Admissions

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a special program created by President Obama in 2012 through Executive Order that provides temporary authorization for undocumented persons who arrived as children to the U.S. to remain in the U.S. It defers the action of removing them from the U.S. for a specific period.

During this time, they may study and work in the U.S. One must apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.CIS) for DACA and under current policy, DACA can be renewed every two years.

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
• Came to the U.S. before the age of 16
• Have continuously resided in the U.S. from June 15, 2007, to the present
• Physically present on June 15, 2012
• Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012 or lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012
• Are currently in school, have graduated high school/obtained a GED certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the U.S.
• Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety

*Adapted from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website

If you’re a DACA student and have questions about the application process, please contact admissions counselor Enrique Rangel-Rodriguez at rangelrodrige@vcu.edu. If you have questions about your application, please contact Julie Norman at jfnorman@vcu.edu.

When you’re ready to apply, visit the Apply page.

To be eligible for in-state tuition, an independent student or a dependent student’s parents or spouse must be domiciled in Virginia for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding the first day of classes of a semester. These requirements are set forth by the Code of Virginia, and eligibility is initially determined by the Office of Admissions when a student applies to VCU.

Students who are undocumented or have DACA status may complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application, which will consider Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), undocumented or nonimmigrant students for state and some VCU need-based financial aid programs. 

Qualifying for in-state through the Tuition Equity Provision*

Virginia’s newest in-state tuition provision is reserved for high school completers and is often referred to as the Tuition Equity Provision. Please note that under this provision, the legal status of the parent is immaterial.

The basic provisions require all of the following:

• The student not have a current valid student (F), trainee (H3), exchange visitor (J) or vocational (M) visa
• The student attends at least two years of high school in Virginia
• The student completes high school requirements (high school graduation or complete GED) in Virginia, on or after July 1, 2008
• The student — or if dependent, the dependent student’s parents — file Virginia income taxes for at least two years
• The student register into a Virginia public college or university

* This information is taken directly from the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) website.

Non-U.S. citizens

Citizenship of another country does not automatically disqualify a student from establishing domicile in Virginia because there are numerous conditions under which an eligible alien may legally have the capacity to intend to remain in the U.S. indefinitely.

Review the following resources for more information:

• VCU Office of Records and Registration: Reclassify as an in-state student
• Addendum A of the SCHEV Domicile Guidelines

In order to qualify for federal financial aid, a student must be a U.S Citizen or eligible non-citizen. Virginians who are nonimmigrants, undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file the FAFSA and would like to be considered for state financial aid should submit the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application, which can be found online at schev.edu. Students should complete the VASA application every year by the February 1 priority consideration deadline for the upcoming school year.

The VASA application provides access to state and to some institutional financial aid programs only. The VASA application does not provide access to federal student aid.The VASA allows students who cannot complete the FAFSA to complete an application for state funding.  Students must meet domicile or Tuition Equity Provision requirements to apply. For answers to some frequently asked questions about the VASA, download this PDF from SCHEV.