ElenLane

Your GPA isn't that abysmal. People have had similar GPA's and have been accepted to top programs. You can't do anything about the GPA now. Your GRE is what needs to improve quite a bit. Most schools have unofficial GRE cutoffs. You need to do well do ensure your app is read.
 
 Other than that you need to carefully research what programs you want to go to. Make sure that your research interests fit well with the program. Otherwise you aren't going to have a shot.
 You are not in as bad of a situation as you think you are.
 If you can't afford it don't do a masters, its not worth the money. A research tech job is far more valuable.

I'm a fully funded domestic student entering the linguistics program. The department manager sent my offer as a pdf with official letterhead, a breakdown of the award by quarter (2 quarters fellowship, 1 quarter TA), and the signatures of the grad director and manager. I got this about a month after my acceptance, in late March. However, my offer was recently increased, and this was sent to me in the body of an email (i.e., not on official letterhead) by the acting grad director for the department.
Basically, it seems to me that financial aid notification is handled at the departmental level. I would email the graduate director and manager for your department, and explain that you need an official statement ASAP to get your visa squared away.
Best of luck!