Skip to Main Content
Admissions Academics Financial Aid Campus Life Student Services Continuing Ed QC Community

Residency Verification Process

In general, to qualify for the resident tuition rate at a community college based on residence in the State of New York, a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or in a qualifying immigration status (see section below regarding qualifying immigration statuses); AND

  • Have continuously maintained his/her principal place of abode in the State of New York for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes AND

  • Either (1) have continuously maintained his/her principal place of abode in New York City for at least the last six months immediately preceding the first day of classes OR (2) if the student is a resident of a New York State county outside of New York City, obtain and present a valid certificate of residence to the CUNY community college from his/her home county; AND

  • Have a bona fide intention of living in New York permanently.

Qualifying Immigration Statuses
To be accorded resident status, a student who is not a U.S. citizen must present valid evidence issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), indicating that he/she is in a qualifying immigration status. Undocumented and out-of-status immigrants, while not eligible to be considered “residents,” may nevertheless be entitled to pay the resident tuition rate if they attended and graduated from high school or received a GED or TASC in New York State. For additional information, visit https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/university-tuition-fee-manual/iv-residency/#part1-eligibility.