Citizenship Verification and Lawful Presence

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires that any student applying to Georgia State University will be required to provide verification of their lawful presence in the United States before their admission to the university can be finalized. This requirement is detailed in the following Board of Regents policies:

• Policy 4.1.6 Admission of Persons Not Lawfully Present in the United States
• Policy 4.3.4 Verification of Lawful Presence

How can the Citizenship Verification Hold be removed?

• Verification through the Federal Aid Financial Aid Form (FAFSA). If you are either a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or eligible non-citizen (does not apply to international students on a visa) that has completed and submitted a FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will verify your lawful presence. If you are not able to be confirmed as lawfully present, Student Financial Services will follow-up with you for additional documentation.
• Submission of one of the following documents:
  • Copies of these documents should be uploaded directly to your application. Scroll to the bottom of your application status page to the “Upload Materials” section and upload copies of the materials as “Citizenship Verification” documents.
    
    • U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
    • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
    • U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad
    • Current U.S. Passport
    • Current GA Driver’s License issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008
    • Current GA ID Card issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008
    • Permanent Resident Card (front and back of card)
    • An original or certified Birth Certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal* (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.)
    • Current driver’s license or state-issued ID card issued by any of the USG-approved states (see list below). Licenses/ID cards must be valid and meet USG requirements.*
  • These documents must be submitted or verified in person to the Office of Academic Assistance:
    • Military ID (must be verified in person)
• Verification through SEVIS (Student and Exchange Information System)
  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 as you prepare to arrive to GSU. This requirement applies to all newly admitted students at the Georgia State University beginning fall 2011.  This includes students who have been previously enrolled at GSU but are either returning (Re-entry) to a degree program or applying for a new degree program.  Transient students must also be verified; however Cross-Registration students do not.
• USG Approved List of Driver’s License and ID Cards Requirements for Acceptance:
  • Temporary/interim driver’s licenses and IDs (paper copy provided until the official DL/ID card is generated) cannot be accepted.
  • Individual State Driver’s License and ID Card Requirements:
    • 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”

What If I Do Not Or Cannot Provide Proof of Lawful Presence?
For any of these questions concerning Lawful Presence, please contact the Graduate School at [email protected].