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 that are classified as a resident, will have a registration hold placed on their account until the lawful presence verification (LPV) requirement is satisfied. While LPV 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 Verification Submission Form. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for us to process your LPV submission. 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.
  • 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. 
    • 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 visibly able to see all portions of the required pages or card.
    • Must contain the signature page and data page with signature of the passport book.
    • Front and back of the passport card.
  • Driver license/State ID cards
    • The front and back of the card is required, no exceptions.
    • Issued by one of the states listed in the chart at the bottom of the page.
    • Unexpired.
    • Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the front and back of the card.
    • Must be a REAL ID (contains a star).
    • Not containing any of the verbiage in the chart below at the bottom of the page
    • 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
    • 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 
    • 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. 
    • Military ID cards cannot be photocopied so the card must be reviewed in person with the information recorded on the Confirmation of Review of Military ID worksheet.
  • Permanent Resident card 
    • Unexpired at the time the student starts KSU.
    • Clear copy visibly able to see all portions of the card.
    • Front and back required. 
    • 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:

Office of the Registrar
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:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “FN”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Alaska The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Arizona The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.

California

The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
  • Not indicate the card is an Instruction Permit, Commercial Learner’s Permit, or a temporary license.
Colorado The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Delaware

The unexpired card must meet all of the following:

  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
District of Columbia The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Florida The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Georgia The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Idaho The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Iowa The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Kentucky The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Louisiana The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Maryland The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “T”
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
State DL/ID REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE
Missouri  The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Montana The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Nevada The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
North Carolina

The unexpired card must meet all of the following:

  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Ohio The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “nonrenewable and nontransferable”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Oklahoma The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
South Carolina The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Tennessee The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Texas The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Utah The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Vermont The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Virginia The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked "Limited duration (See expiration date on front)” on the back of the
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Wisconsin The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.
Wyoming The unexpired card must meet all of the following:
  • Display the REAL ID
  • Not be marked “Limited Term”.
  • Not be marked “Federal Limits Apply”, “Not for REAL ID Purposes” or similar.