Roane State Community College

Tennessee law requires all new students interested in enrolling at a college or university in Tennessee who have completed secondary education regardless of age and those who are dually enrolled in secondary school and a post-secondary institution age eighteen or older to provide proof of their legal presence before state benefits will be provided. To accommodate this law, the Roane State will accept this information once an application is submitted. Failure to provide the information requested will limit Roane State’s ability to award state and/or federal financial aid, and will impact how your tuition and fees will be assessed. This restriction does not impact privately funded scholarships.

If you are a U.S. citizen or possess either a TN driver license or REAL ID from any state, you may verify
your status by presenting one (1) of the following:¹

1. A valid, non-temporary, TN driver license card (including a learner’s permit or restricted driver license), or photo identification card,
2. A valid, non-temporary, driver license, or photo identification card (including a learner’s permit or restricted driver license) issued by any U.S. state, if marked as a REAL ID;
3. A United-States, government-issued certified birth certificate;
4. A valid, unexpired U.S. passport (or Passport Card);
5. An official birth certificate issued by a U.S. State, jurisdiction, or territory; except for Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010;
6. A US certificate of birth abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545);
7. A report of birth abroad of a citizen of the U.S. (FS-240);
8. A certificate of citizenship (N560 or N561);
9. A certificate of naturalization (N550, N570 or N578);
10. A U.S. citizen identification card (1-197, 1-179);
11. Any successor document to items 1 -9 above;
12. A social security number that can be verified with the social security administration; or
13. Other acceptable document, after consultation with TBR Office of General Counsel.
14. For incarcerated individuals, a memo from the TN Department of Corrections (TDOC) confirming verification of U.S. citizenship/lawful presence consistent with T.C.A 4-58-101 et seq.

To establish status as a qualified alien who is lawfully present in the U.S. (If not a U.S. citizen or do not
possess a TN or Real ID driver license) you may present two (2) of the following:²

1. A valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card;
2. Valid, unexpired Foreign Passport with Visa Stamped "Processed for I-551" (Permanent U.S. Residence);
3. Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit (I-327);
4. Valid, unexpired Employment Authorization Card (EAD);
5. Visa permitting study at an institution of higher education in the U.S.³
6. Arrival/Departure Record for visa classification permitting study at an institution of higher education in the U.S.;⁴
7. Notice of Approval of Status for visa classification permitting study at an institution of higher education in the U.S., with bottom I-94 portion attached (Form I-797)⁵;
8. Refugee travel document (I-571);
9. Asylum (I-94 stating asylum granted for period of 1 year to indefinitely)
10. Valid unexpired Foreign Passport with a valid Visa in a category that permits study at an institution of higher education;⁶
11. Any other document determined by the US Department of Homeland Security to be acceptable through the SAVE program to establish status as a qualified alien with lawful presence in the U.S. pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §1641(b).⁷

¹If the document presented does not include a picture ID, applicant must submit some form of valid, government issued, picture ID for verification of identity along with the listed document.
²If the documents presented do not include a picture ID, applicant must submit some form of valid, government issued, picture ID for verification of identity along with the listed documents.
³Adults; F, J, M, A, H, and NATO. Minors; All categories except B, C, and D. Consult with TBR Office of General Counsel regarding status of applicants presenting a visa that is derivative of a primary visa holder, generally denoted by a numerical indicator greater than 1.
⁴See footnote 3 above.
⁵See footnote 3 above.
⁶See footnote 3 above.
⁷Consult with TBR Office of General Counsel if an applicant presents any document that is not listed in this
guidance document to establish that they are a qualified alien, lawfully present in the U.S.