| Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I know if I am considered as a resident or a non-resident?
When you apply for admission, you must complete a series of questions that determines whether you meet the Oregon Administrative Rules pertaining to residency classification. If the questions do not indicate that you are a resident or if the application questions are incomplete or seem to provide conflicting information, you will be classified as a non-resident.
How will I be notified about my residency classification?
When you submit your admissions application, you will receive a letter confirming the application’s arrival in the Office of Admissions. This letter will specify your residency classification. Any questions about the classification should be directed to the UO Residency Classification Officer.
How can I prove that I should be classified as a resident?
The first step in making a case for residency is to apply for admission. Questions on the application allow the Office of Admissions to make an initial residency assessment. If you disagree with this assessment, you may be required to complete a Residence Information Affidavit. This form is submitted to the Residency Officer who reviews the information provided and makes a decision on the affidavit. If the affidavit is approved, you will be classified as a resident.
If the affidavit is denied, you may appeal in person or in writing to the Inter-institutional Residency Committee (IRC). The Committee is comprised of the residency officers from all of the Oregon University System schools (Oregon State University, Southern Oregon University, Portland State University, Western Oregon University, and Oregon Institute of Technology). If the IRC approves the appeal, you will be classified as a resident.
If denied, you may appeal (in writing only) to the Oregon Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Vice Chancellor’s decision shall be final.
If I receive information from the UO Office of Student Financial Aid that indicates that I am a resident, does it mean I have been classified as a resident?
Not necessarily. The Financial Aid Office gets its initial information from your FAFSA form. If you report that you are a resident, then the Financial Aid Office will process your form as a resident. If that assessment runs counter to the Residency Officer’s assessment, then you are considered as a non-resident and your financial aid offer is eventually recalculated with a non-resident budget. If you detect discrepancies in correspondence you receive from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid, you should contact the Residency Officer for clarification.
What are the key considerations for determining my residency classification?
- Establishment of a domicile and predominant physical presence in Oregon for a period of 12 months or more prior to the beginning of the term for which residency is sought
- Financial dependence on an Oregon resident or financial independence
- Primary purpose for being in Oregon other than to obtain an education
- Nature and source of financial resources
- Various other indicia of residency (e.g., ownership of Oregon living quarters, permanent Oregon employment, payment of Oregon income taxes
What is meant by “domicile”?
A domicile is a person’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where a person intends to remain and to which the person expects to return when a person leaves without intending to establish a domicile elsewhere.
If my parents are divorced and my father lives in Oregon, but my mother does not, can I be considered as a resident?
If you are financially dependent on the Oregon parent, and the Oregon parent has established residency, then you would be considered to be a resident. You are considered to be dependent if you have been claimed on a parent’s state and federal tax forms. Students in these circumstances are often required to complete additional documentation verifying the financial support that has been provided by each parent.
Does the University of Oregon participate in any reciprocity agreements with other states?
No, the UO does not participate in any such agreement. Reciprocity agreements allow residents of another state to pay resident tuition rather than non-resident tuition.
What about WUE? If I get WUE, am I considered a resident?
WUE stands for Western Undergraduate Exchange. Students receiving this benefit pay approximately 150% of resident tuition, but are not classified as Oregon residents. For more information about WUE, please visit the following website:
http://financialaid.uoregon.edu/SCG-wue.htm
If I live just across the Oregon border, but work in Oregon and pay Oregon taxes, are my dependents or I considered residents for tuition purposes?
No. While paying Oregon taxes is a positive factor in determining residency classification, your predominant physical presence outside the state would cause a non-resident classification.
If I own property in Oregon, and pay Oregon property taxes, are my dependents or I considered residents for tuition purposes?
If you own property but do not maintain a predominant physical presence in Oregon, you will be considered a non-resident.
If I live in a state other than Oregon, and I marry an Oregon resident, will I be considered a resident for tuition purposes?
Marriage to an Oregon resident does not grant you immediate residency. Individuals in this situation would usually be considered independent and need to meet residency qualifications pertaining to an independent person.
If I serve in the military, am I considered an Oregon resident?
Active members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Military Reservists, and members of the Oregon National Guard) and their spouses and dependent children shall be considered residents if particular conditions are met. For more information, visit the following website (OAR 580-010-0035).
I’ve heard that I might qualify as a resident because I am Native American. Is that true?
If you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe of Oregon or are an enrolled member of a Native American tribe which had traditional and customary tribal boundaries that included parts of the state of Oregon or which ceded or reserved lands within the state of Oregon you shall be a resident regardless of your state of residence. For a complete listing of Native Americans tribes eligible for this consideration, please visit the following website (OAR 580-010-0037).
Can I be considered a resident if I am not a U.S. citizen?
If you are not a citizen of the United States you may be considered an Oregon resident if you meet the basic rules for residency and are one of the following:
- A lawful permanent resident. The date of approval of lawful permanent residency shall be the earliest date upon which the 12-month residency requirements may begin to accrue.
- An immigrant granted refugee or political asylum in the United States. The date of approval of political asylum or refugee status shall be the earliest date upon which the twelve-month residency requirements may begin to accrue.
- A person holding one of the following non-immigrant visa classifications: A, E, G, H-1B, H-1C, the spouse or child of a person holding a H-1B or H-1C visa, I, K, L, NATO, O, R, S, T, TN, U, or V. The date of issuance of a visa for one of these classifications shall be the earliest date upon which the 12-month residency requirements may begin to accrue. A person possessing a non-immigrant or temporary visa that is not identified under this rule shall not be considered an Oregon resident.
If I am not an Oregon resident, what is my state of residency?
Residency rules vary widely from state to state. The job of the Residency Officer is only to determine if you meet the requirements for resident classification (for tuition purposes) in Oregon. It is not to ascertain your true state of residency.
In fact, it is possible for you to qualify as a resident of Oregon for purposes of voting or obtaining an Oregon driver’s license and not meet the residency requirements for tuition purposes.
If I live in Oregon for twelve consecutive months, will I be a resident after attending as a non-resident for a year?
No. If you take more than eight credits per term, in any term, in those first twelve months, the state will presume that your primary purpose for living in the state is for educational purposes, and you will continue to be classified as a non-resident.
If I attend an Oregon community college or other institution that classifies me as a resident, will I be considered a resident when I transfer to the UO?
You will be classified as an Oregon resident only if you meet the UO requirements for residency. Previous residency classifications by community colleges or other institutions will not be carried forward to your UO record.
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