NIACC Welcomes Jay Treaty Eligible Students / First Nations and Native Americans Entering the U.S.

The Jay Treaty, signed in 1794 between Great Britain and the United States, provides that American Indians may travel freely across the international boundary. Under the treaty and corresponding legislation, Native Indians born in Canada are entitled to freely enter the United States for the purpose of employment, study, retirement, investing, and/or immigration.

In order to qualify for these privileges, eligible persons must provide:

1. Provide evidence of American Indian background at the port of entry:
   • The documentation must be sufficient to show the bearer is at least 50% of the American Indian race. Generally, such evidence would include either an identification card from the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs or a written statement from an official of the tribe from which you or your ancestors originate, substantiated by documentary evidence (tribe records and civil long form birth certificate bearing the names of both parents). Such a statement would be on the tribe’s official letterhead and should explicitly state what percentage American Indian blood you or your parents possess, based on official records.
   • You should also provide photographic identification, such as: a driver’s license or passport, and a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant travel document. WHTI makes special provisions for First Nation travelers.
2. Apply for Admission to NIACC, as a domestic student
3. Complete the NIACC Enrollment Checklist
4. Apply for US Federal Financial Aid thru the FAFSA application
   • Contact the NIACC Financial Aid Office for an appointment to help you file the FAFSA, there are certain criteria you must meet and much easier to walk thru the application with a financial aid expert. 
     NIACC Financial Aid Office
     Pierce Administration Building, Room: 102
     Phone: 1-888-466-4222 Ext. 4168
     Fax: 641-422-4167
     Email: finaid@niacc.edu
5. Documentation of the applicability of Jay Treaty status for an applicant can be accomplished by the student providing one or more of the following documents:
   • A “band card” issued by the Band Council of a Canadian Reserve, or by the Department of Indian Affairs in Ottawa.
   • Birth or baptism records.
   • An affidavit from a tribal official or other person knowledgeable about the applicant’s or recipient’s family history.
   • Identification from a recognized Native American provincial or territorial organization.

Awarding Financial Aid: If a Canadian-born Native American with at least 50% Indian blood can provide one of the above forms of documentation, and meets other Title IV eligibility criteria, the NIACC Financial aid office, after documenting the student’s file, can award Title IV financial aid.

For more information or questions contact:

Valeria Gonzalez
NIACC Admissions
Enrollment Advisor for Diverse Populations
valeria.gonzalez@niacc.edu
641-422-4075 office
970-623-9530 cell
+19706239530 WhatsApp