portland Application, who are Undocumented or hold DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are welcome to apply. Instructions for First-Year Applicants filling out their respective First-Year Application, are the same as Transfer Applicants filling out their respective Transfer Application.

Common Application:

1. Select "Other (Non-US)" for "Select your citizenship status".
2. Indicate your citizenship in another country for "List citizenship(s)." If you do not have another citizenship outside the U.S., list your family's country of origin.
3. Answer "No" for "Do you currently hold a valid U.S. Visa?"

*Source Common App

UP Application:

1. Select "Non-US Citizen" for "Select your citizenship status". If you hold DACA, select "DACA".
2. Answer "I do not hold a U.S. non-immigrant Visa" for "Currently Held United States Visa Type".
3. Answer "I do not hold a U.S. non-immigrant Visa" for "If you intend to apply for a new or different U.S. visa, indicate that visa type."
4. Indicate your Country of Citizenship, City of Birth, and Country of Birth. If you do not have another citizenship outside the U.S., list your family's country of origin.

* In the Personal Information section, applicants are asked their SSN, regardless of citizenship – it is not required, therefore you may leave it blank.

For more information about our application requirements and deadlines visit the admissions website.

Community Support for Undocumented Students

Legal Support

• Catholic Charities: Catholic Charities of Oregon provides all migrants and refugees resettlement and immigration legal services. The site has specific resources for anti-human trafficking services, legal services, and refugee services.

• Lutheran Community Services Northwest: The Immigration Counseling and Advocacy Program (ICAP) provides low-cost immigration counseling services to refugees and immigrants in Portland, Beaverton, and Salem, Oregon along with Vancouver, Tacoma and Seattle, Washington. ICAP provides immigrant rights advocacy, community education, as well as other resources/links.

• Oregon Law Help: Free resources on immigration, such as links to legal guides, know-your-rights guides, and links to other community organizations.

• Latino Network: Latino-led education organization, grounded in culturally-specific practices and services, that lifts up youth and families to reach their full potential. Site lists resources, information toolkits, and referrals, as well as links to other trusted organizations to find information on important community issues.

• Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR): Provides culturally competent, immigration-related legal representation and education to low-income refugees and immigrants in and around the Portland metro area. The site also lists know-your-rights guides and links to other services.

• United We Dream: The largest immigrant youth-led community in the country. Provides resources for migrants, such as toolkits and guides. Their resource page lists some toolkits and guides: https://unitedwedream.org/tools/toolkits/

• My Undocumented Life: Provides up-to-date information and resources to undocumented students, their families, and allies (including educators, counselors, and administrators).

• Transgender Law Center: Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. The Migration tab on its site lists various resources.

• National Latinx Psychological Association: List of resources for undocumented immigrants and families in a PDF.

• Immigration Advocates Network: Helps search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only non-profit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory.

• National Immigration Law Center: Page provides guidance on how to apply for DACA, renew DACA, and other important information on DACA.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

• My Undocumented Life: My Undocumented Life lists scholarships that is periodically updated for high school, college, and graduate students.

• Immigrants Rising: Immigrants Rising's List of Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships contain scholarships that don't require proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency. This up-to-date list, organized by deadline date, contains scholarships at the local (Bay Area), state, and national level in a PDF form.

• MPOWER Financing: Offers scholarships and loans to international and DACA students.

Health Services

• Multnomah County: The Multnomah County page highlights local providers most familiar working across language and culture, such as county services, community clinics, and other resources.

Financial Aid and Assistance

I am a DACA/Undocumented student. What do I need to know about scholarships and financial assistance?

All accepted students are evaluated for merit based scholarships, no additional application is needed. If you are accepted, you will work directly with the Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility for different types of financial assistance.

Scholarships

• La Mariposa Monarca Scholarship: Dreams Have No Borders is a private scholarship that was established in 2020 with the mission to provide funding support to admitted students regardless of their status. All accepted students are evaluated and informed of eligibility. For more information, please contact your financial aid counselor.
• More scholarships are availalbe through the wider community. We have listed some above.