Individuals qualify to pay in-state tuition in the state of Texas if they have lived in Texas for 12 consecutive months. If a student is claimed as a dependent, residency is based on the residency of their parent or legal guardian, who must reside in an established residence for 12 consecutive months. When basing residency on a parent or legal guardian, proper documentation must be filed to the academic institute in question in order for the correct tuition information to be processed.
Senate Bill 1528 was established to allow noncitizens, non-permanent residents and visa holders to be granted residency for the purposes of in-state tuition. The student qualifies for in-state tuition if she attended a Texas high school for 36 months before graduating or lived in Texas for 36 months before receiving her GED. Students who meet these requirements need to submit a signed, notarized affidavit along with their official transcripts or GED certificate to the college in question. Students with an eligible visa may also be eligible for in-state tuition.
Colleges, such as the University of Houston, allow for residency reclassification. Students initially submit the school's residency questionnaire to the college during their first semester to determine their initial residency location and tuition rate. If necessary, students can request a residency reclassification if they believe there is a change in their residency status. The Senate Bill 1528 affidavit may also be used to provide proof of residency for this purpose.
Texas residency for dependent children is determined by the parents' legal residence. For example, if a student is living with relatives and the parents live in Ohio, the student would pay out-of-state tuition based on his parents' residence. If these relatives became the student's legal guardian, in-state tuition would then be granted. Marriage does not provide automatic residency; the individual must establish residency independent from that of the spouse. Establishing residence may also be shown through employment or domicile establishment for a 12-month period.