Immigration Status

Eligibility for the in-state tuition subsidy benefit and immigration status is dependent upon several factors. A student must meet the following criteria in addition to the other residency requirements. Please refer to the explanation below to determine if your immigration status entitles you to apply for in-state residency.

A Financially Independent Student

If a person is financially independent, they must be a U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident Alien, Political Asylee, Political Refugee, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),  or hold an A, E, G, H, I, L, O, P, R, TC, TD, or TN visa to be eligible for review as an in-state resident for tuition purposes.

If a student holds a B, F, J, M, or U visa and is financially independent, they are not eligible to establish Ohio residency. 

Students who are financially independent and their immigration status is pending (i.e. for green card) are not eligible for in-state residency unless their most recent immigration status prior to entering pending status was an eligible status to receive the in-state tuition subsidy benefit. (i.e. visa type of A, E, G, H, I, L, O, P, R, TC, TD, or TN)

A Financially Dependent Student

If a student is financially dependent upon a spouse or parent, the person they are dependent upon must also be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, political asylee or political refugee, or hold an A, E, G, H, I, L, O, P, R, TC, TD or TN visa to qualify to be reviewed for in-state residency.

(Note: Financial dependence upon a parent is defined as having been claimed on the parent's federal income tax return in the most recent tax year. Financial dependence upon a spouse is proven with a marriage certificate.)

A student who holds a B, F, J, M, or U visa can qualify for in-state residency only if they are financially dependent upon a spouse or parent who is a bona fide Ohio resident. A bona fide Ohio resident is defined as a person who meets the criteria established in the Ohio Department of Higher Education and is also a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, political asylee or political refugee, or holds an A, E, G, H, I, L, O, P, R, TC, TD, or TN visa.

If a student is dependent upon a spouse or parent who holds a B, F, J or M visa, they are not eligible to establish in-state residency.

Special Note (1): If a student is a dependent of a bona fide Ohio resident and the student's current visa type is B, F, J, M or U, they must also have applied to adjust their status to permanent resident alien or to adjust their status to match that of the person they are dependent on in order to qualify for the in-state tuition subsidy benefit.

Special Note (2): If a student's immigration status changes after being classified as a resident, it may affect their ability to remain classified as a resident. For example, if a student is financially independent and on an H1B visa and adjusts their status to F-1, they would no longer be eligible for in-state residency.