What is EVEA?
The State of Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requires state institutions of higher education to verify that anyone seeking a “state public benefit” is either a “United States citizen”, a “qualified alien”, or otherwise “lawfully present” in the United States.
A state public benefit includes in-state tuition, lottery scholarships, academic scholarships, common market, or any other form of tuition assistance or waiver supported with funds from a Tennessee government entity. State public benefits do not include tuition assistance funded privately, such as a scholarship from the institution’s foundation or a privately endowed scholarship.
In short, without EVEA verification, a student will not be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates or most ETSU scholarships.
Please click here to view ETSU's policy for verifying status in accordance with the law.
How Do I Meet this Requirement?
For many students, the quickest way to verify is listed here.
If you don't have these documents, scroll further down for a full listing of all acceptable
documentation.
Some students may not need to verify--check the next section.
Tennessee Residents:
- Email a scan or clear photo of your TN driver license or your passport to documents@etsu.edu
Out-of-State Residents:
- Email a scan or clear photo of both your out-of-state driver license and your birth certificate; OR submit a scan or clear photo of your passport to documents@etsu.edu
If you prefer, you may alternatively hand deliver to Undergraduate Admissions in 106
Burgin Dossett Hall or mail a physical copy to the address below:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
East Tennessee State University
P.O. Box 70731
Johnson City, TN 37614
Which students are not subject to EVEA verification?
ETSU does not have to verify citizenship or lawful presence of students who:
- Are under 18 years of age and have not graduated from high school and are applying as dual enrollment students, joint enrollment students, or academically gifted and talented students
- Have not applied to receive in-state tuition, or a scholarship, grant, loans, tuition or fee waiver, or other financial assistance which is subsidized or paid in whole or in part with state funds
- Are employed by ETSU and have had their lawful presence verified through the federal E-Verify program or have completed a valid I-9
- Have had their lawful presence verified through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) (e.g., M-1 and F-1 Student Visa Holders)
Full List of Acceptable Verification Documents
This is a full listing of documents that may be submitted for EVEA Verification. Documents must be valid and unexpired to verify lawful presence:
- Tennessee Driver’s License or Identification License (temporary versions are not acceptable).
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) with ID picture.
- U.S. Passport.
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (N560 or N561).
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization. (N550, N570, or N578)
- U.S. citizen identification card (I-197, I-179).
- Foreign passport with visa stamped “Processed for I-551”.
- Non-Resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card.
- Permanent Resident Re-Entry Permit (I-327).
- Refugee Travel Document (I-571).
- Foreign passport with valid visa in category that permits study at an institution of higher education.
OR
One of the following documents together with a valid, government issued picture ID including a regular driver’s license, temporary driver’s license, government issued DL/ID card from any U.S. state, or Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766):
- Permanent Resident card without ID picture (I-551).
- Official birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction, or territory; except for Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010.
- U.S. government-issued certified birth certificate.
- U.S. certificate of birth abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545).
- Reprint of birth abroad of a citizen of the U.S (FS-240)
- Arrival/Departure Record (I-94).
- Notice of Approval of status with bottom I-94 portion attached (I-797).
How does Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals affect EVEA?
Those who are granted "deferred action" status are eligible for work authorization. They can also obtain social security cards, work authorization cards and, in some states, driver licenses. This deferred action status does NOT confer "lawful presence" status under federal law or Tennessee state law. Specifically, "deferred action status" does NOT satisfy the requirement of "lawful presence" under the EVEA.