Reclassification of residency for Tuition Purposes

Transcription

1 Reclassification of residency for Tuition Purposes General Information A student applying to Florida A&M University must complete a residency form or affidavit in order to declare Florida residency for tuition purposes. An initial determination of in-state or outof-state residency status is made by the Admissions Office for tuition purposes. This status determination remains in effect until an application for reclassification is submitted by the student to the Registrar s Office and is approved. Who Qualifies? To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, the student (dependent or independent) must be a 1. U.S. Citizen, or 2. Permanent resident alien or a legal alien granted indefinite stay by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (This is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States) and 3. Person who established physical and legal residence in Florida for at least one year. Evidence of legal residence and its duration shall include clear and convincing documentation that residency in this state was for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to a student s initial enrollment in an institution of higher education (F. S ). Students who do not meet this requirement cannot be classified as residents for tuition purposes. Determination of Status - Independent or Dependent An independent student will be required to submit his or her own documentation of residency while a dependent student will be required to submit his or her parent s, spouse s, or legal guardian s documentation of residency. Independent Student A person who meets any one of the following criteria shall be classified as an independent student for the determination of residency for tuition purposes: The student is 24 years of age or older by the first day of classes of the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution. The student is married. The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student. The student has other dependents who live with and receive more than half of their support from the student. The student is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces or is currently serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces for purposes other than training.

2 Both of the student s parents are deceased or the student is or was (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court or in foster care. The student is working on a master s or doctoral degree during the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution The student is classified as an independent student by the Financial Aid Office. The student is homeless as determined by the student s high school or school district liaison. The student is a foster care/ward of the court as determined by a court in the student s state of legal residence. Student submits documentation that he or she provides fifty (50) percent or more of the cost of attendance as defined by the financial aid office (federal, state, and institutional aid or scholarships are not included) for independent, in-state students. Clear and convincing evidence must be submitted to Florida A&M University. Dependent Student All other students who do not meet the above definition of an independent student shall be classified as dependent students for determination of residency for tuition purposes. Residency Documentation Documentation establishing legal residence in Florida by one of two means (must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which resident status is sought) Proof of purchase of a permanent home in Florida in which the student has resided for at least one year prior to the first day of classes Proof that the student has maintained residence in Florida for the preceding year (e.g., rent receipts, canceled checks or notarized statement from a landlord); AND Establishment of Domicile Documentation establishing bona fide domicile in Florida which is not temporary or merely incidental to enrollment in a Florida institution of higher education must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which resident status is sought. The following documents will be considered evidence of domicile; Note: No single criteria will be considered as conclusive evidence of domicile: Florida voter s registration card. Florida driver s license. State of Florida identification card. Florida vehicle registration. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual s parent if the individual is a dependent child. Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.

3 Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period. No Contradicting Evidence Students should not have conflicting evidence establishing or maintaining residence elsewhere. Exception Categories for Temporary Florida Residency Applicants who do not meet the 12-month requirement may qualify for temporary in-state status by qualifying under an exception category Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Florida and their spouse and dependents or military personnel not stationed in Florida whose home of record or state of legal residence certificate DD Form 2058 is Florida. (Present a copy of DD 2058, military orders, military identification, and leave & earning statement.) Married to a legal Florida resident and intend to make Florida a permanent home. (Present a copy of your marriage license and applicable documents for Florida spouse.) Full-time instructional or administrative employees of Florida public schools, community colleges, or institutions of higher education or their spouse and dependents (Present official letter from appropriate personnel from institution of employment and proof of relationship.) Part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship Program. Receive a scholarship from the U.S. Government (federal) or Florida state government. The student must attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. (Offer letter and Student Award Notification.) Qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-Paid College Program. (Present a copy of the current Florida Prepaid recipient card.) Full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training. Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market graduate student. (Certification letter from State Coordinator required) McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens. United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enroll in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate. Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed. Active duty members of a foreign nation s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children,

4 attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed. Change of Residency Status A person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education. Such documentation may include but not limited to evidence of full-time permanent employment for the prior 12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an institution of higher education. For more details please access the Florida Statutes website at Procedures Students must submit completed application no later than the published last day to be considered for in-state status for that semester or session. Please see the university academic calendar for specific dates. Step 1: To apply for reclassification you must have attended Florida A&M University for at least one semester. You may apply during your first semester if an error/omission was made in the initial determination. Step 2: Download and complete the RESIDENCY RECLASSIFICATION FOR TUITION PURPOSES FORM. This form will be submitted to the Registrar s office with your supporting documentations. Step 3: Obtain all supporting documentation: No single document will be considered as conclusive Florida voter s registration card. Florida driver s license. State of Florida identification card. Florida vehicle registration. Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual s parent if the individual is a dependent child. Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida. Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months. Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.

5 Supporting documents for temporary in-state status by qualifying under an exception category include Present a copy of DD 2058, military orders, military identification, and leave & earning statement. Married to a Legal Florida resident and intend to make Florida a permanent home. (Present a copy of your marriage license and applicable documents for Florida spouse.) Official letter from appropriate personnel from institution of employment and proof of relationship for Full-time instructional or administrative employees of Florida public schools, community colleges, or institutions of higher education or their spouse and dependents Offer letter for part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship Program. The student must attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. A current copy of the Florida Prepaid recipient card for qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-Paid College Program. Official letter from appropriate personnel for Full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training. Certification letter from State Coordinator required for Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market graduate student. Offer letter for McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens. Official letter from appropriate personnel for United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enroll in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate. Official letter from appropriate personnel for Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed. Official letter from appropriate personnel for Active duty members of a foreign nation s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed. Step 4: Submit the completed and signed form to Residency Staff (Room 103 FHAC) or scan and to registrar@famu.edu (original documents may be requested for review) Your submission will be reviewed by the Residency Staff, and you will be notified of your determined eligibility.