Residency Appeal
Residency Appeal
A person or, if that person is a dependent, his or her parent(s) or legal guardian must have established and maintained legal residence in Florida for at least twelve months immediately prior to qualification. Residence in Florida must be a bona fide domicile, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a residence incident to enrollment at an institution of higher education. To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, you must be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident alien, or legal alien granted indefinite stay by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (s.1009.21, F.S.). Other persons not meeting the twelve-month legal residence requirement may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes only if they fall within one of the limited special categories authorized by the Florida Legislature and Board of Education. Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence. Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents. (s.1009.21, F.S.).
Students who are deemed ineligible for in-state tuition rates have the right to appeal to the Senior Director of the chosen Orange Technical College Campus. In the event the student is not satisfied with that appeal, the student may escalate the appeal to the Associate Superintendent for Career and Technical Education for further review.
Residency must be documented by the submission of verification including two or more of the following documents:
- A Florida voter’s registration card.
- A Florida driver's license.
- A State of Florida identification card.
- A Florida vehicle registration.
- Proof of a permanent home in Florida that is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual's parent if the individual is a dependent child.
- Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
- Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma was earned within the last 12 months.
- Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.
The documents may include one or more of the following:
- A declaration of domicile in Florida.
- A Florida professional or occupational license.
- Florida incorporation.
- A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
- Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization.
- Any other documentation that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.