
Establishing Residency
Requirements
Requirements if you are financially independent
You are financially independent if you are not claimed as a dependent by either parent on income tax returns and you pay at least 51% of the cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies and transportation as published by the WSU Office of Financial Aid.
1. Fill out both sides of the Questionnaire completely
2. Provide the following required items:
- Copies of lease(s), rental agreement, letter from landlord, rent receipts, canceled rent checks or home purchase agreement verifying domicile in Washington for the 12 months prior to beginning of semester. You must account for the entire 12 month period.
- Copy of State of Washington voter’s registration card or statement from county auditor with date registered, if you are registered to vote. (Must have obtained 12 months prior to beginning of semester)
- Copy of State of Washington vehicle registration, if you own or use a vehicle in the state of Washington. If you use (but do not own) a vehicle, it must be registered in the state of Washington. (Must have registered vehicle 12 months prior to beginning of semester)
- Copy of State of Washington driver’s license or State of Washington identification card (if you do not drive or do not have a previous driver’s license from another state). Residents of the State of Washington are required to surrender their previous state’s driver’s license and obtain a State of Washington driver’s license or state identification card within 30 days of moving to and establishing a domicile in the state. More information on obtaining a State of Washington driver’s license or identification card can be found here.
- Any other documents you may have with dates showing that you have established a “home” in Washington, such as bank account statements.
- Copy of your federal tax return and W-2 forms for the most recent tax year. If you have not filed a tax return, please provide copies of W-2 forms, if any.
- If you are 24 or younger, you must also provide a copy of your parents’ return(s) (first page listing dependents and the signature block are required).
- If 24 or younger, submit documents verifying your financially independent status for the current calendar year and the prior calendar year. To be considered financially independent, a student must demonstrate by evidence satisfactory to the institution that he or she has met, through his or her income, the expenses associated with college tuition and living for the current calendar year and the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which application is made, such as:
Financial aid grants, scholarships and loans authorized by the Financial Aid Office in the student’s name may be considered as personal income.
A trust or other account available to the student may be considered evidence of financial independence if the account was created before the student entered high school. You must submit documentation of the date account was established and proof the account was used to pay for expenses associated with college tuition and living for the current calendar year and the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which application is made.
Personal loans, PLUS loans, checking & savings accounts, gifts, and cash earnings SHALL NOT be counted as income in this calculation. Receipt of the Federal Parent PLUS loan will contradict financial independent status.
3. Sign Section 2 and the back of the Questionnaire form.
Requirements if you are financially dependent (supported by a parent/guardian)
1. Fill out Section 1 and Section 2 of the questionnaire. If you are not a U. S. citizen, but hold permanent resident immigration status, temporary resident status, “Refugee-Parolee,” “Conditional Entrant” status, or are permanently residing in the United States under color of law, attach a copy of both sides of your Resident Alien Card
2. Your parent or court-appointed guardian completes Section 3 and provides documents verifying his/her status as a Washington State resident as stated below:
- Copies of lease, rental agreement, letter from landlord, rent receipts, canceled checks or home purchase agreement verifying domicile in Washington for the 12 months prior to beginning of semester. You must account for the entire 12 month period.
- Copy of State of Washington voter’s registration card or statement from county auditor with date registered, if you are registered to vote. (Must have obtained 12 months prior to beginning of semester)
- Copy of State of Washington vehicle registration, if you own or use a vehicle in the state of Washington. If you use (but do not own) a vehicle, it must be registered in the state of Washington. (Must have registered vehicle 12 months prior to beginning of semester
- Copy of State of Washington driver’s license or State of Washington identification card if you do not drive. (Must have obtained 12 months prior to beginning of semester)
- Any other documents you may have with dates showing that you have established a “home” in Washington (bank accounts).
3. Provide a copy of your parent(s) federal income tax return for the most current year verifying your dependent status (only the listing of dependents and signature block are required) . If your parent or court-appointed guardian is not a U.S. citizen, but she/he holds permanent or temporary resident status, or “Refugee-Parolee,” “Conditional Entrant” status, or is permanently residing in the United States under color of law, attach a copy of both sides of his/her Resident Alien Card, Temporary Resident Card or other verification of his/her status with USCIS.
4. You and your parent must sign the back of the Residency Questionnaire form.
Requirements if you are Military Personnel/Civil Service
1. If you are active-duty military or the dependent of an active military member stationed in the state of Washington, provide a copy of your military ID and your orders to:
Veterans Affairs Office
French Administration Bldg Room 346
PO Box 641035
Pullman, WA 99164-1035
2. If you are a dependent of an active-duty military, or civil servant, who claims Washington as your residence, but who is stationed outside of the State of Washington, your parent or guardian must complete Section 3 of the questionnaire and also provide:
- Evidence he/she is a member of the military
- Evidence of his/her Home of Record
- Evidence of ties maintained to the State of Washington (voter registration, driver’s license, vehicle registration) REQUIRED
- Copy of his/her federal tax return for the most recent tax year (first page listing dependents and the signature block are required).