Citizenship
To be eligible to receive federal, state, or Boston University financial aid you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. You may be required to submit proof of your citizenship status before your financial aid application can be considered complete.
Enter your full legal name on your financial aid (FAFSAThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for state and federal grants, scholarships, and loans. The FAFSA can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website. and CSS Profile™) applications.
Your legal name is typically found on your Social Security Card. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must answer “U. S. Citizen” to the FAFSAThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for state and federal grants, scholarships, and loans. The FAFSA can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website. question “Are you a U.S. citizen?” If you are a U.S. Permanent Resident or other eligible non-citizen, you must answer “Eligible Non-citizen” and then enter your 9-digit USCIS/ Alien Registration Number on the FAFSAThe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for state and federal grants, scholarships, and loans. The FAFSA can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website..
If you receive a request for proof of citizenship, please upload acceptable documentation of your citizenship status in your MyBU Applicant Portal.
Acceptable Documentation for U.S. Citizens
- A copy of your U.S. Passport, signed on the line which reads “Signature of Bearer”
- A copy of your U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or U.S. Certificate of Naturalization. This must be signed in two places: on the photo itself and also on the line which reads “True and Complete Signature of Holder.”
- A copy of your U.S. Passport card.
- If you are a U.S. Citizen who was born in the U.S., you may provide a copy of your Birth Certificate.
- If you were born abroad and at least one parent (adoptive of biological, with legal custody of you) became a U.S. Citizen before you reached the age of 18, you are probably a naturalized citizen under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Nevertheless, to establish eligibility for federal financial aid you must provide a signed U.S. Passport, a U.S. passport card, or a signed U.S. Certificate of Citizenship. If you have applied for but have not yet been issued a U.S. Passport or U.S. Certificate of Citizenship, you must provide a statement attesting to that fact. In that case, you must also submit ALL of the following documents: a written explanation of your status, a copy of your legal parent’s signed U.S. Passport or signed Certificate of Citizenship, and a copy of the front/back of your U.S. Permanent Resident Card, if in your possession. If you enroll at Boston University, either during orientation or your first week of classes, you will be required to present in person your recently obtained signed U.S. Passport or U.S. Certificate of Citizenship.
Acceptable Documentation for U.S. Permanent Residents
- A clear copy of the front and back of your U.S. Permanent Resident Card (not expired).
- A copy of your Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV), which serves as temporary I-551.
Acceptable Documentation for Other Non-citizens
If you are not a U.S. Citizen or US Permanent Resident, but believe you may still be eligible for federal aid, please provide clear copies of as many of the following documents as possible:
– All letters ever received from the Department of Homeland Security (often labeled I-797, I-797A, or I-797C). You may also provide any emails received from the Department of Homeland Security.
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– The photo page of your current and previous foreign passport.
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– All visa stamps for the U.S. in your current and previous passports.
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– All I-94’s and I-94A’s (both current and previous). In addition to providing copies of the paper I-94’s in your passport, it is also advised that you retrieve and print an electronic copy of your I-94 from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
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– Your U.S. Employment Authorization Card.
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– Your Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Resident status.
Once received, the above documents will then be matched with DHS records to verify that you hold a status that makes you eligible for the receipt of federal financial aid. Information on non-U.S. Citizens who qualify for federal student aid may be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Undocumented Students
Undocumented students, and those in DACA or TPS status are not eligible for federal financial aid. In addition, BU Financial Assistance is unable to offer need-based University scholarships or grants to DACA, TPS, or undocumented students.
International Students
International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. In addition, BU Financial Assistance is unable to offer need-based University scholarship or grant aid to international students.
