Residency
Information
Forms
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General
Information
Highline
Community College students who are classified as non-residents at
the time of their admission may be eligible to establish residency
for tuition and fee purposes. To be considered for a change in
residency status, students must have resided continuously in the
state of Washington for one year and they must document their intent
to establish Washington as their permanent domicile (residence) at
least twelve months prior to the start of the quarter for which they
are applying.
Completed Residency Questionnaire
(PDF) and accompanying documents must be
submitted to the
Admissions and Entry Services Office by the 30th
calendar day of the quarter for which you are applying. If all
documentation required to make a decision has not been submitted by
the deadline, that request will be considered for the following
quarter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’ve paid resident tuition at Highline Community College in the
past and now I'm being asked to fill out these forms. Why do I have
to fill out this questionnaire now?
The
Admissions and Entry Services Office office has received
information that indicates you may not be a resident of Washington
for tuition and fee purposes. The residency questionnaire and your
supporting documents will be used to determine your residency
status.
Q: I’m already registered for classes and I can’t afford to pay
non-resident tuition. Will my classes get dropped for non-payment?
Once you turn in your completed residency questionnaire and
documents, your residency status will be coded as "undetermined."
Your classes will be held if you pay the resident portion of your
tuition. If you pay non-resident tuition and are later determined to
be a resident, you will receive a refund of any payments above
resident tuition.
Q: I have pending Financial Aid, but they won’t cover my tuition
until my residency status is determined. I can’t afford to pay the
resident portion of my tuition and wait to be reimbursed. Will my
classes be dropped?
Check with
Financial Aid
to find out whether a "hold" code can be
place on your record so that your classes will not be dropped while
your residency status is undetermined. If Financial Aid is unable to
put a hold on your classes, we will usually be able to hold your
classes for a limited period of time.
Q: Can I sign up for the STEPP payment plan while my residency
status is undetermined?
No. We may be able to put a hold on your classes until your
status is determined and you are able to sign up for
STEPP. (Keep in
mind that STEPP payments are due on predetermined dates, no matter
when you sign up.)
Q: I just moved to Washington, but my parents have lived here for
more than a year. Am I considered a resident?
That depends. In order to be considered a resident under these
circumstances, you must provide proof of dependence upon your parent(s) AND your parent(s) must be able to establish residency
based on a review of the documents requested in the Residency
Questionnaire and Instructions.
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Q: My spouse has lived in Washington for over a year, but I moved
here less than a year ago. We own our house together and file taxes
jointly. Am I a considered a resident?
No. If you are independent, you must physically reside in
Washington for at least twelve months before we can consider you for
resident status.
Q: If my spouse is active military stationed in Washington, am I a
resident?
Yes. You must show proof in the form of military ID/military
orders.
Q: I moved to Washington over a year ago, but it took some time to
change my driver’s license/vehicle registration/bank account/voter’s
registration and to get a new job/apartment/house. Do I have to wait
more than a year before I can pay resident tuition?
Yes. Before you can be eligible for resident tuition rates, you
must be able document your intent to establish a permanent residence
in Washington. Regardless of when you arrived in Washington, the
twelve-month period begins after all steps have been taken to
establish WA as your home.
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Q: What documents do I need to provide in order to prove that I am a
WA resident?
No single factor or specific combination of factors will
guarantee eligibility for resident status. However, all of the
following are the minimum required by the state in order to prove
residency:
-
Tax returns for the previous year, filed in Washington
-
Lease, home purchase agreement, or notarized letter from landlord
-
WA driver’s license or WA ID
-
WA vehicle registration
-
WA bank account
-
WA voter’s registration
-
For non-citizens, documentation of immigrant status
Q: What happens if I don’t have all of the required documents or if
some of them are less than twelve months old?
The
Admissions and Entry Services staff will work with you to
determine whether another document can be substituted for a missing
or deficient document.
Q: What should I do if I have most of the required documents but I
never got my WA driver’s license (/registered my car here/registered
to vote)?
Get your license or register immediately.
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Q: When do the Residency Questionnaire and required documents need
to be submitted?
Completed Residency Questionnaire and accompanying documents must
be submitted to the
Admissions and Entry Services Office by the 30th
calendar day of the quarter for which you are applying. If all
documentation required to make a decision has not been submitted by
the deadline, that request will be considered for the following
quarter.
Q: I am not a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S. but I have
lived in Washington for more than one year. Am I eligible for
resident tuition rates?
Effective July 1, 2003, Washington state law, under HB1079,
allows certain non-citizens and non-permanent residents to be
considered for resident tuition IF certain conditions are met.
Please see the WA Higher Education Residency Affidavit/
Declaration/Certification page for specific requirements.
Effective July 1, 2003, individuals who are not permanent residents
or citizens of the United States, may be eligible to pay resident
tuition rates. To qualify for resident status, individuals must
complete the WA Higher Education Residency Affidavit/
Declaration/Certification form if they are not permanent residents
or citizens of the United States but have met the following
conditions:
1. Resided in Washington State for the three years immediately prior
to receiving a high school diploma, and completed the full senior
year at a Washington high school,
or
2. Completed the equivalent
of a high school diploma and resided in Washington State for
the three years immediately before receiving the equivalent
of the diploma
and
Continuously resided in the State since earning the high school
diploma or its equivalent.
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Last updated:
November 18, 2008
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