Office
Main Campus FOSS Building 5000   
(206) 546-4523

Eligibility

 

What You Should Know

Shoreline Community College maintains an open enrollment policy for all students who are high school graduates, have earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate or are at least 18 years of age.

Some programs will require a separate application. More information is available by going directly to the Professional-Technical website for these programs.

— Automotive
— Cosmetology
— Dental Hygiene
— Health Care Information Programs:
— Medical Coding
— Medical Reimbursement
— Medical Lab Tech (second year)
— Nursing

Residency Application Process
To apply for a change in residence classification:

  • Complete and print the Residence Questionnaire
  • Return the completed original Residence Questionnaire   (we cannot accept a photocopy or a fax) to our office along with the supporting documentation.
  • Review can take 4-6 weeks.  Please apply early.  Contacting our office to ask about your file decreases the time available to our limited staff for processing paperwork.  Please help our staff process files in a timely fashion by waiting one week before inquiring about the status of your paperwork.

Please note:  Once the application and its contents have been submitted, it becomes the property of Shoreline Community College and will not be returned to students.  It is suggested students make copies for themselves in case they need it for future reference.
 

Please do not fax or e-mail the form as these cannot be accepted.

 

Establishing A Bona Fide Domicile (official place of residence)

To establish domicile in the state of Washington, students must provide documentation showing they meet the following guidelines:

  • Students must prove conclusively that they have not come to Washington State primarily for educational purposes. Current guidelines require students who are enrolled for 7 credits or more a quarter must be employed at least 30 hours per week at a non-student job to overcome the presumption of educational purposes.
  • Live in the state for at least 12 consecutive months as legal residents. A legal resident is an individual who has relinquished all valid legal ties with their former state of residence and established such ties in Washington in accordance with state and local legislation
  • Establish legal ties.
    • Employment (if taking more than 6 credits a quarter during the first year of being present in Washington State)

    • Driver's license/state ID. If students possess current, out-of-state driver's licenses, they must obtain a Washington State Driver's License within 30 days of arrival. If they don not have a driver's license from any state, they must obtain a Washington State ID Card.
    • Vehicle registration. If students own or drive vehicles in Washington, the vehicles must be registered in Washington.
    • Voter Registration. If students have current, out-of-state voter's registrations, they must be registered to vote in Washington.
    • Establish a bank account in Washington.
    • Be financially independent for the current and prior calendar years.

Examples of other factors that may help students establish proof of domicile include: disposition of property in the former state of residence, relocation of household members, participation in local community organizations, and generally becoming involved in activities that will help prove their intent to make Washington their official place of residence.

 

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Financially Dependent Student

 

Students who are financially dependent upon parents or legal guardians (provide court documentation verifying the guardianship is valid) must provide documentation to prove their parents/legal guardians have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington. Students must also provide documentation to show they are dependents claimed by the parents/legal guardians on the most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax return.

Students whose parents or legal guardians are either divorced or legally separated may be classified as residents if the following conditions are met:

  • The students are claimed as a dependent on the most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax return by one of the parents/legal guardians.

  • At least one parent or legal guardian has established a bona fide domicile in the State of Washington.
  • The students and parents/legal guardians must fill out the Residency Questionnaire (students, complete the first page. Parents/legal guardians, complete the second).

 

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Please do not fax or e-mail the form as these cannot be accepted.


Financially Independent Student

Students must show establishment of a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington if they are under the age of 25 and if their parents or court-appointed legal guardians do not reside in Washington.

Students must also provide documentation showing independent payments of the majority of their expenses for the previous calendar/tax year and independent payment of, or the ability to independently pay, the majority of their expenses for the current calendar/tax year. These documents include:

  • A copy of the student's most recent tax return.
  • A copy of the parent's most recent tax return (top half of the first page only), showing dependents claimed.
  • Verification of year-to-date earnings (i.e., a copy of the student's most recent pay stub with year-to-date earnings total listed).

To establish a bona fide domicile, (official place of residence) financially independent students must:

  • Prove conclusively that they have not come to the state primarily for educational purposes. Current guidelines require that students enrolled for 7 credits or more a quarter must be employed at least 30 hours per week at a non-student job to overcome the presumption of educational purposes.
     
  • Live in the state for 12 consecutive months as legal residents. A legal resident is an individual who has relinquished all valid legal ties (for example, driver's license, voter registration, etc.) with their former state of residence and established such ties in Washington in accordance with state and local legislation.
     
  • Establish legal ties.
    • Employment

    • Driver's license/state ID. If students possess current, out-of-state driver's licenses, they must obtain a Washington State Driver's License within 30 days of arrival. If they don not have a driver's license from any state, they must obtain a Washington State ID Card.
    • Vehicle registration. If students own or drive vehicles in Washington, the vehicles must be registered in Washington.
    • Voter Registration. If students have current, out-of-state voter's registrations, they must be registered to vote in Washington.
    • Establish a bank account in Washington.
    • Be financially independent for the current and prior calendar years.

Examples of other factors that might help students establish proof of domicile include: disposition of property in the former state of residence, relocation of household members, participation in local community organizations, and generally becoming involved in activities that will help prove their intent to make Washington their official place of residence.

 

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Eligible Non-Citizens

 

Permanent U.S. Residents

If students are able to provide documentation of final approval for their Permanent Resident immigrant status, they may apply for Washington State residency, if they meet the following conditions:

  • Their application for adjustment to Permanent Resident status was filed at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the quarter for which they are requesting to be classified as Washington residents.
     
  • They meet the requirements listed under establishing a bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).

Qualifying Visas

 

Students may apply for Washington State residency for tuition and fee purposes if they are on an A, E, G, H1, I, L, or K visa and if they meet the requirements listed under establishing a bona fide domicile (with the exception of registering to vote).

 

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Affidavit of Residency

 

Students may be eligible to pay resident tuition rates if they meet all of the following 3 criteria:

  • Received a diploma from a Washington high school or the equivalent of a diploma in Washington State.

  • Lived in Washington for at least 3 calendar years (not school years) prior to receiving their diploma or its equivalent.

  • Continuously resided in Washington since receiving the high school diploma or its equivalent.

Students who meet all of the above criteria are required to provide a completed Washington Higher Education Residency Affidavit to the Enrollment Services Office verifying they will file an application to become a U.S. Permanent Resident at the earliest opportunity.

 

If you are eligible, please print and complete the following form with your signature. The original copy of this form should be submitted to the SCC Enrollment Services Office.

 

Please do not fax or e-mail the form as these cannot be accepted.

 

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