# Aggie One Stop
**Source**: https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/residency-for-in-state-tuition/establishing-residency
**Parent**: https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/undergraduate-scholarships/continuing-student-scholarships
# Establishing Residency for Tuition Purposes
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Individuals can establish residency for tuition purposes via several different options. The options are Residency through High School Graduation in Texas, Residency for Dependent Individuals, Residency for Independent Individuals, and Residency for Military Individuals. Residency for tuition purposes is a determination made based on guidelines set forth by the state of Texas as administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.\
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View the official [Texas Administrative Code](https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/rules-and-meetings?$locale=en_US&interface=VIEW_TAC_SUMMARY&queryAsDate=11%2F14%2F2025&recordId=226703) rules and regulations regarding residency.
## [Who is eligible to establish and maintain domicile for tuition purposes in Texas?](#a-whoiseligibletoestablishandmaintaindomicilefortuitionpurposesintexas-jxs_C0)
1. a U.S. Citizen
2. a Permanent Resident (Green Card holder);
3. a person who is eligible for permanent resident status, has filed an I-485;
4. a nonimmigrant who holds one of the types of visas identified as eligible to domicile (can not be F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, or TN/TD)
1. Please refer to the [Immigration Status](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/residency-for-in-state-tuition/immigration-status) page to see a list of visa types eligible to establish and maintain domicile for tuition purposes;
5. a person classified by the USCIS as a Refugee, Asylee, Parolee, Conditional Permanent Resident, or Temporary Resident;
6. a person holding Temporary Protected Status, and Spouses and Children with approved petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), an applicant with an approved USCIS I-360, and a person granted deferred action status by USCIS;
7. a person who has filed an application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under Immigration Nationality Act 240A(b) or a Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA), or the Cuban Adjustment Act, and who has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS; and
8. a person who has filed for adjustment of status to that of a person admitted as a Permanent Resident under 8 United States Code 1255, or under the "registry" program (8 United States Code 1259), or the Special Immigrant Juvenile Program (8 USC 1101(a)(27)(J)) and has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS.
## [Residency through High School Graduation in Texas](#a-residencythroughhighschoolgraduationintexas-Gjc0xu)
To establish residency through high school graduation, a person must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card) and fulfill the four requirements listed below:\
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1. Graduate from a high school in Texas or receive a GED in Texas; and
2. Physically reside in Texas for the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation; and
3. Physically reside in Texas for the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the census date of the semester in which the student enrolls in a Texas public college or university; and
4. Demonstrate lawful presence in the United States
***NOTE:***If you are not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) and can demonstrate that you are lawfully present in the United States, there is the option to submit a notarized copy of the [Affidavit of Intent to Become a Permanent Resident](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/getmedia/8c197353-f666-41b6-a382-3420ae2452bc/Residency-Affidavit.pdf) stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so. This will make you eligible to apply the 3 requirements of high school graduation and receive in-state tuition.
## [Residency for Dependent Individuals](#a-residencyfordependentindividuals-VgdFhr)
A dependent individual is a person who is claimed (or eligible to be claimed) as a dependent on a parent/legal guardian’s federal taxes. To establish residency as a dependent individual, the student must be able to demonstrate lawful presence in the United States, and **the parent/legal guardian claiming the student** for the most recent (and current) fiscal tax year, must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, have a valid application for Permanent Resident (I-797), Visa holder (cannot be F-1, J-1, or TN), or other immigrant statuses (see section, [Who is eligible to establish and maintain domicile for tuition purposes in Texas](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/residency-for-in-state-tuition/establishing-residency#a-whoiseligibletoestablishandmaintaindomicilefortuitionpurposesintexas-jxs_C0)); and fulfill the following criteria:\
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1. Parent/legal guardian must physically reside in Texas for the previous 12 consecutive months prior to the term of enrollment; and
2. Parent/legal guardian must establish and maintain a domicile in Texas for 12 consecutive months prior to the term of enrollment by meeting **one of the following four** criteria:
1. Residential Real Property - Have sole or joint-marital ownership, lease, or rental of residential real property in Texas with documentation, such as a warranty deed, lease agreement, or rental agreement, to verify ownership, rental, and leasing at the same residence during the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date.
2. Ownership of a Business – Organization of a business in Texas for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date, that reflects continuous, active management and substantial economic interest of the business with evidence of intended continuous operation for the foreseeable future.
3. Significant Gainful Employment – An employer's statement of dates of employment and salary earned by the dependent's parent in Texas or pay stubs for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date. Salary should reflect significant gainful employment in Texas, which is sufficient to provide at least one-half of the individual’s tuition, fees, and living expenses or that represents an average of at least twenty hours of employment per week.**Employment conditioned on student status, such as work study, the receipt of stipends, fellowships, or research or teaching assistantships does not constitute gainful employment.**
4. Marriage – Marriage certificate showing at least 12 months of marriage with documentation to support that the spouse has established and maintained domicile (through one of the above) in Texas for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date.
