Verification of Lawful Presence

A Certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory The copy must clearly show the raised or written seal to be acceptable. Copies that are not clear or do not show the seal cannot be accepted. Birth certificates from Puerto Rico issued before June 2010 are not accepted.

A current Driver's License/ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008. A limited term license/ID or a license/ID issued for a period of less than two years is not acceptable.

We accept unexpired driver’s licenses and state IDs from the states listed below. Please note the following:

• Only IDs with the REAL ID symbol are accepted.
• IDs marked “Not for REAL ID Purposes,” “Federal Limits Apply,” or similar are not accepted.
• Temporary or interim IDs (paper copies) cannot be accepted.

Accepted States:

• Alabama (issued after August 1, 2000)
• Arizona
• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia (issues after January 1, 2008)
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Carolina (Issued after November 1, 2008)
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia (front and back of card needed)
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Photocopy must include the photo page and the following page. 

USCIS form N-550 or N-570

USCIS form N-560 or N-561

A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)

Service member only, not dependent. Service members must present the military ID to the Admissions office for further documentation. A photocopy is not acceptable.

•  A valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551) (front and back copy): or
• A Form I-797, Notice of Action approval notice with current dates of validity for a Form I-485,

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. 

Find More Information on the printed out I-94 Form Here.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

• Submit a copy of all of your current immigration and visa documentation so we can attempt verify your status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program.
• 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.