Admission Information

International Residency Information

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Residency refers to whether you are an in-state Florida resident or an out-of-state resident, and this classification determines your rate of tuition. Florida state statute Section 1009.21 defines the requirements for a student to be classified as an in-state resident for tuition purposes. Most importantly: Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence for tuition purposes.

When you apply to the university, your initial residency classification is determined by the Office of Admissions. Failure to provide sufficient documentation in the residency section of the admissions application will result in a non-Florida or out-of-state residency classification for tuition purposes.

Students and claimants who are non-U.S. citizens are required to submit documentation to verify permanent resident or visa status IN ADDITION to documentation required for in-state status.

Required Documentation 

Proof of Florida residency as a  DEPENDENT,  INDEPENDENT, or  EXCEPTION, AND proof of visa status is required. ONLY the following categories of visa holders are eligible for consideration. All others are ineligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes. 

  • Visa category A - Government official
  • Visa category E - Treaty trader or investor
  • Visa category G - Representative of international organization
  • Visa category H-1 - Temporary worker performing professional nursing services or in a specialty occupation
  • Visa category H-4 - Only if spouse or child of alien is classified H-1
  • Visa category I – Foreign information media representative
  • Visa category K – Fiancé, fiancée or child of a United States citizen
  • Visa category L – Intracompany transferee (including spouse or child)
  • Visa category N – Parent or child of alien accorded special immigrant status
  • Visa category O-1 – Workers of "extraordinary" ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics
  • Visa category O-3 – Only if spouse or child of alien is classified O-1
  • Visa category R – Religious workers
  • Visa category NATO I-7 – Representatives of NATO and their families

Non-U.S. citizens in the following categories are also eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes.

  • Citizens of Micronesia
  • Citizens of the Marshall Islands
  • Individuals granted withholding of deportation status
  • Individuals granted suspension of deportation status or cancellation of removal
  • Applicants for adjustment of status
  • Asylum applicants with INS receipt or Immigration Court stamp

You have until the last day of classes in your first term to request that the Office of Admissions re-evaluate your residency status by providing sufficient documentation. However, if your residency status is listed as non-Florida at the time that classes begin, you will be assessed out-of-state tuition charges.

Once you have completed your first term at USF, you can request a reclassification of your residency status from the Office of the Registrar.