Uniformed Services and VEBO

As of September 17, 2021, the review and processing of residency forms specific to the uniformed services for Seattle campus students has transitioned to the Veterans Educational Benefits Office. Please review their website for information about resident tuition for:

• Active Duty Military Stationed in Washington
• Dependents of Current and Former Service Members
• Veterans
• Washington National Guard Members

Washington Military Members Stationed Elsewhere

Washington residents who are also a military member stationed outside of Washington, please read the following information about how to apply for residency using the Residence Questionnaire.

Washington residents who either entered the military while domiciled in Washington, or established a domicile while stationed in Washington for a period of at least one year, will remain a resident while stationed outside of Washington as long as you:

• Return within one year (12 months) of discharge/end of service with the intent to be domiciled in Washington.
• Maintain all legal ties in Washington.

To apply as a military member (or dependent) who are Washington State resident but stationed in another state or overseas:

1. Complete the appropriate Residence Questionnaire and Documentation Checklist
2. Provide documentation of the active duty military member’s state of legal residence (L.E.S. – Leave and Earnings Statement).
   • The military member will need to provide a copy of their current L.E.S. and L.E.S. from 12 months prior to the quarter of application for residency.
3. Provide documentation showing that Washington legal ties have been maintained while being stationed elsewhere. At least three of the following must be provided:
   • Driver’s License
   • Voter’s Registration
   • Vehicle Registration
   • Bank Account
   • Property Ownership

Many terms associated with applying for residency to be assessed in-state tuition rates at the University of Washington. If after reviewing the following glossary of terms, you still have questions on their meaning, contact the Residency Team.

– B –

Bona Fide Domicile

An individual’s true home and intended permanent living space, in which the individual has established valid legal ties.

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.

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.

– 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).

– I –

Independent Funds

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.

– 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.

– 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 –

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.

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.

Redacted/Redaction

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

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.

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.

– T –

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.

– 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.

Absence Due to Military/Civil Service

Washington residents, who enter the military/civil service while domiciled in Washington or established a domicile while stationed in Washington for a period of at least one year, will maintain resident status while being stationed outside of Washington if they:

• Return within one year (12 months) of discharge/end of service with the intent to be domiciled in Washington.
• Maintain all legal ties in Washington.

Please reference Military Personnel page for more details.

Absence for Educational Purposes Only

Students who are Washington residents and have been absent due to attending an out-of-state college/university will need to complete the Residence Questionnaire process.

Documentation to provide along with the Residence Questionnaire:

1. Proof that student has maintained all Washington legal ties and did not take steps to establish domicile in another state. Review Residency Requirements for details.
2. Verification that student resided in Washington for a minimum of one year (12 months) prior to leaving the state for educational purposes.
3. Documentation from the out-of-state college/university verifying student’s continuous enrollment as a non-resident, paying non-resident tuition. If the student attended a private college/university, only verification of continuous enrollment is required.

A student who is financially dependent upon parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or others should refer to Financially Dependent Students.

As part of the admissions process, the UW School of Medicine Admissions Office requires some applicants to verify their Washington residency through our office.

Residency Affidavit

School of Medicine applicants who meet the following requirements are eligible to submit the Washington Higher Education Residency Affidavit to verify residency status.

1. You must have received a high school diploma (or equivalent).
2. You must have maintained a primary residence in Washington for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to your first admitted quarter at the University of Washington Seattle. The Washington residence must be for purposes primarily other than postsecondary education. If you take any courses at another Washington college during the prior 12 months, you cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. If you exceed that limit you must prove that you have a Washington residence for reasons other than postsecondary education. For 2025 Medical School applicants, this means you must have established your primary residence in Washington on or before June 22, 2024.
3. You must affirm that you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or that you will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States as soon as you are eligible to apply.

If you meet the preceding requirements, download the Washington Higher Education Residency Affidavit [PDF], fill in the applicant information and sign the form, then submit it to us via the special Medical Applicant submission portal.

