Lawful Presence Verification

Lawful Presence must be verified for all students who:

  1. Receive or apply for In-State Tuition Rates
  2. Apply for Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
  3. Wish to participate in the Corps of Cadets

If you are an applicant requesting tuition at the in-state rate, we cannot complete the evaluation of your application for admission until you provide proof of lawful presence. Lawful presence will also need to be provided prior to an admissions decision being made for Corps of Cadets participation.

Note: Admission to UNG is not contingent upon proof of lawful presence. If you no longer wish to be considered for tuition at the in-state rate, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office so that we can remove the requirement from your record.

Accepted Documentation for Lawful Presence

We can accept a clear and legible copy of the documents listed below unless otherwise noted. If your document expires before the start date of the semester you wish to enroll, you will be required to submit an updated document prior to registering for classes. If updated documents are not received, your tuition rate will default to the out-of-state rate.

  • Students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are eligible for federal aid may have their lawful presence verified as part of this process. If you do not submit a FAFSA or the FAFSA process does not confirm your citizenship status, you will need to provide us with other citizenship documentation.
  • A current driver's license/ID with the real ID symbol issued by the State of Georgia or any of the USG approved states. Provisional licenses are accepted. Limited-term licenses and paper copies are not accepted.
  • Current U.S. passport.
  • Current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or 551). You must submit copies of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card.
  • Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
  • Department of State Certificate of Birth Abroad or Certification of Report of Birth Abroad.
  • Current military ID (for service members only, not dependents).
    • Note: Military ID cannot be copied and must be shown in person to a UNG admissions officer.
  • Certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing that you were born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. Clear and complete copies of original and certified US birth certificates may be accepted by mail or electronically for the purpose of verifying US lawful presence. The copy must be of “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. You can visit the VitalChek for instructions for ordering a certified U.S. birth certificate.
  • Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
    • Note: Certificate of Naturalization cannot be copied and must be shown to a UNG admissions officer in person.

Accepted Documentation for International Students

We are required to verify the lawful presence of non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents who have not provided the above documents using one of the following methods:

  • Visa-holding applicants (H-4, J-2, E-3, A-4, O-3, TD, etc.) will have their Verification of Lawful Presence requirement verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. You will need to submit a copy of your current Visa along with any I-94 or I-797 documentation you may have. Note that a SAVE verification may take up to 20 business days for processing.
  • If you were admitted to the U.S. with a valid F or J visa, Verification of Lawful Presence will be verified through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS).

Documentation NOT Accepted for Lawful Presence

  • Employment Authorization Documents
  • Social Security Cards
  • Driver’s license marked “Limited Term”
  • Documentation that indicates an individual has been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
  • Documentation that indicates an individual has a pending asylum application

Where do I send my documents?

Mail to:
University of North Georgia
Admissions Imaging Center
PO Box 1358
Gainesville, GA 30503-1358

FedEx to:
University of North Georgia
Admissions Imaging Center
3820 Mundy Mill Rd.
Oakwood, GA  30566

Email: admissions-gvl@ung.edu

Note: Documents submitted via email must be in either .pdf or .jpg format.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy, Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 require higher education institutions to provide an annual security report and annual fire safety report that contain crime statistics and fire statistics for the three most recently completed calendar years, institutional policies or procedures for reporting crimes and current policies concerning the security of, and access to, campus facilities and residencies, as well as security considerations in the maintenance of campus facilities.

A print copy of the most recent report is available upon request, email clery@ung.edu.