Illinois State University Policy Web Site

Initiating body: Office of University Registrar
Contact: Staff Clerk, Technical Programs 438-2117
Revised on: 06/2003

2.1.17 Residency Status

Guidelines

The following guidelines (based on Board Residency Status Policy) are used to determine resident status for the assessment of tuition.

  1. A student's residence is presumed to be that of the parent(s) or legal guardian unless the student is independent and establishes a separate residence. For the purpose of these regulations, the term legal guardian and parent are interchangeable.

    A student who is dependent upon his/her parent(s) or other person(s) in authority, other than spouse, for financial support shall not be considered independent for the purpose of these regulations. Students claiming independence may be requested to present satisfactory evidence that their parent(s) has not contributed significantly to their support nor claimed them as a dependent on federal or state income taxes during the period in which the student attempts to establish and/or maintain residency.
  2. In order to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes, an independent student must be a bona fide resident for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes for the term for which residency is sought.
  3. Non-citizens may commence establishment of residency with proper notification of permanent resident status (GREEN CARD) by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service provided the person meets and complies with all applicable requirements of these regulations.

    Under extreme circumstances a non-citizen may request consideration of in-state residency based upon a severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen, documentable, circumstances beyond the student’s control.  These circumstances may include the loss of a financial sponsor, unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student’s source of support, or substantial devaluation of currency or exchange rates in the home country.

    Consideration for severe economic hardship will only be extended to those students who are in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations, are in good academic standing and have completed a minimum of one year in residence at Illinois State University.  These circumstances are necessary for consideration, but do not guarantee approval of residency.
  4. A non-resident shall be classified as a resident if his/her spouse is a resident of Illinois and meets the applicable requirements of these regulations. A non-citizen may establish residency through his/her resident spouse, provided the non-citizen complies with Regulation 3 (above).
  5. Students claiming Illinois residency while living in another state or country (i.e., military, Department of Defense, etc.) must provide proof of continued Illinois residency. Proof may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the student (or parent) has not acquired a permanent home in another state/country, has maintained a continuous voting record in Illinois, and has filed and paid regular Illinois resident state income tax returns during the absence.
  6. Staff members of the University and of allied agencies, and faculties of state-supported institutions of higher education in Illinois, holding an appointment of at least one-quarter time, and their spouses and dependent children, shall be treated as residents.
  7. If you are domiciled in Illinois, and are an employee, or a spouse of an employee, transferred to Illinois by his/her employer for employment purposes, you may possibly qualify for reclassification without waiting the six (6) months. A company transferred employee for purposes of this exception is a full-time benefit eligible employee transferred from a company out of state to the same company in Illinois.
  8. Teachers in the public and private elementary and secondary schools of Illinois are considered residents if they hold an appointment of at least one-quarter time. Verification of employment must be submitted annually.
  9. Effective Fall 2003, an individual will be considered an Illinois resident, if all of the following conditions are met:
    1. The individual resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.
    2. The individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.
    3. The individual attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.
    4. The individual registers as an entering student in the University not earlier than the 2003 fall semester.
    5. In the case of an individual who is not a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, the individual provides the University with an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.

Factors Considered in Determining Residency

Residency determination is based on the following criteria:

  1. Maintenance of a permanent address in Illinois for a period of at least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes for the term for which resident classification is sought.
  2. Students must submit copies of the following information with their residency application:
    • Official Illinois Voter's Registration Official Illinois Voter's Registration Card
    • Valid Illinois Driver's License
    • Proof of Illinois automobile registration
    • Student's prior year Federal/State Income Tax return
    • Apartment lease/ORL contract/mortgage payment
    • Establishment of a financial account (checking, savings, etc.) in an Illinois institution
    • Alien Registration
      1. Permanent resident status with an alien registration receipt card (I-151 or I-551)
      2. Conditional Permanent Resident (Temporary INS stamp in VISA)
      3. I-94 with any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Indefinite /Parole, or Cuban-Haitian Entrant
  3. Students disputing their residency classification may file a petition in writing to the Academic Records and Registration Services Office for reconsideration of residency status (Petition for Change of Resident Status). The written request must be filed no later than 30 days after the first class day of the term for which the tuition is payable, or the student loses all right to a change of status and adjustment of the tuition assessed for the term in question.

Residency Dates

Access current residency dates at University Registrar Web site.

Appeals

A student who takes exception to the residency status assigned may file a written appeal to the University Registrar, Illinois State University, Moulton Hall 102, Campus Box 2202, Normal, IL  61790-2202 within twenty (20) days of the ruling notice.