Establishing Residency
HCC is required by state law to determine the residency status of all students for tuition purposes. Students who have not enrolled for two or more consecutive regular semesters (fall and spring) must complete the residency core questions and satisfy all applicable requirements to establish residency. Additional documentation may be requested at any time following registration. Residency is determined at the time of registration, either by a student’s current address or by the address of a parent or legal guardian if the student is being claimed by his/her parents or is eligible to be claimed by his/her parents as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. A post office box can be used for a mailing address, but cannot be used to establish residency. It is the responsibility of the student to register under the correct residency classification. A complete set of rules and regulations for determining residency is available at each campus’s Admissions Office.
For tuition purposes, a student will be classified according to the following guidelines. The Registrar is the final authority on all questions of residency. For more information on residency or to see the list of approved documentation, visit www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/residency-information.
Basic Residency Requirements
For tuition purposes, according to Texas law, all students must answer a complete set of core residency questions within the admissions application. These questions will be used by the institution to determine if the person is a resident. The following persons shall be classified as Texas Residents and entitled to pay resident tuition at all institutions of higher education:
- A person who was enrolled at a Texas public institution during a fall or spring semester within the previous twelve months and was classified as a Texas resident for tuition purposes.
- A person who graduated from a public or accredited private high school in this state or as an alternative to high school graduation, received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state AND maintained a residence continuously in this state for the 36 months immediately preceding the date of graduation, or received the diploma equivalent as applicable and the twelve months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolled.
- A person or a dependent whose parent established a domicile in this state not less than twelve months before the census date of the academic semester in which the student enrolled in an institution AND maintained a residence continuously in the state for the twelve months immediately preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolled in an institution.
- If basing residency on a spouse and have been married at least twelve months, residency may be classified based on the spouse’s qualifications for residency.
In-District Residency
Students who have met the basic Texas residency requirements and live in HCC’s taxing district (Alief ISD, Houston ISD, Stafford MSD, and part of Missouri City) are considered in-district residents.
Students must reside at a street address in HCC’s taxing district. Post office boxes and dormitory addresses cannot be used.
Out-of-District Residency
Students who have met the basic Texas residency requirements and live outside HCC’s taxing district are considered out-of-district residents.
Out-of-State Residency
A student who has not resided in Texas for twelve months immediately preceding registration is considered out-of-state, except for certain exceptions described below. A non-resident student classification is presumed to be correct as long as the residence in the state is primarily used for the purpose of attending school. To be reclassified as a resident (after one or more years of residency), the student must show proof of intent to establish Texas as his/her permanent legal residence.
See the section on Veterans Services for information regarding residency determinations of Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students.
International Student Residency for Tuition Purposes
An international student is a non-U.S. citizen who is not classified a resident alien by the U.S. Government.
International students living in the United States under an eligible visa permitting residence must provide documentation and meet the same requirements as a U.S. citizen to qualify for Texas resident status for tuition purposes.
Undocumented Students
Texas State Law states that undocumented students can be admitted to the College and be considered a resident of Texas for tuition purposes if the undocumented student resided in Texas, and met the conditions listed below:
- Graduated or will graduate from a Texas public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Texas; and
- Resided in Texas for 36 months leading up to graduation from high school or receiving the equivalent of a high school diploma; or
- Has resided or will have resided in Texas for the twelve months prior to the census date of the semester in which the student will enroll in the college; and
- Has signed the Affidavit of Intent to Become a Permanent Resident provided by the College that states the student has filed or will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the student is eligible to do so.
If the student does not meet these criteria, the student may still enroll, but will be classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes.
Change of Residency
The change from out-of-district residency to in-district residency must be made at the time of registration. Any address change which results in a change to in-district status must be accompanied by adequate documentation. Changes to in-district status made after registration will be effective the following semester. A student who qualifies for a change from out-of-state to in-state residency status for tuition purposes may file a petition for change of residency. The petition must be filed with the Office of the Registrar or Enrollment Services Office at any of the Colleges before the 12th day of class for the regular (16-week) term in order to receive any refund of excess tuition paid for that term.
Penalties
Any student who provides false information or withholds information for proper determination of residency, admission, or enrollment is subject to any or all of the following penalties:
- Withdrawal from all classes with no refund
- Dismissal from the institution
- Payment of the difference in fees within thirty days
- Loss of credit earned while under incorrect residency status
These determinations will be made by the processes described in the Student Code of Conduct. See Student Code of Conduct or Board Policy FLB(LOCAL) at www.hccs.edu/about-hcc/policies/hcc-board-policy-manual-section-f for more information. In the case of certain types of fraud, students may be subject to additional state, federal, or criminal penalties.
Additional Information for Non-U.S. Citizen Students
A non-U.S. citizen who is living in the United States under permanent resident status, has an appropriate visa, or who has filed an I-485 application for permanent residency and has been issued a notice of action from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) showing that the I-485 has been approved, has the same privilege of qualifying for resident status, for tuition purposes, as a U.S. citizen. Anyone permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while living in this country is afforded the same privilege as citizens and permanent residents to establish Texas residency for tuition purposes.
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