Individuals can establish residency in two basic ways. One based on establishing domicile and the other based on graduation from high school. The option related to the establishment of domicile is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students who hold eligible Visa Types [pdf].
Option 1: Residency by establishing domicile
This option for establishing Texas residency is available to
- Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
- Non-citizens and non-permanent residents may also use this option if they have an application for permanent residency on file with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
- International students who hold an eligible visa. Please check the Visa Types [pdf].
If you are independent for tax purposes, you may gain resident status if you establish domicile in the state. If your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.
To establish domicile, you or your parent(s)/guardian(s) must meet the following criteria:
- Physically reside in Texas for 12 consecutive months; and
- Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months by doing one of the following:
- Be gainfully employed in Texas (student employment does not qualify as gainful employment);
- Have sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent's parent, having established and maintained a domicile at the residence;
- Own and operate a business in Texas;
- Be married for one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas.
Please review our Residency Quick List for guidance on the supporting documentation you must submit with your Core Residency Questionnaire [pdf] in order to petition for reclassification of your residency status. To find a more detailed list of documents that are acceptable as proof to establish domicile in Texas, please refer to the Documentation to Support Establishing and Maintaining Domicile in Texas [pdf].
Option 2: Residency through high school graduation
This option for establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to some international students.
To establish residency through high school graduation, you must:
- Graduate from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas; and
- Live in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and
- Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date (see the Academic Calendar for the exact date) of the semester in which you enroll at Texas Woman's University.
If you are an international student seeking residency through high school graduation, you must submit a Residency Affidavit stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so.