Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States

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Any student requesting to pay at the in-state tuition rate will be required to provide verification of their lawful presence in the United States. A student who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States is not eligible to be considered for in-state tuition, regardless of how long he or she has lived in Georgia. In addition to verifying lawful presence, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in TCSG Board Policy and Procedure V.B.3 to warrant an in-state classification.

How can a student verify lawful presence?

Students should submit one of the following documents – which must not expire prior to the first day of the term for which the document is being submitted – on campus to Admissions or submit them using our document upload form:

  • An unexpired Georgia or select out-of-state driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The license or ID must not contain any of the verbiage in the blue part of this page to satisfy the lawful presence requirement.
  • A clear copy of an original or certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, a U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350), or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240). 
  • A current U.S. Passport.
  • A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551). (Both front and back of the card must be submitted.)
  • A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
  • A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).

Students may also do the following to verify lawful presence:

  • Notify Admissions that you have filed a FAFSA, as it may be possible to verify lawful presence based on this information.
  • Present your unexpired military ID – service member only, not dependent – to Admissions. (We are not allowed to make photocopies of military IDs.)

If you have questions about verification of lawful presence, contact your Admissions Counselor.

Driver’s License and Photo ID Requirements by State
(Students who submit an out-of-state driver’s license/ID will be required to submit a residency petition and submit additional documentation to be granted in-state classification.) 

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”

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