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Verification

Verification is the process of confirming that information reported by the student and parent(s) or spouse on the FAFSA is accurate. Each year, approximately 30 percent of student applicants are randomly selected by the federal processor for verification. A student may also be selected by the university. If selected for verification, students will initially be notified on their Student Aid Report. In addition, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify the student via alerts on their myUMBC account if necessary documentation is needed.

Verification of Income Data

If you are selected for the verification process, our office will send you an email and post alerts on your myUMBC account specifying the documents required. Many students will have the option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to satisfy the requirement for tax data.

When all necessary documentation is received, our office will compare the submitted paperwork to the information provided on the FASFA. If there are any discrepancies, our office will make the corrections and you will receive notification if your financial aid has changed. The revised awards will be available on your myUMBC account.

Occasionally, our office must request additional documentation because the originally submitted documents do not provide all of the necessary information to complete the verification process. In these situations, you will be notified via e-mail that additional documentation needs to be submitted to our office.

Verification of Citizenship Status

If your citizenship status is not verified by the Department of Homeland Security when you initially complete your FAFSA, you will be required to submit documentation verifying your citizenship status to our office. One of the following original documents must be brought to our office, mailed or faxed copies are unacceptable.

If you are an U.S. citizen born in the United States, examples of acceptable documentation include:
  • Your birth certificate
  • Your U.S. passport

If you are a U.S. citizen born outside the United States, examples of acceptable documentation include:
  • Your Certificate of Citizenship
  • Your U.S. passport
  • Your Certificate of Naturalization

If you are an eligible non-citizen, examples of acceptable documentation include:
  • Your Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551 or I-151)
  • Your passport stamped, "Processed for I-551 . . . valid until ___"
  • Your Departure Record (I-94)

Verification of Selective Service Status

Federal law requires that all male U.S. citizens (regardless of where they live), and male immigrants residing in the United States (permanent resident aliens), must be registered within 30 days of their 18th birthday. For more information on how to register, visit the Selective Service website.

Men born after December 31, 1960, who are not registered with Selective Service, are not eligible for federal, state, or institutional grants or loans. If your Selective Service registration is not verified upon completion of the FAFSA our office will request documentation of registration. Acceptable documents include a copy of your Selective Service Registration Card, print out confirmation page from the Selective Service website, or a Registration Status Letter from Selective Service.