What is Lawful Presence Verification?
Lawful Presence Verification (LPV) verifies that the student is legally in the country. It is required of every student who is classified as a Resident (in-state) student and/or receiving an out-of-state tuition waiver in accordance with BOR Policy 4.3.4.
BOR Policy 4.3.4: “University System institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status (in-state tuition).
Students are also required to submit Legal Name Verification to show that legal name matches their government ID. This requirement can be satisfied with the same documentation you submit for Lawful Presence Verification. Therefore, we will take care of both requirements at the same time as we process your submission. You do not need to submit it twice unless we tell you that we have a concern with your submission.
Students that are classified as a resident, will have a registration hold placed on their account until the lawful presence verification (LPV) and legal name verification (LNV) requirement is satisfied. While LPV & LNV is listed on the Admission Status Checklist, it is not required for an admission decision to be made. It is only required to be able to register for classes during your assigned registration time period.
You can submit your documents in person at the Office of the Registrar or online by using the Lawful Presence & Legal Name Verification Submission Form. Students registering in the most immediate term will be processed withing 7-10 business days; those students admitting for future terms may experience wait times of 4-6 weeks.
Business days do not include weekends, holidays, or other days that the university is closed. We will only email you if there is an issue with the document you sent us. Once the correct documentation has been processed, you will see that the hold has been resolved on the View Holds page under the Registration tab in Owl Express.
How can a Student Verify Lawful Presence?
- Students who file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and are eligible for federal student aid can have their lawful presence verified as part of the FAFSA process. This process may take upwards of 4-6 weeks.
- U.S. Birth Certificate or Amended Birth Certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the student’s state of birth (including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia)
- Must be a clear and legible copy of the original or certified copy.
- Clearly show the raised, stamped, or written seal. The seal is often on the back of the birth certificate.
- Amended US Birth Certificate, US Certificate of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Birth Abroad, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad also accepted.
- Puerto Rican birth certificate must confirm the document was issued by the General Vital Statistics Office of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Department of Health) on or after July 1, 2010.
- Birth certificates from other countries that are not a US territory will not be accepted.
- A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the page.
- Must have the student’s signature.
- A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the page.
- Must have the student’s signature.
- US passport or US passport card
- Unexpired.
- Clear copy; must be able to see all portions of the required pages or card.
- Must contain the signature page (with signature) and data page of the passport book; A parent signature or indication student did not personally sign will not be accepted.
- For passport cards, the front and back of card is required, no exceptions.
- Driver license/State ID cards (See BOR requirements)
- The front and back of the card is required, no exceptions.
- Issued by one of the states in the chart below that meets the parameters listed for that state.
- Must contain the REAL ID star. Visit the Georgia Department of Driver Services for information on how to obtain a Real ID compliant license/state ID card.
- Unexpired.
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the front and back of the card.
- Temporary and Limited Term licenses are not accepted.
- Limited Permits and licenses issued for less than 2 years are not accepted
- Georgia Voter ID card (See BOR requirements)
- The front and back of the card is required.
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the card.
- Unexpired.
- Must contain a Real ID star.
- No other state is permitted.
- This is not the same as a precinct voter registration card.
- A current or retiree military ID card
- Military ID cards cannot be photocopied due to Federal Regulations; the card must be reviewed in person with the information recorded by Registrar Staff.
- It cannot be a dependent card.
- It cannot have a blue or green bar on the card.
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the card.
- Unexpired.
- Permanent Resident card
- Front and back required.
- Unexpired at the time the student starts KSU.
- Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the card.
- Current passport and I-551 stamp may also be accepted.
- F, J or M Visa holders will have their lawful presence verified through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Students must complete their iStart check-in and be approved by the International Student Scholar Services.
- Students admitted on a status that is considered lawfully present will have their lawful presence verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program. This is completed by a member of the tuition classification team in the Office of the Registrar.
- Many statuses are not considered lawfully present including but not limited to DACA, Pending Asylum, B visas, expired visas, etc.
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
585 Cobb Avenue NW
Room 1533, MD 0116
Kennesaw, GA 30144
470-578-2799
lpv@kennesaw.edu
We can accept the front and back of driver’s licenses or state ID cards from the following states with the listed conditions:
| State | DL/ID REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Alaska | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Arizona | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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California |
The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Colorado | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Delaware |
The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| District of Columbia | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Florida | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Georgia | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Idaho | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Iowa | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Kentucky | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Louisiana | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Maryland | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| State | DL/ID REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE |
|---|---|
| Missouri | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Montana | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Nevada | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| North Carolina |
The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Ohio | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Oklahoma | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| South Carolina | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Tennessee | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Texas | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Utah | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Vermont | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Virginia | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Wisconsin | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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| Wyoming | The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
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