Step 1: Determine What Type of Student You Are

How can you get this benefit? You must be able to provide USF with specific documents, even if you’ve been in Florida all your life. In 2017-18, Florida residents pay just $6,410 for tuition, compared to $17,324 for students from out of state studying at USF.

In the majority of cases students fall into one of two categories:

• DEPENDENT If you are under 24 years old but not graduate students

• independent If you’re at least 24 years old or an undergraduate student or younger than 24 and who can prove independence by proving marriage certificates and tax returns that show the financial support for children or other dependents who reside together and who receive over 50% of their financial support through the school, evidence of military service or evidence that the student has provided at least 50% of the income for the year.

Step 2: Collect Documents That Establish Florida Residency

In the case of a dependent student you’ll need the documents of your guardian or parent. If you’re an individual student you’ll be required to collect your own documentation. Remember, when your status is international or Permanent Resident Alien, further documents regarding the validity of your visa or permanent resident status is also required.

Two documents are required that aren’t expired or inactive, and have the ISSUE DATE minimum 12 months prior the start of the school term. when you start school:

*Freshmen who enroll for during the Summer term are not able to begin classes until the start of Summer B, which starts on July 25, 2018. however, they must still be able to meet the residency requirements for the date of start of term (i.e. May 14).

The most basic documents to provide are:

• Valid Driver’s license or State-issued Identification: If it was renewed in the past year, we might require an original copy of your present and prior license, or driving history at the DMV.

• voter registration: No idea where your voter registration card is? Find it online! The card is not required just the registration number and date of registration.

• Registration of a vehicle:We need the VIN and the date it was issued (NOT plates issued). It can be difficult since registrations are renewed each year. For your protection, make sure you have your current registration along with the registration from last year, which is likely there in the glove compartment.

If you don’t own any the documents listed above, or just possess just one document, we have alternatives:

• Documentation of your exemption from homestead Based on the county, this could be a tax statement or be recorded in a different manner.

• Proof of Full-time Residence for Florida: If you have a house and we require an original copy of your warranty deed. If you are renting the property, we require an original lease that has at least 12 consecutive years of evidence of payment (that’s an evidence of payment of the entiremonth).

• Evidence of full-time employment for Florida: Obtain a letter from your employer, on company letterhead, stating your date of commencement and stating that your work is in full-time employment or at minimum, 30 hours of work per week.

If you don’t possess any documentation, or if the dates aren’t working however, there are alternatives However, you should consult an admissions advisor to help you understand it. There are also a number of methods to qualify for tuition in-state that do not fall under one of the classifications (such as being enrolled in an Prepaid plan in Florida). Prepaid Plan). Call an admissions counselor If you believe you could fit into one of these groups.

Step 3: Complete a Residency Declaration Form

You’ll then need complete an residency declaration form. It must be signed by your guardian or parent when you’re a dependent student. You should also include all the information on any documents required to prove residency.

Step 4: Submit Your Documentation

You can upload your Residency Declaration and any other necessary documents on your Application Portal or send documents at the Office of Admissions by mail via fax or mail..

Instructions on how to upload files can be located in this.

Why is Proving Florida Residency So Complicated?

These requirements are quite strict as Florida has a large number of people who reside temporarily in the state and it is imperative to ensure that you’re in compliance with the legal definition of being a resident. It can be quite arduous but the outcome is well worth the effort – lower fees for tuition!

Do you want to know more about the process of establishing Florida residency, or have any concerns? Visit our page on residencyor reach us via email or call us at 813-974-3350.

Note that this article is designed to serve as a guide to complete an initial residency classification. It does not contain complete residency guidelines or requirements to reclassify students.

In the Guidelines for Florida Residence for Tuition Purposes that were adopted by the Articulation Coordinating Committee (October 28 15th, 2015.):

• It is crucial to remember that being a student or living in Florida does not mean the establishment of a legal residence to serve tuition reasons. The legal residency requirement in Florida requires a substantial physical presence to satisfy the requirement.
• It is essential that the 12 month qualifying period is to be used for maintaining an actual domicile, and not for the sole purpose of maintaining a temporary residence or an abode due to enrollment at an Florida public higher education institution.

RESIDENCY DECLARATION FOR TUITION PURPOSES

An Florida “resident for tuition purposes” is someone who is a dependent who’s parent or legal guardian been able to establish and maintain legal residence in Florida for a minimum of 12 (12) continuous months prior to the beginning of the first day of class of the term in the purpose for which Florida residency is required.

• A residence within Florida is required to be considered a legitimate residence, not for the sole purpose of maintaining the residence in connection with enrollment in any institution for higher learning.
• To be the definition of a Florida resident for the purpose of tuition You must possess the following qualifications: U.S. citizen or a national of a country with the category of nonimmigrant visa which grants you the legal right to establish a legitimate residence within the United States, a permanent resident alien, or a legal person granted an indefinite stay from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Other individuals who are not in compliance with the requirements for legal residence of 12 months are able to be classified as Florida students only in the event that they fall into one of the restricted special categories(see Page 2 to learn about these exemptions) granted to be classified by the Florida Legislature in accordance with the section 1009.21, Florida Statutes. Other individuals are not eligible to be classified as an Florida “resident for tuition purposes.”
• Being a student or a resident in Florida does not, by itself, create legal residency. Students who rely on outside-state parents for financial support are assumed to be residents of the state in which their parents reside.
• Residence for tuition purposes requires the creation of legal ties to Florida. Florida. Students must prove that they have not broken connections to other states, in the event that the student, or in the case of dependent students, their parent has relocated to an other state.
• It is required to present copies of the documentation required (see Page 3) when you are admitted in order to be regarded as an Florida resident for the purpose of tuition.

