Fact Check
The INS permits photocopying Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship documents if done for lawful purposes, such as applying for student financial aid funds.
Acceptable Documents
A Social Security card or a driver’s license is not acceptable for documenting citizenship or national status.
Citizenship Status
Eligible students
- U.S. citizen or national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island)
- U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551c (Alien Registration Receipt Card)
- Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) showing one of the following designations to be eligible:
- “Refugee”
- “Asylum Granted”
- “Indefinite Parole” and/or “Humanitarian Parole”
- “Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending”
- “Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
Ineligible students
- Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464) only
- F1 or F2 student visa only
- J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only
- G series visas (pertaining to international organizations)
Confirming Your Citizenship Status
If the Office of Financial Aid needs to verify your citizenship status, the following are acceptable documents. You must submit a signed copy of acceptable documentation and a completed Citizenship Affidavit here to be considered for financial aid. If this documentation is not properly submitted, your financial aid will not disburse.
- A copy of the student’s official birth certificate showing that he/she was born in the U.S.
- A copy of Form FS-240 (Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the U.S.), the FS-545 (Certificate of Birth-Foreign Service), or the DS-1350 (Certificate of Birth). These forms are generated by the State Department and include an embossed seal.
- A U.S. Passport or Passport card. In the case of nationals who are not citizens, the passport will be stamped with Noncitizen National.
- A Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561) issued by USCIS.
- A Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570) issued by USCIS (or, prior to 1991, a federal or state court), or through administrative naturalization after December 1990 to those who are individually naturalized.