Verification of Lawful Presence

According to Policy 4.3.4 of the University System of Georgia, 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 in order to be classified as an in-state student or awarded an out-of-state tuition waiver.

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Acceptable Documentation U.S. Citizen

Permanent Resident, Foreign National in Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications or Foreign Nationals

Lawful U.S. Resident 
• A valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551): or
• A Form I-797, Notice of Action approval notice with current dates of validity for a Form I-485,

Pending U.S. Permanent Resident 
If:
• You have a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.; and 
• Your application has not been adjudicated or approved.; and  
• Your U.S. Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551) commonly referred to as a “Green Card” HAS NOT YET been issued.   

Then:
You will be required to submit a copy of your valid passport, and a copy of the application receipt notice, Form I-797, Notice of Action for your pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you have a temporary work card, Employment Authorization Document, Form I-766, you will be required to submit a copy, front and back, of that as well.

U.S. Visa-holding Applicant 
If you are a Foreign National in a valid U.S. visa status (H, J-2, E-3, O, TD, etc.), your Verification of Lawful Presence requirement will be fulfilled based on immigration document copies you must submit to your program’s admissions office prior to Student Orientation.

In general, you will be required to submit a copy of your valid passport biographical page(s), a Form I-94 card showing an unexpired period of stay, or an I-797 form showing an approved change of status with an unexpired period of stay.

Newly accepted Augusta University F-1 Academic Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor in a student category

• You will meet with representatives from the Augusta University International and Postdoctoral Services Office upon arrival at AU
  for your mandatory immigration check-in to verify your immigration documents. 

• The Lawful Presence (LP) hold on your record will be cleared after we confirm that you were admitted to the U.S. in valid F or J
  status.

Foreign National in an immigration status that is not listed above 

• If you are not in any of the immigration statuses listed above, we will attempt to confirm your immigration status
  through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE)
  database.

• If we receive confirmation of your status, we will be able to clear the Verification of Lawful Presence hold from your
  record.

• We will inform you using your Admission Check Status page that we have verified the appropriate document.
  The Check Status page will be updated when we receive documentation, but it may take an additional 2-3 weeks for us
  to verify that the document as meets the requirements. Please continue to review your Check Status page for this
  information.

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Dental College of Georgia & Medical College of Georgia Applicants