Special Categories/Qualification by Exception

In accordance with the section. 1009.21, Florida Statutes Students may be eligible for residency based on one or more of the following exemptions (documentation needed):

• I am a beneficiary eligible under the rules that are part of the Florida Prepaid College Program (s. 1009.98, Florida Statutes.) (Required to provide a copy of my Florida Prepaid Recipient Card.) My spouse is a woman who has been legally resident at Florida over at minimum twelve consecutive years. I have now established legal residency and plan to move to Florida my home forever. (Required copies of marriage certificate or other documents needed to prove residency.)
• I was previously enrolled in an Florida state postsecondary school and considered an Florida resident for the purpose of tuition. I’m moving to another Florida public postsecondary college within the first 12 months from the previous enrollment.
• I previously attended an Florida state-run postsecondary institution, and was considered an Florida resident to pay tuition. I resigned my Florida home less than a year ago, and am currently reestablishing my Florida lawful residence.
• Active active duty members from those of Armed Services of the United States living in the state, their spouses, or dependent children as well as active participants who are members of the Florida National Guard. (Required copy of the military’s orders, or DD2058 with proof of residence.)
• Active military personnel of the Armed Services of the United States and their spouses and children who are enrolled at the Florida College System college or state institution located within 50 miles from the military institution in which they are stationed when the military establishment is located in the borders of a county adjacent to Florida. (Required copies of the military’s orders.)
• United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive weeks of college studies in the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch and parents and spouses. (Required copies of the marriage certificate, or evidence that they are dependent.)
• Full-time administrative and instructional personnel employed by public schools of the state and higher education institutions and their spouses as well as dependent children. (Required: Employment Verification)
• Student of Latin America and the Caribbean that receive scholarship funds from the state or federal government. Students who are classified in accordance with this paragraph is required to attend in full-time in an Florida college or university. (Required evidence of scholarships and Latin America or Caribbean residency.)
• Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market graduate students who attend Florida’s state universities. (Required certification letter from the The State Academic Common Market Coordinator.)
• State employees who are full-time as well as political subdivisions within the state, when the fees for students will be paid through the government agency, or the political subdivision to support the goal of law enforcement related to the job and corrections-related training.
• McKnight Doctoral Fellowships, Finalists, and Fellows that are United States citizens. (Required confirmation of Graduate studies.)
• United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at an Department of Defense Dependent School or at the American International School and who take part in a graduate level education program that leads to the award of a Florida teacher’s certificate.
• The active members of the Canadian military who reside or are stationed in the state in accordance with the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, as well as the spouses of their dependent children and studying at an Florida College System institution or public university located within 50 miles of the military establishment in which the military station is. (Required to prove active duty for a specified reason.)
• Members of the active duty section of the military of another country serving as liaison officers and located or residing in the state of Florida, as well as parents and spouses who are enrolled in an institution of the Florida College System or state university located within 50 miles of the military establishment in which an international liaison officer is stationed. (Required to prove active duty status for a specific reason.)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT CLAIM OF FLORIDA RESIDENCY

As per the provisions of s. 1009.21(3)(c), Florida Statutes the determination of residency must be confirmed through the submission of a electronic or written verification that contains at least two of the following documents. No single piece of evidence can be considered conclusive.

A. Claimant must supply at minimum one of their personal documents:

• Florida voter’s registration card number as well as the issue date
• Florida driver’s licence number date of issue, and the current date of issue
• State of Florida identification card number, the card’s issue date, and the current date of issue
• Florida automobile registration code, date of issue, and current date of issue
• A proof of a permanent residence located in Florida that was used as the primary residence over a period of 12 consecutive weeks prior to student’s admission. (Required to be a document, like a deed, or other proof of title to property that is used as the primary residence, a homeowner’s insurance policy, a mortgage insurance contract, proof of a tax bill for the primary residence or a lease with multiple years’ duration.)
• A proof of exemption for homesteads in Florida. (Required to be a document from the tax collector of the county that demonstrates the application for a homestead exemption for the primary residence of the claimant.)
• Official transcripts from an Florida secondary school that spans a period of multiple year (2 at least two years) in the event that they are valid and the Florida High School diploma or GED(r) was obtained within the past 12 months and includes the dates of attendance as well as the date of graduation
• Evidence of full-time, permanent job in Florida for minimum thirty hours per week over twelve months. (Required Pay stubs, or W-2 forms for the past 12-months consecutively)

B. The claimant can submit one or more documents in the following categories in order to show that they reside in Florida (to be utilized in conjunction with one document above):

• Declaration of residence in Florida.
• Florida occupational or professional licenses.
• Florida incorporation.
• Document that demonstrates family ties to Florida
• Evidence of membership of a non-profit organization in Florida or a professional association.
• Any other documents that support your claim for resident status, such as but not limited to utility bills and evidence of 12 consecutive months of payments or lease agreements and evidence of 12 consecutive months of payment; or an official federal, state or court-issued document proving legal connections to Florida.