Verification of Lawful Presence

Georgia State University admits all academically qualified undergraduate students, regardless of immigration status.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires all students applying to Georgia State University to provide verification of their lawful presence in the United States to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.

This requirement is detailed in the following Board of Regents policies:

• Policy 4.3.4 Verification of Lawful Presence

Students may be verified through one of the following options below:

1. Verification through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
   If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen (this does not apply to international students on a visa) who has completed and submitted a FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will verify your lawful presence. If you cannot be confirmed as lawfully present, the Office of Financial Aid will follow up with you for additional documentation.
2. Submission of one of the following documents:
   
   • Current Georgia driver’s license issued by the state of Georgia after January 1, 2008*
   • Current Georgia State ID Card issued by the state of Georgia after January 1, 2008*
   • Current driver’s license or state issued ID card issued by any of the USG approved states (see chart below). Licenses/ID cards must be valid and meet USG requirements.*
   • Current U.S. passport *
   • An original or certified Birth Certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal* (Copy can be submitted by mail or electronically. The copy must very clearly show the raised or written seal to be acceptable. Copies that are not clear or do not show the seal cannot be accepted.)
   • Permanent Resident Card (front and back copy)*
   • U.S. Certificate of Naturalization *
   • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship *
   • U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad*
   • Military ID (must be verified in person)

   *Copies of these documents are acceptable.
   Temporary/interim driver’s licenses and IDs (paper copy provided until the official DL/ID card is generated) cannot be accepted.
   Submit documents directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in person or through the document upload. Please allow 5-7 business days for the hold to be removed.

3. Verification through Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS)
   If you have or are applying for an F or J visa, we will verify your lawful presence through SEVIS. As this is already part of the immigration process, there are no additional steps required to have your Citizenship Verification Hold removed. Simply comply with the requirements outlined by our Office of International Student and Scholar Services before you arrive at Georgia State University.
4. Verification through Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
   All nonresident alien students on some sort of visa will need to submit immigration documents verifying their lawful status to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). Such documents may include an I-94 card, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) approval notice or receipt notice, or other documentation confirming the student is in lawful visa status.

This includes students who have been previously enrolled at Georgia State and are either returning (re-entry) to a degree program or applying for a new degree program. Transient students must also be verified.

USG Approved List of Out of State Driver’s license and ID cards:

State	DL/ID Requirements for Acceptance
Alabama	Must NOT be marked “FN”
Alaska	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
California	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term.” Instruction Permits, Commercial Learner’s Permits, and temporary licenses cannot be accepted.
Delaware	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”
Florida	Must NOT be marked “Temporary”
Georgia	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Idaho	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Iowa	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Kentucky	Must NOT be marked “Not for REAL ID purposes”
Louisiana	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Maryland	Must NOT indicate “T” restriction
Missouri	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Montana	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”
Nevada	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
North Carolina	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Ohio	Must NOT indicate that it is “nonrenewable and nontransferable”
Oklahoma	Must NOT be marked “Temporary”
South Carolina	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Tennessee	Must NOT be marked “Temporary”
Texas	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”
Vermont	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Wisconsin	Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”