In order to register for classes, you must clear any holds on your Student Account. Please check for holds in Athena by going to Student > Student & Registration > Registration > Prepare for Registration > Fall 2024. Any holds will be listed under Registration Status.

Academic Advisement

J.D. and M.S.L. students please email Brandi Saunders, Enrollment Management Specialist, bsaundrs@uga.edu, and she will let our Registrar's office know to clear the hold.

LL.M. students please email Mandy Dixon, International Professional Education Assistant, mandy.dixon@uga.edu and she will clear the hold.

Verification of Lawful Presence (VLP)

Based on requirements from the Board of Regents of The University System of Georgia, admission to UGA is contingent upon the verification of a student’s lawful presence (VLP) in the United States. Prior to enrollment, all admitted students must have their presence verified. This process varies based upon whether you are a domestic or international student.

Please note you are not required to submit all of the documents listed below. You can select from one of the following categories to fulfill your VLP requirement.​

Accepted Documents for Domestic Students (including Permanent Residents)

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    • Students who are either a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen for federal student aid purposes can submit a FAFSA. For citizenship confirmation purposes, UGA will need to receive your processed FAFSA data from the U.S. Department of Education confirming your citizenship status by May 1. UGA will receive notification of this at the same time that you will know by receipt of the electronic Acknowledgement Form from the U.S. Department of Education, which is usually 3-5 days following your electronic submission of the FAFSA or approximately 3 weeks following a paper FAFSA submission.
    • If you do not submit a FAFSA or the FAFSA process does not confirm your citizenship status, you will need to provide us with other citizenship documentation.
  • ​The following can be scanned and emailed to Brandi Saunders, bsaundrs@uga.edu, through SendFiles, and she will let our Registrar's office know to clear the hold. You will use your new UGA MyID and password to sign-in to SendFiles.
    • Driver's License/State ID
      • We are able to accept driver’s licenses and state IDs from the states listed below. Please note: Only unexpired licenses and state-issued IDs with the REAL ID symbol may be accepted. Licenses and IDs marked “Not for REAL ID Purposes,” “Federal Limits Apply,” or similar will not be accepted. Temporary/interim driver’s licenses and/or IDs (paper copy provided until the official DL/ID card is generated) cannot be accepted.
        • Alabama
        • Alaska
        • California
        • Delaware
        • Florida
        • Georgia
        • Idaho
        • Iowa
        • Kentucky
        • Louisiana
        • Maryland
        • Missouri
        • Montana
        • Nevada
        • North Carolina
        • Ohio
        • Oklahoma
        • South Carolina
        • Tennessee
        • Texas
        • Vermont
        • Virginia (front and back of card needed)
        • Wisconsin
    • Passport
      • We will accept a current U.S. passport with an expiration date after the first day of your initial term (photocopy must include the photo page and the following page).
    • Green Card Holders/Permanent Residents
      • Green Card holders should plan to submit a front and back copy of their Green Card to fulfill their VLP.
    • Green Card Applicants
      • If you are in the process of obtaining permanent legal residency, please plan to submit all documentation related to this process. This would include, but not limited to, an Employment Authorization Document, the form I-485 or your I-94 departure record.
    • Other Miscellaneous Documents
      • A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570)
      • A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561)
      • Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or 551)
  • Military ID presented in person (service members only, not valid for dependents. Scans, photocopies, or faxes will not be accepted) to Brandi Saunders, School of Law Office of Admissions Room 237.
  • Clear and complete copies of Original and Certified US Birth Certificates may be accepted by mail or electronically for the purpose of verifying US lawful presence. The copy must be of “an original or certified birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal”. The copy must very clearly show the raised or written seal to be acceptable. Copies that are not clear or do not show the seal cannot be accepted.
    • Please do not scan or fax these documents, as they will not be usable. This must be delivered or mailed to the Office of Admissions at this address:
      • University of Georgia School of Law
        Attn: Office of Admissions, Brandi Saunders
        225 Herty Drive
        Athens, GA 30602
    • We are not able to return these documents.

Accepted Documents for International Students

The law school registrar is not able to clear the VLP hold for International Students.

All new and transfer nonimmigrant international students must check-in with the Office of Global Engagement, Immigration Services. The check-in process is completely online. New students will receive an email with instructions about how to check-in 30 days before the start of their program. Check-in cannot be completed until you are in the U.S.  You will receive an email from the Office of Global Engagement with a link to the online check-in form and login information. You will be required to upload the following documents into the online form: Passport, U.S. Visa and entry stamp, I-94 document. Please contact the Office of Global Engagement by phone at 001-706-542-2900 or by email at immigration@uga.edu if you have any questions.

Health Immunization

You can go directly to the University Health Center if you are in town or you can contact them at (706) 542-1162. You can also refer to our Immunization Forms page for more information.

Student Accounts Acknowledgement

You can clear this hold in Athena by going to Student > Student Records > Clear Student Accounts Acknowledgement Hold.

Contact Information

You can clear this hold in Athena by going to Student > Student Records > Clear Contact Information Hold. Detailed Contact Information Hold instructions from the University's Registrar office.