Glossary of Residency Terms

A |  B |  C |  D |   E  |  F |   G |   H |  I |  J |  K |  L |  M |  N |  O |  P |  Q |  R |  S |  T |  U |  V |  W |  X |  Y |  Z

A

Affidavit of Residency 

A method of applying for residency and the resident tuition rate. A student must meet this criteria prior to their First Admitted Quarter. If applying through the WASFA, the affidavit is included in the application.

B

Bona Fide Domicile

An individual’s true home and intended permanent living space, in which the individual has established valid legal ties. For residency purposes the domicile must be in place for a period of 12 months prior to the first day of the quarter to qualify.

Break Enrollment 

An absence of more than one quarter (excluding summer quarter).

C

Calendar Year 

January 1 through December 31 of a specific year.

D

Dependent Funds

Funds or financial assistance either provided by, or due to a relationship with, someone other than their spouse or registered domestic partner.  Examples: PLUS loan (undergraduate), transferred veteran benefits

Dependent Student for Tuition Purposes 

A student who has been claimed as a tax dependent and/or cannot demonstrate the ability to manage the majority of living and education expenses for the previous and current calendar years.

Domicile-eligible Immigration Status 

An immigration or visa status that allows an individual to establish domicile in the United States.

E

EAD – Employment Authorization Document

A document demonstrating that an individual is authorized to work in the United States. An individual’s EAD code can impact whether they are eligible to establish domicile in the United States.

Educational Presumption

Presumption by law that an individual has moved to Washington state for education purposes, rather than with intent of establishing bona fide domicile. Presumption occurs when enrolled for more than 6 credits during your first year in Washington.

F

Financial Assistance

Financial support provided to an individual from someone other than their spouse or state registered domestic partner. Examples include, providing funds to an individual that were not earned as income from employment, directly paying an individual’s rent or tuition, gifting property, providing housing at a significantly reduced rate, etc.

First Admitted Quarter

A student’s first term at an institution at a specific level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, professional).

G

Guardian 

A person who is granted court appointed legal guardianship of an individual in the absence of a parent(s). A spouse is not considered a legal guardian.

I

Independent Funds

Personal funds or financial resources that can be documented as being an independent resource earned or made available to an individual, or their spouse or state registered domestic partner of at least one year. Most commonly earned through a student’s personal/spouse/SRDP employment, financial aid award (not PLUS loans for an undergraduate) or state benefits (unemployment, TANF, WIC, etc).

Independent Student for Tuition Purposes 

An individual who has not been claimed as a dependent on a tax return and can show through personal resources, the ability to manage the majority of their living and education expenses for the previous and current calendar year.

L

Legal Ties

Legal credentials or relationships that an individual establishes or holds with a state or country, that may be indicative of domicile. Examples: Voter Registration, Vehicle Registration, and Driver’s License. Legal ties should be established within 30 days of arrival.

N

Non-Resident

A student who either does not meet, or has not sufficiently proved that they meet, the residency requirements for Washington state. If a student is classified as a non-resident then they will be charged the non-resident tuition rate.

Notarize

A process by which an individual verifies that they witnessed a document be signed, and authenticates the identity of the signee of a document.

Notary Public

An individual who is authorized to officially notarize a document.

P

Parent Plus Loan (undergraduate)

A federal loan issued to the parent of a student for educational expenses.  This type of loan is considered a type of financial assistance. 

Permanent Resident

An individual who has been authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. Individuals with this status will have a permanent resident card (also known as a green card).

Physical Presence

Being physically present in a location. Most commonly verified by a combination of residential, bank/credit statements and in some cases employment information.

Primary Residence

A living space and a mailing address that is an individual’s predominant residence.

R

RCW – Revised Code of Washington State

The RCW contains the laws as passed by the Washington State Legislature.

Reciprocity Exchange Program

An agreement between two (or more) states, or academic programs, to offer resident tuition rates, or a tuition reduction, to residents of these states. The University of Washington does not participate in this program.

Redacted/Redaction

Edits that revise, remove, censor, or obscure information.

Residence Questionnaire 

A method of applying for residency and the resident tuition rate. Used for students who are Absent from the State or meet the Residency Requirements of a bona fide domicile after their first admitted quarter. 

Resident

A student who has been determined to meet the residency requirement for Washington state. If a student is classified as a resident then they are eligible to pay the resident tuition rate.

S

Spouse

A partner in marriage. For residency purposes, when married greater than 1 year, a spouse’s personal resources may be considered as a financial contribution to financial independence of the student applying for a change in residency. 

State Registered Domestic Partnership

A partnership that has met the specific requirements outlined by a state, and that has officially been registered with a state.

Statutory Deadline

A deadline established by state or federal statute.

1.  A student must meet the criteria of residency prior to the first day of the quarter in which they are requesting a change in residency. 
2. A student must request a change in residency no later than the 30th day of the quarter. See deadlines. A request made after this date will be considered for the following quarter. Request for a retroactive change beyond this deadline for the current or past quarter are not permitted.

T

Tax Return 

A form filed with a tax authority on which a taxpayer states their income, expenses, and other tax information.  For residency purposes, the tax return assists in verifying financial dependence/independence. 

Tax Year 

An annual 12-month period for reporting income and expenses that are used to calculate your taxes when you file your return.

Trust

An account created by a grantor that holds funds or resources for a beneficiary or beneficiaries, and that may have guidelines or restrictions regarding how the assets in the trust may be used.

Tuition Reduction

A reduction to a student’s tuition by way of waiver. Tuition reductions do not grant bona fide Washington residency; however, they do reduce the amount of the non-resident portion of tuition if certain criteria are met. See “Other Forms for Tuition Reduction.”

W

WAC – Washington Administrative Code

The WAC sections that pertain to residency for tuition purposes are written and managed by the Washington Student Achievement Council and help to expand upon and clarify what is written in the RCW. See Residency Guideline Sources.