Policy - Identity Verification

To reduce fraud in the federal financial aid programs, students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be selected by the Department of Education for an identity verification process. The Department of Education may select the student at the time of the FAFSA submission, or at any time in the financial aid process. Selected students must complete the procedure below before their eligibility for federal student aid can be determined by GW and aid disbursed to the student’s account. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will be in contact via the student’s GW email and GWeb for anyone who needs to complete the identify verification process.

In-Person Verification (Preferred)

Students must visit the GW Student Services Hub on the Ground Floor in the University Student Center in person and present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as:
•    Driver’s license
•    State-issued ID
•    Passport

An institutionally approved university official will verify the student’s identity and make a copy of the ID for our records. The copy will include the date the ID was reviewed and the name and title of the official who verified it.

Remote Verification via Video Call

If the student is unable to appear in person because they are not local to the DC area, they may complete identity verification through a secure video call.
To do this, the student must:

• Show a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID on the video call.
• Allow the GW representative to clearly view the ID.
• The university will take a screenshot or maintain a copy of the ID that includes:
  o    Legible details of the ID
  o    The date of the video call
  o    The name of the GW official who reviewed the ID

This video call replaces the previous Verification of Identity and Educational Purpose (ISEP) process where the student submitted a notarized ISEP Form along with a copy of their ID. Students who already submitted a notarized copy must now also complete this process as schools are no longer allowed to use the ISEP Form to disburse federal aid starting with Fall 2025.

To schedule remote verification, contact the GW Student Services Hub.