To receive federal aid or institutional need-based aid, you must be either a U.S. citizen or eligible permanent resident.
Federal regulations restrict Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant to U.S. citizens only for the academic year 2008-2009. All other federal aid is restricted to U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents.
Effective July 1, 2009, all federal aid (including ACG and SMART) will be restricted to U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents.
If you are asked to verify your status as a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, acceptable documentation includes one of the following:
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Documentation indicating U.S. citizenship: U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, certificate of citizenship, naturalization, or birth abroad.
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Alien Registration Receipt Card: I-151 or I-551 (front and back).
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Departure Record: I-94 or CBP I-94A. Must be stamped "Processed for I-551" with expiration date or "Temporary Form I-551" with appropriate information filled in.
- Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV), which serves as a temporary I-551.
All other eligible non-citizens (refugees, asylees, parolees, and other special circumstances) must provide written documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that they hold a citizenship status approved for the receipt of federal financial aid. This documentation will then be matched with DHS records.
