Verification of Citizenship or Legal Status
Arizona law requires that students who are seeking consideration for in-state tuition status or aid that is funded in part or in whole by state money to provide verification of citizenship, permanent residency or other lawful immigration status.
Acceptable Documents
The following is a list of acceptable documents for proving a student’s citizenship or legal status for purposes of determining eligibility for in-state tuition.
Documents may be faxed, mailed, emailed or submitted in person to the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services at each college of attendance.
Final residency decisions for tuition purposes will be made in accordance with ARS §§15-1801, 15-1802, 15-1802.01, 15-1803 and regulations of the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board (AR 2.2).
United States or Naturalized Citizenship
- Arizona Peace Office Standards & Training (AZPOST) Certification
- Confirmation of citizenship through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Current valid Arizona Motor Vehicle Department Drivers License/Identification Card issued after 1996*
- Driver License issued in another state, territory or possession of the U.S. except per Arizona law for the following states that do not verify lawful presence in the US: Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. A hospital record/certificate and Certified Abstract of Birth are not acceptable.
- Birth Certificate showing birth in the United States, which includes Puerto Rico (on or after January 13, 1941), Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands (on or after January 17, 1917), American Samoa, Swain’s Island, or the Northern Mariana Islands, unless the person was born to foreign diplomats residing in the US. The following are not acceptable documents: a hospital birth certificate or birth record; a short form or abstract birth certificate.
- Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570) issued by USCIS through a federal or state court or through administrative naturalization after December 1990
- Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561) issued by USCIS
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) issued by U.S. State Department
- Certificate of Birth Issued by a Foreign Service Post (FS-545) issued by State Department
- Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350) issued by State Department
- United States Passport or Passport Card, current or expired (unless stamped “Non-citizen National”)
- Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood
- Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth
- United States Military ID Card (active duty, reserve and retired)
- United States Military DD-214
Permanent Resident Alien
- Confirmation of citizenship through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Current valid Arizona Motor Vehicle Department Drivers License/Identification Card issued after 1996*
- Permanent Resident Card (Form I-151 since 1997)
- Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 before 1997)
- Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 issued prior to June 1978)
- Arrival/Departure Record (CP Form I-94 or I-94A) with endorsement “Processed for I-551” if expiration date has not passed
- United States Military ID Card (active duty, reserve and retired)
- United States Military DD-214
Refugee or Asylee
- Confirmation of citizenship through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Current valid Arizona Motor Vehicle Department Drivers License/Identification Card issued after 1996*
- Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571 since 2003)
- I-94 or I-94A with stamp showing admission under Section 207 (refugees) or Section 208 (Asylee) of the Immigration Nationality Act (INA)
Non-Immigrant Alien
- Current valid Arizona Motor Vehicle Department Drivers License/Identification Card issued after 1996*
- Current Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
- Current Non-immigrant Visa
- Current Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) or CBP I-94A for Mexico and Canada
- Current Border Crosser Card (Form DSP-150)
- Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the United States and the FSM or RMI
*The college may require documentation that is in addition to a valid Arizona Driver License/Identification Card to prove citizenship or lawful presence in the United States.
Note: Although some documents may instruct the holder not to photocopy them. The USCIS has advised the Department of Education that these documents and others may be photocopied if done for lawful purposes such as documenting citizenship for the purpose of determining eligibility.