Legal Residency Policy, Procedure and Requirements

Legal resident status is granted to a U.S. citizen who meets one of the following criteria:

1. A full-time permanent employee of the University or is the dependent of such an employee.
2. Verification of full-time permanent employment within the state of Alabama or is the dependent of such an employee and will commence said employment within 90 days of registration with the institution.
3. A member or dependent of a member of the United States military on full-time active duty stationed in Alabama under orders for duties other than attending school.
4. Employed as a graduate assistant or fellow by the University.
5. An accredited member of or the dependent of a staff assigned to duties in Alabama (U.S. citizenship not required).
6. Residence in the state by parents, spouse or others who provide more than 50 percent of the student’s financial support.

To be eligible to change residency status, a student must be a citizen of the United States, prove full-time employment within the state of Alabama, provide evidence of having filed an Alabama tax return as resident of the state of Alabama, and prove continuous residence in the state for a purpose other than attending school. Continuous residence in the state may be substantiated by meeting a combination of three of the following:

1. Ownership of residential property and other real property in the state of Alabama.
2. Previous periods of residence in the state continuing for one year or more other than full-time students.
3. Voter registration and voting in the state, more significantly, continuing voter registration in the state that initially occurred at least one year prior to the initial registration of the student in Alabama at a public institution of higher education.
4. Possession of a state or local license to do business or practice a profession in the state of Alabama.
5. In-state address shown on selective service registration, driver’s license, automobile title registration, hunting and fishing licenses, insurance policies, stock and bond registrations, last will and testament, annuities, or retirement plans.

The burden of proof for changing legal resident status resides with the student. The Office of The Murphy Graduate School will assist graduate students with the completion of appropriate documents for consideration.