I was not asked for any documents. Not one. D’s SSN was correctly changed to ‘citizen’ status years ago, she has a C of C and a passport, but no one asked for them. There was no problem with the FAFSA filing online and it was processed just as her sister’s was (born in the US). If the school asked for a birth certificate as part of the application (I don’t remember but I don’t think so), D’s says ‘certificate of foreign birth and NOT proof of citizenship’ right on the document. My sending it to a school would prove nothing. Well, it would prove she was born I guess.
A school cannot look at your adoption documents and a birth certificate and determine that your child is now a citizen and eligible for federal benefits under the Child Citizenship Act. Did the child enter on a IR-3 visa? An IR-4? Does the FA office have any idea of the difference? Only Homeland Security and the state department (through a passport agency) can do that. Even the SSA cannot determine citizenship and SSA will not change status to ‘citizen’ without one of those two agencies giving proof, through a passport or Certificate of Citizenship, that the person is now a citizen. Yes, I’m sure there are SSA clerks who have done it, but it is not allowed by law, and I know 100 people who stood at the SSA office with a copy of the documents and a copy of the Act and the status was not changed, even after a lot of shouting and tears. Period. The school can look at the [BOLD]original[/BOLD] C of C or passport to affirm citizenship if the SSN is not showing the correct status through the FAFSA ID, but looking at the adoption papers and birth certificate (or copies) will not comply with federal financial aid regulations.
It is not correct that all internationally adopted children automatically become citizens when they arrive in the US or when they are adopted. It depends on what type of visa they entered the US under, and whether the adoption was finalized in the birth country or needs state action in the US. That’s why only Homeland security or State Dept can interpret documents to prove citizenship.