Residence Questionnaire

School of Medicine applicants who do not meet the requirements of the affidavit can submit a Residence Questionnaire. There are two ways to verify residency using the Residence Questionnaire:

1. If you are claiming residency because you are financially dependent on a parent or court-appointed legal guardian who is a resident of Washington State, please go to our page for Financially Dependent Students for information about how to complete the Residence Questionnaire as a financially-dependent student, and what information and documentation you will need to provide.
2. If you are claiming residency because you are a current resident of Washington State who is financially independent and attending school or working out-of-state, please go to our pages for Financially Independent Students and Washington Residents Absent from State for information about how to complete the Residence Questionnaire as a financially-independent student, and what information and documentation you will need to provide.

To verify residency using the Residence Questionnaire, the completed questionnaire, documentation checklist, and copies of all required supporting documentation must be submitted via the special Medical Applicant submission portal.

When completing the questionnaire, the term of application is summer quarter of the year you will begin medical school (current year +1). Applicants should mark the categories “New,” and “Professional,” and enter “UWSOM” in the blank line next to “School.” In the “ID number” field, applicants should provide their AMCAS number. Please provide a valid and legible email address as this is the only form of communication between the applicant and the Residency Classification Office.

The information on this page is for applicants verifying their legal residency; not the School of Medicine Residency and Clinical Fellowship Programs.

What is Washington Residency for Tuition Purposes?

As a state public university, the University of Washington has different tuition rates for state residents and non-residents. State law sets the rules governing who qualifies as a resident for tuition-paying purposes. Students must meet these requirements to be verified as residents for tuition purposes.

How and when is a student’s residency status determined?

A student’s initial residence classification is set during the admissions process based on information provided on the student’s admission application. If a student is classified as a non-resident when they are admitted and believes that they qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, they must file a residency application with the Residence Classification Office to request verification.

There are three ways a student may qualify to apply for residency for tuition purposes. Select the application type for additional information about requirements and how to apply. Each form has its own requirements. Students should file the application that best fits their circumstances.

1. Residency Affidavit – for students who have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and have maintained a primary residence, for purposes other than postsecondary education, in Washington for at least one year prior to starting at the University of Washington.
2. Residence Questionnaire: Financially Dependent Students – for financially dependent students with a parent who has met Washington residency requirements.
3. Residence Questionnaire: Financially Independent Students – for financially independent students who have met Washington residency requirements.

Top 5 Residency Questions

1. How do I get residency in Washington if I don’t meet the affidavit requirements?
2. Where is the residence questionnaire application?
3. I am a Washington resident but went to school out of state. What do I do?
4. When is the deadline to submit the application?
5. How do I contact the Residency Office?

Residency Policies

Residency policies are set by the Washington legislature and applied uniformly throughout Washington’s colleges and universities. For more details regarding residence classification, please review the various pages of our website, and also reference the following links to read the relevant Revised Code of Washington and the Washington Administrative Code.

• State Statute – RCW 28B.15.011-RCW 28B.15.015
• State Rules and Regulations – WAC 250-18-010 – WAC 250-18-06

Eligible Non-Citizens

The following non-US citizenship statuses are eligible to establish and apply for residency for tuition purposes through the Residence Questionnaire.

Permanent U.S. Residents

Upon final approval for Permanent Resident immigrant status, students are eligible to apply for Washington State residency if they meet the following criteria:

1. Application for adjustment to Permanent Resident immigrant status (I-485) was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter of application.
2. Established bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).
   Reference: Residency Requirements.

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival)

Upon final approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, students are eligible to apply for Washington State residency if they meet the following criteria:

1. Application for adjustment to DACA status (I-821D) was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter of application.
2. Established bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).
   Reference: Residency Requirements.

Students must provide a copy of the I-797 notice, issued by USCIS, verifying approval of DACA (I-821D). The Employment Authorization Card (EAC) or I-797 notice of approval for the EAC (I-765) will not suffice.

Please review example of the I-797 notice of approval of DACA (I-821D).

