Forms for New Students
Certification Process for New Students
Every student (veteran, service member, or dependent) must provide the following documents during their initial intake. Submissions can be done via email, fax, or in-person. A secure drop-box located directly outside of the office is also available for after-hours submissions.
Submit one of the following documents from this list. Submission is only required once.
- Copy 4 of DD-214 (dependents will need to provide their sponsor's DD-214), or
- Notice of Basic Eligibility for Reservists (NOBE), or
- Statement of Service, or other equivalent
You may provide 1-2 documents, depending on which benefit/s you are eligible for. Submission is only required once*.
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (for Chapter 30, 33, 35, or 1606),
- Eligibility Letter from ISAC (for IVG, ING*, or MIA/POW),
- VR&E Participants: Email veterans@neiu.edu and provide the full name of your VR&E counselor along with any other required forms.
Helpful links:
Download or Request your VA Education Letter
ISAC Student Portal - Applications & Status Checks
*Students using the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant must re-apply for the grant annually. A new eligibility letter is required every academic year and a copy should be sent to the Veterans Services Office. Students must submit an application through the ISAC Student Portal, applications for the upcoming academic are typically available on the portal by mid-July.
All students must complete the Veteran Request for Certification (VRC) Form every semester that they would like to use education benefits.
The VRC form can be submitted once you register for classes, but it must be received no later than the first 30 days of classes. Earlier submissions are highly encouraged to prevent processing delays.
Submissions after the 30-day submission window may not be able to be processed due to federal and state processing deadlines.
Additionally, certain students must also complete the Academic Advising Verification form every semester that they intend to use one of the federal benefits* listed below. VA education benefits will only cover classes that count towards a degree requirement, and this form acts as confirmation of that requirement.
The form must be signed off by an academic advisor in order to be considered complete.
This form should also be submitted within the first 30 days of classes along with the Veteran Request for Certification (VRC) form.
Federal Education Benefits
- Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty
- Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve
- Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- VA Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
- Tuition Assistance: Army IgnitED
- VA Fry Scholarship
- Chapter 35: DEA
*Students using Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits do not need to submit the Advising Verification form since VR&E counselors give final approval for covered courses. Students who only use a state education benefit (IVG, MIA/POW Scholarship, etc.) do not need to submit this form, the VRC form is sufficient.
Email Submissions - Best Practices
All email submissions should be sent to the Veterans Services inbox: veterans@neiu.edu
PDF files are preferred, but pictures of documents are acceptable as long as the images are legible.
In your subject line, be sure to include the term that you are submitting forms for (ex. "New Student: Fall 2026 Forms").
Make sure to include your NEIU Student ID number within your message.
Double check that your forms are filled out correctly before sending. If we spot an error or have a question, we will need to contact you before proceeding with your certification.