There are a number of ways for a student’s lawful presence in the United States to be verified. In some instances, the student will not need to submit any additional documentation. For example, if the student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the U.S. Department of Education determines that the student is eligible to receive federal student aid, no additional documentation may be needed.

In other situations, a student may need to provide documentation of lawful presence, such as a copy of their U.S. birth certificate, Georgia driver’s license (without the “Limited Term” notation), United States passport, or Permanent Resident Card. Students should contact their college or university to learn more about what may be needed.

In order for a student to be admitted to one of the universities falling under Policy 4.1.6, the university must verify that the student is lawfully present in the United States. If a student applying to one of these universities chooses not to submit lawful presence documentation, then their admission will not be finalized.

In order for a student to be considered for in-state tuition at any University System of Georgia institution, the college or university must verify that the student is lawfully present in the United States. If a student chooses not to submit requested lawful presence documentation, then the student will not be eligible for consideration for in-state tuition.

In order to be classified as an in-state student, students must meet the lawful presence verification requirement AND show that they meet the Georgia residency requirements as outlined in Policy 4.3.2, Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes. Students who are verified to be lawfully present will be classified as out-of-state if they do not also meet the Georgia residency requirements.