I recently got married and have yet to apply for financial aid for the 2010-2011 school year. I am double majoring so my degrees are taking 7 1/2 years to complete versus the normal 4. I currently have 21,000 in Stafford loans. I know that the lifetime limit for Undergraduate dependent students is 31,000 and that the limit for Independent students is 57,000. Because of my change in status from dependent to independent this year- will I qualify under the "dependent" lifetime loan limit or the the "independent" lifetime loan limit?

Majority of my loans were taken out prior to July 1st, 2008 and all of the Stafford Loans taken out at the moment were awarded when I was classified as a dependent.

Thanks for any help!

Yes you will qualify for the higher loan limit next time you apply for financial aid.