Getting Started with your Veterans GI Bill Benefits
To start using your GI Bill educational benefits, you must be admitted to The University
of the Virgin Islands. If you are a prospective student and you wish to apply to The
University of the Virgin Islands, visit http://admissions.uvi.edu
Important: Time is a key factor in the application process. The Department of Veterans
Affairs requests 30-45 business days (5-9 calendar weeks) to process an application.
However, in some cases, the processing time can take up to a month longer.
Getting Started
I have been...
- Accepted to The University of the Virgin Islands and have applied for GI Bill Educational
Benefits: Once the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved your application for educational
benefits, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility letter stating the type of
benefit awarded and the terms of eligibility under that benefit. A copy of the Certificate
of Eligibility must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar, Certifying Veterans
Official. This document can be faxed to Monifa Potter at (340) 693-1167 or emailed
to mpotter@live.uvi.edu.
- For Dependent/Spouse of a Veteran: A veteran may transfer Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent or spouse
with the approval of the Department of Defense (DoD). Information regarding transfer
of benefits can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairs' website.
- A dependent/spouse of a veteran may receive Chapter 35 Dependents' Education Assistance
with the approval of the Department of Defense (DoD). Dependents'/Spouse of veteran
may apply for benefits online through the Department of Veterans Affair's online application
system(VONAPP) or by mailing a hard copy of the application (Form 22-5490) to the Veterans Affairs Regional Processing Center (RPO), P.O. Box 100022, Decatur,
Georgia 30031-7022. Once the dependent/spouse has been approved, the Department of
Veterans Affairs will send you a Certificate of Eligibility letter stating the type
of benefit awarded and the terms of eligibility under that benefit. A copy of the
Certificate of Eligibility letter must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar,
Certifying Veterans Official.
In Territory Tuition: The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered
a resident, for tuition and fees purposes:
- A Veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill
– Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38, United States
Code, who lives in the Territory of the Virgin Islands while attending the University
of the Virgin Islands (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls
at UVI within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service
of 90 days or more.
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in
the Territory of the Virgin Islands while attending The University of the Virgin Islands
(regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in The University of
the Virgin Islands within three years of the transferor's discharge or release from
a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
- Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
(38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the Territory of the Virgin Islands while attending
The University of the Virgin Islands (regardless of his/her formal State of residence)
and enrolls in The University of the Virgin Islands within three years of the Service
member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90
days or more.
- Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during
regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at UVI. The person
so described must have enrolled in UVI prior to the expiration of the three year period
following discharge, release, or death described above and must be using educational
benefits under either chapter 30 or chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code.
Certification Process
Once your registration schedule has been finalized, you must notify the university's
Veterans Certifying Official. This must be done each semester that you intend to use your GI Bill Educational Benefits.
If you make changes to your registration schedule, you must notify the university's
Veterans Certifying Official. Changes to your schedule may result in delays in receiving
your benefits or cause a debt that you will have to repay to the VA.
Important: Once a student's enrollment has been certified at the VA, the University is required
to return any tuition and fee payments received from the VA if:
- the student drops all courses on or before the first day of the term.
- the student does not attend any classes for which he/she was certified, regardless of the reason for non-attendance.
If courses are withdrawn after the first week of the semester, the student is responsible
for repaying the tuition expenses to the VA.
Types of Veterans Benefits
To determine your best GI Bill Educational Benefit, visit the United States Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Changes in Status
Notify the Veterans Certifying Official under any of these conditions:
- If changes in your enrollment status occur due to an increase or decrease in hours,
please notify Veterans Certifying Official within 30 days.
- As a courtesy, if you decide to stop attending classes for a term or more. Notification
may be made in writing.
- If you change your degree program or major.
- Upon earning 30 credit hours, you must declare a major.
- When your educational benefits have terminated.
- If you have a change of address, notify the federal Department of Veterans Affairs
first, then, Veterans Certifying Official.
For additional information on Veteran services, please visit: http://www.gibill.va.gov/ or http://www.va.gov/
