Verification of Citizenship or Lawful Presence

Arizona law requires that students who are seeking consideration for in-state tuition status or aid that is funded in part or in whole by state money to provide verification of citizenship, permanent residency or other lawful immigration status.

Verification Process

Most students will be able to be verified through automatic processes such as the financial aid application (FAFSA). Students choosing to go through the FAFSA process should be verified no later than the beginning of July for the fall term, January for the spring term and June for the summer term.  If the FAFSA has not cleared the verification requirement by the recommended month it is highly possible that documentation is still required.

To determine if documentation is needed, students should review their student center (sign in using ASURITE) - students will see a "To Do" or "Hold" item listed indicating verification documentation is required. Wait at least 5 to 7 working days from time of submitting documentation for your status to be verified.

To complete the process, complete and return the Verification Forms along with a legible copy of acceptable documentation to a registrar location at any campus or FAX to ASU's Residency Classification Office at 480.727.6630 or mail (see form for mailing address). Please keep in mind that faxed documents do not always come through in a legible format.  Be sure to follow-up with the appropriate office after faxing documents to ensure that your verification will be accepted.

If your status is not verified you will be charged non-resident tuition.  It is your responsibility to review your status and provide appropriate information in order to ensure your tuition status accurately reflects your standing.

If you have questions about the verification process or concerns about the ability to provide documentation, contact the University Registrar's Office at 480.965.7302 as soon as possible.

Acceptable Documents for Verifying Citizenship or Other Legal Status

The following documentation may be accepted as evidence of citizenship, permanent residence, or lawful presence. This list represents the most common types of documents acceptable for verifying status. Contact the Registrar's Office at 480.965.7302 for information about additional forms of documentation.

Acceptable Documents:

• Current/valid Arizona Motor Vehicle Department Driver License/Identification Card (issued October 1, 1996 or later)
  
• Current/valid Drivers License, Instructor Permit or Non-Operator Identification card from a U.S. state (issued since 2000 or later). States for which licenses are not acceptable as a primary source of verification: Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington, as these states do not verify lawful presence in the U.S.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs/Tribal identification card
  
• U.S. Passport (current or expired) - unless stamped non-citizen national
  
• Unexpired Foreign passport with U.S. Visa, with I-551 stamp or attached
  
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) issued by USCIS through a federal or state court or through administrative naturalization after December 1990
  
• Certification of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) issued by USCIS
  
• Permanent Resident Card with photograph (Form I-151) issued since 1997 or later
  
• Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) issued before 1997
  
• Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph (Form I-551) issued prior to June 1978
  
• U.S. Military card or draft record
  
• U.S. Armed Forces Driver’s License

Acceptable documents that may be used if submitted with a copy of a valid photo ID:

• U.S. Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration
  
• U.S. Military DD-214 documentation ID Card for active duty, reserve or retired
  
• Birth Certificate showing birth in the United States, which includes Puerto Rico (on or after January 13, 1941), Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands (on or after January 17, 1917), American Samoa, Swains Island, or the Northern Mariana Islands, unless the person was born to foreign diplomats residing in the US.
  
• Affidavit of birth
  
• Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood
  
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) Issued by State Department
  
• Certificate of Birth from Foreign Service Post (Form FS-545) Issued by State Department
  
• Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350) Issued by State Department
  
• Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571) Issued since 2003
  
• Form I-94 arrival/departure record with endorsement (expiration date must not have passed); stamp showing admission under section 207 (refugees) or section 208 (asylee) of the Immigration Nationality Act
  
• Voter's Registration Card
  
• Military dependent’s ID card