Establishing Virginia Domicile for In-State Tuition Purposes

Basic Requirements

An individual must demonstrate full-time residency in Virginia and intent to remain in Virginia permanently, after graduation. After meeting the requirements to establish domicile, a person must have been domiciled in Virginia for a minimum of 12 months preceding the first day of classes for the semester in which they intend to apply.

The initial decision of whether or not a student is classified as in-state or out-of-state is made in the Undergraduate Admissions office at the time the student applies.  Occasionally circumstances and living conditions will change, making it possible for the student to claim Virginia as their domicile state. The student can then apply for in-state tuition through the Registrar’s Office.  Although many students can claim that they live in Virginia, please note that SCHEV (the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) has specific and strict requirements that students must meet in order to be able to declare Virginia as their domicile and receive in-state tuition rates.

Domicililiary Intent

Intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely can be determined through many factors, including the following: Continuous residence in Virginia Employment in Virginia after graduation Ownership of property Voter registration Current employment in Virginia Military records Social and economic ties Motor vehicle registration Sources of financial support Income taxes paid to Virginia Virginia Drivers' license   After receiving your initial application, the Registrar’s Office may ask you to provide supporting documentation to prove several or most of the factors above. It may also be necessary to provide the same supporting documentation on a parent, legal guardian, or spouse, depending on if you are claiming your residency as a dependent or independent student.

Dependent and Independent Students

A dependent student is one who receives a substantial amount of financial support from a parent, legal guardian, or spouse. In which case, the registrar’s office will not only look at supporting documentation for you, but also for the parent, legal guardian, or spouse that you are claiming dependency. If you are under the age of 24 on the first day of classes, you will automatically be considered a dependent student unless you: are married are a veteran or active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces are a graduate or professional student are a ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18 have no adoptive or legal guardian when both parents are deceased have legal dependents other than a spouse You will automatically be assumed a dependent student if you do not meet any of the above criteria.  There are 3 presumptions described in the Code of Virginia that will be made as well, they are (1) the student is dependent on his/her parents for financial and/or tax purposes, (2) the student has the same domicile as his/her parents, and (3) the student is in the state for educational purposes.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide clear and convincing evidence to rebut these three presumptions in order to claim residency in Virginia as an independent student and that you are financially self-sufficient. If you are not classified as a dependent student, then you may establish your own Virginia domicile.

Military Students

Students who are active members of the U.S. military may also establish Virginia domicile, and be classified as in-state students immediately, without the delay of the one year grace period.  An application must be submitted to the Registrar’s office as well as a copy of a DD-2058 form, changing your state of legal residence to Virginia.  A leave and earnings statement showing Virginia withholding tax, a copy of a Virginia drivers’ license, voter registration, motor vehicle registration, and/or proof of Virginia real property ownership are also documents that may be requested. Spouses of active duty military personnel: A spouse of an active duty military member may claim Virginia as their domicile by either claiming dependency on the military member who has established Virginia as their domicile, or through an exception provision.  This provision allows the spouse to claim Virginia residency independently, based on residing in Virginia, working full-time, and having paid individual income taxes to Virginia for a minimum of one year. Dependent child of active duty personnel: A child may qualify for Virginia domicile status through either (a) the active duty military member who has already established Virginia as their domicile, or (b) through the non-military parent who has established Virginia domicile.

Supporting Documentation

The Registrar’s Office can not take verbal information from students.  All supporting documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office within 30 days from when it is requested.  Documents that may be requested from you and your parent/legal guardian or spouse are: Virginia drivers' license Virginia voter registration Virginia state tax forms Federal tax forms Bank statements Documentation of income Insurance cards (Auto & medical) Other documentation as needed per individual case Virginia vehicle registration Apartment lease/home purchase Proof of employment

Notification

The student will be notified in writing within 5-7 business days of the University’s decision, if no additional information is required. Students who are denied instate privileges will be advised in writing how to appeal the decision to the intermediate domicile committee.  This appeal must be received in writing by the Registrar’s office within 30 days that the denial letter is received by the student.  Students who are granted instate privileges will be advised as to when the instate tuition rate will take affect.