Note for all DACA students: When completing the Residence Questionnaire, students should note “DACA” at the top of the form. For section 1, students may disregard questions 5a, 5b, and 5c by checking “No” in each box.

International Students

Students with qualifying Visa status or dependents of a qualifying visa holder may be eligible for residency for tuition purposes.

Residency for Graduate and Professional Students

The process for Graduate and Professional students to establish and document residency in the state of Washington is the same as for undergraduate students. Please view the information for Financially Independent Students or Financially Dependent Students as applicable.

Residency Requirements for Externships and Internships

The following parameters are for Graduate and Professional students who plan to apply for residency for tuition purposes and leave the state for an internship or other educational opportunities prior to residing in Washington for 12 months.

To be considered, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Prove that student’s absence is due to an internship, externship, study abroad, or temporary employment related to their educational study.
2. Provide official verification from the department, school, or company/firm where the internship or externship is taking place.
3. Registered for courses for the Autumn Quarter prior to leaving for the summer internship or externship.
4. Provide verification of continued domicile in Washington such as signing a lease prior to leaving, storage of personal items, etc.
5. Established and maintained all Washington legal ties and financial independence. Please reference Residency Requirements.

Students whose parents or court-appointed legal guardians do not reside in Washington can only obtain residency for tuition purposes by fulfilling the requirements as a financially independent student. Students must complete and sign the Residence Questionnaire form (both pages) and provide all documentation as requested on the Residence Questionnaire and the Financially Independent Student Documentation Checklist.

Residence Questionnaire – Financially Independent [PDF]

To be considered as financially independent, students must meet all of the following criteria in addition to meeting all of the other bona fide residency requirements:

• Parents/legal guardians or others (except spouse) have not claimed and will not claim the student as a dependent on Federal Income Tax returns for the current and previous calendar years;
• Parents/legal guardians or others (except spouse) have not and will not provide the student with significant financial assistance, directly or indirectly, for the current and previous calendar years;
• Students have been and will be independently paying at least 51% of their combined total expenses (cost of attendance and room/board) with their own independent income/resources for the current calendar year and previous calendar year.

Students by Age

25 Years of Age or Younger (Married/Domestic Partnership)

Students who are receiving significant financial assistance from a spouse or registered domestic partner may qualify as financially independent as long as the marriage or domestic partnership has been in place for at least one calendar year prior to the quarter of application for residency for tuition purposes. Documentation of marital or domestic partnership and financial information must be provided.

25 Years of Age or Older

Students that are 25 years of age (for the entire academic year prior to the quarter of application) and older may be presumed financially independent unless there is evidence proving otherwise. In this situation, students may not be required to provide information from their parent/legal guardians; however, they are still required to provide their own financial information.

Students who are financially dependent upon parents, legal guardians, or others (excepting spouses) must provide documentation to prove their parents/court-appointed legal guardians have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington. Documentation of financial dependence is also required. To be considered, students and parents/legal guardians must have a qualifying citizenship/immigration status to apply.

Please review Residency Requirements (items #1 and #2).

The student and parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will need to complete the Residence Questionnaire. The student’s information will be completed on page one. The parent’s/legal guardian’s information will be completed on page two (Section 3). Both student and parent(s)/legal guardian(s) must sign and date the Statement of Intent (page two). The student should not sign the Student Sworn Statement (page one).

• In cases of legal guardianship, documentation is required to verify the guardianship is court-appointed.
• Dependents of parents/legal guardians who are either divorced or legally separated may be classified as residents as long as the dependent student demonstrates financial dependence (claimed as a dependent exemption on income taxes for the most recent tax year or shows actual financial dependence) and at least one parent/legal guardian has established bona fide domicile in Washington State. This process requires documentation of (1) bona fide legal domicile from the Washington resident parent/legal guardian and (2) taxes from the person who claimed the student or documentation of the significant financial support received by the student in the current and/or previous calendar year.
• The documentation of bona fide legal domicile will be of the parent/legal guardian signing the residency application (not a combination of documents between two parents/legal guardians).

Residence Questionnaire – Financially Dependent [PDF]