CHANGE OF RESIDENCY STATUS
Change of Residency or reclassification procedures apply to any student who attended UWF within the last three semesters and is requesting a change to his or her residency status. A student who has been enrolled, while classified as a ?non-Florida resident for tuition purposes? and wishes to be considered for reclassification as a ?Florida resident for tuition purposes,? should file with the Office of the Registrar a ?Request for Change of Residency? form, with copies of full documentation attached. The request and documentation must be submitted one week prior to the first day of classes for any given semester.

This request for reclassification is also required for students who are active duty or discharged members of the Armed Forces who wish to change from non-Florida or temporary Florida resident to Florida resident status.

Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence. An individual must be able to demonstrate that his/her activities in Florida during the qualifying period are not primarily student related. Residency in Florida must be for the purpose of establishing a permanent home and not merely incidental to enrollment at an institution of higher education. University residence halls, fraternities, sororities, scholarship houses, and other UWF campus addresses are not permanent addresses for residency purposes. The burden of proof of permanent residence lies with the student.

Students who depend on out-of-state parent(s) or guardian(s) for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents or guardians. These students will not be reclassified as Florida residents for tuition purposes.

DETERMINATION OF DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT STATUS
Definitions
The determination of dependent or independent status is important because it is the basis for whether the student has to submit his/her own documentation of residency (as an independent) or his/her parent?s or guardian?s documentation of residency (as a dependent). The following definitions are provided in rule:

Independent Student. A student who meets any one of the following criteria shall be classified as an independent student for the determination of residency for tuition purposes:

1. 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;
2. The student is married;
3. The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student;
4. The student has other dependents who live with and receive more than half of their support from the student;
5. 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;
6. Both of the student?s parents are deceased or the student is or was (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court;
7. The student is working on a master?s or doctoral degree during the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution; or
8. The student is classified as an independent by the financial aid office at the institution.

Evidence that the student meets one of these criteria will be requested by the higher education institution.

A student who does not meet one of the criteria outlined above may be classified as an independent student only if he or she submits documentation that he or she provides fifty (50) percent or more of the cost of attendance for independent, in-state students as defined by the financial aid office at the institution (exclusive of federal, state, and institutional aid or scholarships).

Dependent Student. All other students who do not meet the above definition of an independent student shall be classified as dependent students for the determination of residency for tuition purposes.

RESIDENCY DOCUMENTATION
In addition to being a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or legal alien granted indefinite stay by INS, a student must provide the following documentation one week prior to the first day of classes for any given semester:

1. Documentation of independent status (petitioners required to evidence their independent status will be required to submit a copy of their current IRS return as well as their parents? current IRS return to establish they are not claimed as dependents), or
   
   Documentation of dependent status and documentation that your parent, legal guardian (court appointed), or adult relative (resided with for 5 years), has resided in the state of Florida for the previous 12 months with the intent of establishing a permanent home (requires copy of current IRS return from parent, legal guardian or adult relative and the residency statement and supporting documentation submitted will be that of the parent, etc.), or
   
   Documentation of being the spouse of someone who has resided in the state of Florida for the previous 12 months with the intent of establishing a permanent home (requires the marriage certificate, the residency statement and supporting documentation of the spouse, plus a photo copy of the student?s Florida driver?s license, voter registration, or vehicle registration); and
2. Documentation establishing legal residence in Florida (must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which resident status is sought):
   1. 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, or
   2. 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
3. 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 even though no single criteria will be considered as conclusive evidence of domicile:
   1. Florida voter registration,
   2. Florida driver?s license,
   3. Florida vehicle registration,
   4. Proof of real property ownership in Florida (e.g., deed, tax receipts),
   5. Florida occupational license,
   6. Declaration of Domicile,
   7. Letter on company letterhead from an employer verifying permanent employment in Florida for the 12 consecutive months before classes begin,
   8. Proof of membership in or affiliation with com
   munity or State organizations or significant connections to the State,
   9. Proof of reliance upon Florida sources of support, or
   10. Any other factors peculiar to the individual which tend to establish the necessary intent to make Florida a permanent home and that the individual is a bona fide Florida resident, including the age and general circumstances of the individual.
4. No contrary evidence establishing or maintaining residence elsewhere.

SPECIAL CATEGORIES FOR TEMPORARY FLORIDA RESIDENCY

1. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Florida and their spouse and dependents.
2. Full-time instructional or administrative employees of Florida public schools, community colleges, or institutions of higher education and their spouse and dependents.