Students with Visa Status

Qualifying Visas: A, E, G, H, I, K, L

Students who hold a qualifying visa and have applied for the visa for at least 12 months prior to the quarter of application, may be eligible for residency for tuition purposes. Please reference Residency Requirements for details on establishing bona fide domicile.

Students must complete the Residence Questionnaire and provide the following documentation along with the form:

1. Proof of establishing bona fide domicile.
2. A copy of the qualifying visa.

Dependents of Visa Holders

Qualifying Visas: E, H, L

Spouse Visa

Students applying for residency based on their spouse working in Washington.

Documentation to provide:

1. Residence Questionnaire – Students complete both page 1 and 2 with their information, not the spouse’s information.
2. Proof of establishing domicile in Washington for 12 months. This documentation will be of the student, not the working spouse.
   Reference: Residency Requirements for details.
3. A copy of the student’s visa.
4. A copy of the working spouse’s visa.
5. Proof of spouse’s employment in Washington for 12 months.

Parent Visa

Students applying for residency whose parent works in Washington.

Documentation to provide:

1. Residence Questionnaire – Students complete page 1, and parents complete page 2 of the form.
2. Proof of parent establishing domicile in Washington for 12 months.
   Reference: Residency Requirements for details.
3. A copy of the student’s visa.
4. A copy of working parent’s visa.
5. Proof of parent’s employment in Washington for 12 months.
6. A copy of the parent’s most recent tax return showing the student is claimed as a dependent.

For more information, please review the Residency FAQs.

Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Refugees, Asylees, and Humanitarian Parolees

Students are eligible to pay reduced tuition and fees if they are classified as a refugee/asylee/humanitarian parolee by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Spouses and dependent children are also eligible for this reduction.

The reduction does not grant bona fide Washington residency; however, it reduces the amount of the non-resident portion of tuition. The waiver is restricted to individuals who reside in Washington State.

For additional information, please reference WAC 478-161-020.

Application Process

Students who believe they meet the requirements of this form must complete the Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Refugees, Asylees, and Humanitarian Parolees Application Form.

Application Form

• Students applying based on their own refugee, asylee or humanitarian parolee status must provide I-94 Department of Homeland Security official documentation verifying the approval of their own refugee, asylee, or humanitarian parolee status.
• Students requesting this exemption as the spouse or dependent child of an individual holding refugee, asylee, or humanitarian parolee status must provide verification of the individual’s status and their own dependent status.
• Those asking for the non-resident tuition waiver as humanitarian parolees must provide proof that they reside in Washington state.

Application Periods and Deadlines

Tuition reduction forms requesting for the change in tuition status must be submitted by the 30th day of the quarter for which this request is made. Applications sent after this deadline will be rejected. There is no retroactive backdating for in-state tuition. Review the Application and Paperwork Submissions webpage for specific application period dates and deadlines.

American Indian students who meet the following two conditions are eligible to pay resident tuition at colleges and universities in Washington State:

1. For a period of one year immediately prior to enrollment at a state institution of higher education, students must have been domiciled in one or a combination of the following states: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington. The domicile must have been for purposes other than college. If a student takes any courses at another Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington college during the one-year period immediately prior to their first term at a state institution of higher education, they cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. If a student exceeds that limit they must prove that they have a domicile in one of these states for non-college reasons.
2. Students must be a member of one of the federally recognized Indian tribes, as determined under Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (25CFR), whose traditional and customary tribal boundaries included portions of the state of Washington, or whose tribe was granted reserved lands within the state of Washington.

Federally Recognized Tribes

The following are qualifying tribes whose members are eligible to receive resident tuition in Washington State per RCW 28B.15.0131.

Application Process

Students that believe they meet the requirements of this form must complete the request for Resident Tuition for American Indian Students. Students applying under this form must provide the required documentation to support the resident tuition form.

Application Periods and Deadlines

Residency applications requesting for the change in tuition status must be submitted by the 30th day of the quarter for which this request is made. Applications sent after this deadline will be rejected. There is no retroactive backdating for in-state tuition. Review Application and Paperwork Submissions for details.