## [Residency for Independent Individuals](#a-residencyforindependentindividuals-jXa7eZ)
An Independent Individual is a person who filed their own federal taxes for the previous tax year, **is not** claimed (nor eligible to be claimed) as a dependent on a parent/legal guardian's federal taxes, and provides majority of their own support. To establish residency as an independent individual, the individual must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, have a valid application for Permanent Resident (I-797), or Visa holder (cannot be F-1, J-1, or TN), or other immigrant statuses (see section, [Who is eligible to establish and maintain domicile for tuition purposes in Texas](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/billing-and-payments/residency-for-in-state-tuition/establishing-residency#a-whoiseligibletoestablishandmaintaindomicilefortuitionpurposesintexas-jxs_C0)); and fulfill the following criteria:\
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1. Student must physically reside in Texas and have for the previous 12 consecutive months prior to the term of enrollment; and
2. Student must establish and maintain a domicile in Texas for 12 consecutive months prior to the term of enrollment by meeting **one of the following four**criteria:
1. Residential Real Property – Have sole or joint-marital ownership, lease, or rental of residential real property in Texas with documentation, such as a warranty deed, lease agreement, or rental agreement, to verify ownership, rental, and leasing at the same residence during the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date.
2. Ownership of a Business – Organization of a business in Texas for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date, that reflects continuous, active management and substantial economic interest of the business with evidence of intended continuous operation for the foreseeable future.
3. Significant Gainful Employment – An employer's statement of dates of employment and salary earned by the student in Texas or pay stubs for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date. Salary should reflect significant gainful employment in Texas, which is sufficient to provide at least one-half of the individual’s tuition, fees, and living expenses or that represents an average of at least twenty hours of employment per week. **Employment conditioned on student status, such as work study, the receipt of stipends, fellowships, or research or teaching assistantships does not constitute gainful employment.**
4. Marriage – Marriage certificate showing at least 12 months of marriage with documentation to support that the spouse has established and maintained domicile (through one of the above) in Texas for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date.
## [Residency for Military Individuals](#a-residencyformilitaryindividuals-v5a6Il)
An **active-duty****member** of the United States Armed Services whose Home of Record with the military is Texas is presumed to be a Texas resident, as are his or her spouse and dependent children. A member whose Home of Record is not Texas but who provides the institution Leave and Earnings Statements that show the member has claimed Texas as his or her place of residence for the 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment is presumed to be a Texas resident, as are his or her spouse and dependent children.\
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If you did not select Texas as your Home of Record when you entered the service, and you have not taken steps to change your permanent residence with the military to Texas, you may still qualify for a [waiver](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/financial-aid/veterans/benefits-and-waivers) under Texas statutes.\
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Veterans (Retirees and prior service members) must meet requirements for Independent Individuals even if their home of record was Texas. Spouses and dependents of veterans must also meet requirements for either independent or dependent individuals.
## [How to Apply for a Change of Residency Status](#a-howtoapplyforachangeofresidencystatus-CDfZTV)
**Enrolled and current students** who have met the requirements previously listed in one of the four residency options, or feel their residency status was inaccurately classified, can submit the [Core Residency Questions form](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/getmedia/52dec9c2-2c5f-4814-9a68-797cafdda8dd/Residency.pdf) to [residency@tamu.edu](mailto:residency@tamu.edu). A State Policies Officer will review their request, make a determination, and/or contact the student requesting supporting documentation to substantiate their claim to residency. Once a determination is made, an email to the students official TAMU email will be sent with explanation.\
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**Applicants and New Admits** should upload the completed [Core Residency Questions form](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/getmedia/52dec9c2-2c5f-4814-9a68-797cafdda8dd/Residency.pdf) into the AIS portal. An Admissions Officer will review, make a residency determination, and notify individual of determination through AIS portal.\
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**Per state policy, The Office of the Registrar and the Office of Admissions may request further documentation from the student to determine if residency requirements were clearly and convincingly met.**
## [Waivers](#a-waivers-tdCRvB)
Students who do not meet any of the above criteria for establishing residency for tuition purposes may still be eligible to pay tuition that is equivalent to the in-state tuition rate. Please contact Aggie One Stop at 979-847-1787 or see the [tuition waivers and exemptions](https://aggieonestop.tamu.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/tuition-waivers-and-exemptions)pagefor more details.
## Contact the Office of the Registrar State Policies Team
[**Request an Appointment**](mailto:residency@tamu.edu?subject=Residency%20Appointment)
Appointments available upon request for Wednesday
and Thursday only.
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**Walk-In Hours**
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday
8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
**Email**: [**residency@tamu.edu**](mailto:residency@tamu.edu?subject=Residency%20Inquiry)
**Phone**: 979-845-1085
**Campus Mail**: Registrar, MS 0100
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**Address**: General Services Complex
750 Agronomy Road, Suite 1501
College Station, TX 77843
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##### Establishing Residency
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