In accordance with S1009.21 Florida Statutes,
Rules 6A-10.044 and 6A-20.003,
Florida Administrative Code, and the Board of
Governors Residency Regulation, the
Office of the Registrar is required to adhere to
specific procedures in making determinations for
residency reclassification for students who were
initially classified as non-Florida.
The burden of proof is on the applicant to
establish, beyond a doubt, permanent and fixed
legal ties to the state of Florida to the
exclusion of any other state. In order to
be considered for reclassification, the
applicant must demonstrate: (1) residency in
Florida for the requisite 12-month period; and
(2) residency in the state was not merely
temporary or incident to enrolling in a college
or university located in Florida. Judgments as to
residency will be made on the basis of all
information provided. No single document shall
be conclusive.
(Things You Need to Know About Residency
Reclassification)
-
Living in Florida for a year or longer
DOES NOT automatically qualify you for
in-state tuition (Florida residency).
-
Under Florida law, there is a difference
between being a “Florida Resident” and being
a “Florida Resident for Tuition Purposes”.
-
To be considered a “Florida Resident for
Tuition Purposes”, you must prove
through official and/or legal documents that
you have moved to Florida permanently and
are not merely living in Florida temporarily
while you attend UWF.
-
Despite the length of time you attend UWF,
you may not qualify for “Florida Residency
for Tuition Purposes”. Applicants who have
been enrolled as a full-time student will
need to substantiate residency in this state
for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide
domicile, rather than for the purpose of
maintaining a mere temporary residence or
abode incident to enrollment in an
institution of higher education.
-
All supporting documents (for example:
driver’s license, vehicle registration,
voter registration card) MUST be
dated 12 complete months prior
to the first day of classes for the
requested reclassification term.
-
Full-time employment is considered one or
more permanent jobs for a minimum of thirty
hours a week.
-
The Registrar’s Office cannot consider
personal justifications for documents not
meeting the 12-month requirement. For
example: “I have one now, but I did not get
a driver’s license when I moved here a year
ago because…” CANNOT be considered.
-
Residential and employment verification show
physical presence only. By themselves they
do not qualify you for Residency
Reclassification. In addition, University
dormitories, fraternities, sororities,
scholarship houses, and other UWF campus
addresses are not considered permanent
addresses for residency purposes.
-
Ties to another state or country will
disqualify you from Residency
Reclassification.
-
Evidence that you are the financial
dependent of an out-of-state resident will
disqualify you from Residency
Reclassification.
-
Full-time students working part-time jobs or
not working at all may have difficulty in
establishing residency.
A student who has been classified as a
"non-resident for tuition purposes" at the
time of initial application to the
University and wishes to be considered for
reclassification as a "Florida resident for
tuition purposes", shall file a "Request for
Change of Residency Status" form, with
copies of full documentation as requested
therein. Copies of this form (and other
associated forms) are available from the
Office of the Registrar or you may print a .pdf
version of the
Request for Change of Residency Status,
Student Financial Statement and
Documentation forms (as applicable).
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING
A RESIDENCY RECLASSIFICATION REQUEST IS ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES FOR THE APPLICABLE TERM OF THE SEMESTER IN
QUESTION.
The University of West Florida uses e-mail as the official method
of notification regarding the review process. Please ensure
that you have activated your UWF e-mail account (i.e. jrd1@students.uwf.edu)
for purposes of receiving important information related to your
request.
