Upload Instructions for Pre-Req to Verify Your Legal Presence:


In order to enroll, state law requires that you must verify your citizenship or lawful presence in the United States by attesting to your lawful legal presence in the United States AND submitting government-issued identification. Greenville Technical College also works to verify your residency and dependent status as a part of this process. The disclosures on these items are found below.

Under your course pre-req, click UPLOAD to submit a photo of your current valid government-issued photo ID (unexpired DMV issued driver’s license/beginners permit or state ID or CDL) OR a photo of the data/photo page of your United States passport. All uploaded photos of identification should be clear, and show the full identification document as large as possible. Please note: if you are using a state driver’s license that is NOT a real ID, you will be asked to submit additional documentation.

Instructions for non-citizens are listed below the legal presence disclosures.

Legal Presence in the United States
As of June 4, 2008, the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (S. C. Code Ann. §59-101-430 (Westlaw 2008)) prohibits those unlawfully present in the United States from attending a public institution of higher education in South Carolina and from receiving a public higher education benefit:

An alien unlawfully present in the United States is not eligible to attend a public institution of higher learning in this State, as defined in Section 59-103-5.  The trustees of a public institution of higher learning in this State shall develop and institute a process by which lawful presence in the United States is verified.  In doing so, institution personnel shall not attempt to independently verify the immigration status of any alien but shall verify any alien’s immigration status with the federal government pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1373©.

An alien unlawfully present in the United States is not eligible on the basis of residence for a public higher education benefit including, but not limited to, scholarships, financial aid, grants, or resident tuition.

State of Legal Residence
Greenville Technical College (GTC) determines student residency status in accordance with the South Carolina Code of Laws, Sections 59-112-10 through 59-112-100. Residency classification directly impacts tuition and fee assessment and is initially determined based on information provided at the time of application for admission. Documentation will be requested to confirm the residency, and initial determination will remain in effect for subsequent terms unless a change in status is verified and approved. If conflicting documentation or information is provided, the Office of Admissions will notify the applicant and assign a residency classification based on the most accurate available data. The burden of proof for establishing residency lies with the applicant. Residency requires one or more of the following:

  • Statement of full-time employment
  • Designating South Carolina as state of legal residence on military record
  • Possession of a valid South Carolina driver’s license, or if a non-driver, a South Carolina identification card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility
  • Maintenance of domicile in South Carolina
  • Paying South Carolina income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of South Carolina from the date South Carolina domicile was claimed
  • Ownership of principal residence in South Carolina
  • Licensing for professional practice (if applicable) in South Carolina

Dependent and Independent Student Status
When determining dependent or independent status for a student, if a parent, guardian, or spouse provided more than half of the student’s support for the past twelve months, the student is considered dependent, and it is the parent, guardian, or spouse that must meet the residency requirements. A dependent student was claimed as such on a parent’s taxes and/or other coverages such as insurances. To be independent, a student must provide over 50 percent of their total support with earnings coming from his/her own earnings or income from employment, investments, or payments from trusts, grants, scholarships, commercial loans, or payments made in accordance with court order. If the student provided most of the support, then the student may be eligible to apply as independent. An independent student must have his/her own South Carolina domicile. Dormitory housing cannot be used as one’s domicile, as it is temporary in nature.

For non-United States Citizens: 
When completing your student profile, please select that you are a non-US citizen. Complete the questions to the best of your ability, and if you are not able to answer the question, please leave it blank. You will be contacted by Greenville Technical College Personnel to complete a full Declaration of Legal Presence Form and depending on your legal status, one of the forms of identification listed below.
 
Citizenship derived through parent: 
A photo of your Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (USCIS issued Form N-560 or Form N-561) AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 
 
Naturalized Citizen: 
A photo of your Certification of Naturalization (USCIS issued Form N-550 or Form N-570) AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 
 
Permanent Resident: 
A photo of the front and back of your Permanent Residence Card issued since 1997 or Resident Alien Card (I-551) issued before 1997 or Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551) issued before June 1978 AND a copy of a letter from USCIS documenting that permanent resident status has been approved AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 
 
Employment Authorization: 
A photo of the front and back of your Employment Authorization Card or Approval Letter from USCIS (I797) AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 
 
Visa Holder: 
A photo of your Current/valid Visa AND a photo of the data/photo page of your Passport AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 
 
Refugee/Asylee: 
A photo of your Current/valid Refugee, Asylee, or Parolee documentation AND a photo of your Current Valid Government-Issued Photo ID 


What's Next?

Once we've received your completed legal presence documentation, an email notification will be sent to the email address used in creating your student profile.