The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be noted when a student’s citizenship status eligibility needs to be verified. The Financial Aid Office needs to collect Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or other U.S. Citizenship/nationality documentation from students.
Where and how to submit your documents:
Original citizenship documentation must be submitted IN PERSON with Student Services in College Hall (Blue Bell Campus) or South Hall (Pottstown Campus). Documents with spaces for signatures should be signed. Upon receipt, your documentation will be copied and included in your permanent file at the college. Electronic submissions are not accepted for the purposes of verifying citizenship.
Not sure if you are an eligible non-citizen? Learn More
Examples of accepted documentation:
U.S. Citizens:
- U.S. Birth Certificate
- U.S. Passport – current or expired
- Certificate of Birth Abroad (FS-240, FS-525, DS-1350)
- Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
- Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
Note: To avoid being selected for citizenship review in future aid years, please provide updated citizenship documentation to the Social Security Administration.
Eligible Non-Citizens:
- Permanent Resident Card/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551)
- United States Travel Document stamped “Permit to Reenter” (Form I-327)
- Unexpired Arrival/Departure Record stamped “Processed for I-551” (Form I-94)
- Unexpired Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) stamped “Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551…”
- Conditional Resident Alien with unexpired documentation
- Arrival Departure Record (Form I-94) stamped:
- Refugee pursuant to section 207
- Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)
- Asylum Granted
- Paroled into the U.S for at least one year (unexpired) with documentation that you are in the U.S for other than a temporary purpose and intend to become a citizen or permanent resident (Form I-797)
- Battered Immigrants/Victims of Human Trafficking
- Jay Treaty
- Ukrainian Citizens and Nationals (Form I-94 with UHP COA)
- Other
INELIGIBLE Statuses and Documentation:
- Social security card/Driver’s license
- Employment Authorization Card
- Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence
- Nonimmigrant Visas (F-1, F-2, M-1, NATO, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, J-1, J-2, H, L, G, and U)
- Withholding of removal order
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Advance Parole
Citizenship Verification FAQs:
How long does citizenship verification take once I have submitted my documentation?
US Citizen – verification usually takes 7-10 business days to process for US Citizens who provided appropriate documentation and answered citizenship question correctly on FAFSA.
Eligible Non-Citizen – verification can take four weeks, perhaps longer, if citizenship status is not confirmed through the FAFSA, due to the requirement of third-party verification through Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE).
How will I be notified regarding my citizenship status?
If additional documentation or clarification is required, a member of the financial aid office will reach out via email to make the request. Please do not bring in additional documentation if a specific request has not been made for additional documentation – this may restart the process and delay resolution of your citizenship status.
If your status is resolved, you will receive an email from the Financial Aid Office that you are able to review your financial aid status in self-service.
If your eligibility is denied based on documentation, you will receive an email with an explanation and an invitation to resubmit if your eligibility changes, or you have additional documentation that might help resolve your status.
I’ve turned in documentation, but I keep getting emails about missing information!
You may continue to receive scheduled missing information emails while your documentation is being reviewed. Please do not send additional documentation unless a member of the financial aid team has reached out with a specific request – this may restart the process and delay the resolution of your citizenship status.