U.S. Citizen or National U.S. Permanent Resident or Eligible Noncitizen A Citizen of the Freely Associated States; the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands. (Limited to some FSA programs) 1
The Department of Education matches all applications with the Social Security Administration to determine if student is a U.S. Citizen. If ARN (Alien Registration Number) was provided on the FAFSA the record is also send to DHS (Department of Homeland Security) to check noncitizen immigration status. General Process Results appear on the ISIR (Institutional Student Information Report). Any failures during the match process generates a C-Flag Student s citizenship status only needs to be checked once during the award year. The Department of Education receives FAFSA Submits Records to Social Security Administration (SSA) Alien Registration Provided Submits to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Results are provided at the Student Information Report (ISIR) Any Discrepancies produce a C comment Code General Matching Process 2
Successful Match SAR and ISIR are flagged with matching flag Data does not Match If the student s social security number, name or date of birth does not match citizenship cannot be confirmed. Data must be corrected. Citizenship not confirmed SAR and ISIR will include a C Flag code 146 indicating that DHS was not able to confirm and proof of citizenship needs to be provided to the financial aid office. Student s birth certificate U.S. Passport State Department Documents -Form FS-240: Consular Report of Birth Abroad -Form FS-545: Certificate of birth issued by a foreign service post -Form DS-1350: Certification of Report of Birth Certificate of Naturalization N-560 or N-561 issued by USCIS 3
Applications with status of permanent residents and other eligible noncitizens. ARN (Alien Registration Number) needs to be provided. Successful match: SAR and ISIR are flagged with comment code 143. Record was not sent to DHS: - The match will not be attempted if the student left the citizenship question blank comment code 068. -Eligible noncitizens but no ARN provided or an invalid one comment code. Record was not sent to DHS: - The match will not be attempted if the student left the citizenship question blank comment code 068. -Eligible noncitizens but no ARN provided or an invalid one comment code 142. -Changed response to citizenship question or a change to the ARN comment code 141. 4
Must be done if: *Student did not pass automated secondary confirmation. *Conflicting information about the immigration status. Student must provide: *Unexpired documentation proving status of eligible noncitizen. I-94 for eligible noncitizens and other documentation such as ARN for permanent residents. 5
Noncitizens who are legally permitted to live and work in the U.S. permanently. Acceptable documentation: -Permanent Resident Card know as form I-551 (since 1997). -Resident Alien Card (before 1997). -Both are known or referred as Green Cards. -Arrival/Departure Record I-94 with the following endorsement: Processed for I-551. Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence. Valid until. Employment Authorized. Eligible for aid if documentation has not expired. Acceptable documentation: -Valid I-551, I-94, I-94A -Passport with MRIV bearing statement Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year. 6
Status continues unless revoked by DHS or until lawful permanent resident status is granted. Acceptable documentation: -Form I-94 or I-94A with stamp showing admission under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). -Old Refugee Travel Document Form I-571 -Newer U.S. Travel Document annotated with Refugee Travel Document Form I-571 Refugees are given indefinite employment authorization. After one year can apply for permanent residence. The status continues unless revoked by DHS or permanent status is granted. Acceptable documentation: - I-94 or I-94A with a stamp showing admission under Section 208 of the INA. - May have same travel documents as Refugees. United States authorizes for indefinite employment. 7
Must provide evidence of having filed a valid permanent resident application from the DHS that hey are in the U.S. for other than temporary purpose and intend to become citizen or permanent resident. Acceptable documentation: -Documentation must have a stamp indicating have been paroled into the United states for at least one year. -Document cannot be expired. All Cuban-Haitian entrants are potentially eligible for Federal Student Aid. Acceptable documentation: -Under certain circumstances, the I-94 will no longer be issued to students who are refugees, asylees, or parolees. -Students without I-94 may have their status confirmed by a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) stamp showing class of admission and date admitted or paroled on their passport. -Document may be expired and still be valid under this category. 8
Refugees who entered the United States under the seventh preference category of P.L. 89-236 or whose status was adjusted to lawful permanent resident alien under this category. Acceptable documentation: --I-94 with a stamp showing Section 203(a)(7) and indicating that the person was admitted to the United States as a conditional entrant. -Document must have been issued prior to March 31, 1980. After this date not eligible for FSA funds. Same eligibility for federal benefits as refugees under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for certifying status. Students will not pass the DHS match and paper secondary confirmation, instead review of the student s certification or eligibility letter from HHS is needed. Verify eligibility and status by calling the Office of Refugee Resettlement at 1-866-401-5510. Retain a copy of letter and document file with date, time and results of confirmation call. Spouse, child or parent of a trafficking victim might be eligible for aid. 9
Victims of domestic violence by their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouses. They may with their designated children, be eligible under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for federal public benefits, including federal student aid. Both men and women may be approved. DHS does not maintain records of immigrants so no match can be conducted. Acceptable documents: -Need to provide with documentation based on their case type: self-petition, suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal. Self-petitioning cases *Immigrant submits and I-360 to USCIS for approval, denial or establishment of case known as prima facie. *Approval or prima facie status makes the student eligible for FSA funds. 10
Approval of a Petition *USCIS provides Form I-797 Notice of Action Form. *A separate I-797 will be issued with name and date of births of children listed by the applicant. Prima Facie Case *Form I-797 may be issued indicating establishment of prima facie case. Status last up to 180 days but may be extended until approval or denial is granted. *Student is eligible for FSA funds until as long as the status does not expired. 11
Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) gives person with at least 50% Native American blood who were born in Canada the legal right to live and word indefinitely in the United States. Student have a social security number and have a valid ARN, must indicate on the FAFSA eligible noncitizens. If DHS match fails G-845 form is submitted for confirmation. If the student does not have an ARN then enter A99999999 and report on the FAFSA eligible noncitizen. Institution needs to have proof of Jay Treaty status Student must provide one or more of the following documents: Band card issued by the Band Council of a Canadian Reserve of by the Department of Indian Affairs in Ottawa Birth or baptism records An affidavit from a tribal official Identification from a recognized Native American provincial or territorial organization. 12
*Person with nonimmigrant visas *Family unit status *Temporary residents *Illegal aliens under the legalization know as amnesty program *Students with Temporary Protected Status *The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) *Students with a withholding or removal order *U-Visa holders G-845 needs to be send to USCIS field office within 10 business days of receiving the student s documentation. Provide the 15-digit DHS verification number printed in the match flag section of the SAR and ISIR in field number three Case Verification Number on the G-845 Form. Photocopies of the front and back sides of the student s immigration document must be attached to G-845. Refer to FSA Handbook Volume 1 Chapter 2- Citizenship 1-33 for full guidance on how to fill out form G-845. 13
Form G-845 Form G-845 14
Form G-845 15
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2015-2016 Federal Student Aid Handbook http://www.ifap.ed.gov/ifap/byawardyear.jsp?type=fsahandbook&awardyear=2015-2016 USCIS http://www.uscis.gov/g-845-supplement Eligible noncitizen and Name Changes- Must be reported to SSA and DHS. DHS update- contact local USCIS office or by calling 1-800-375-5283 SSA update- http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov 21
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