Family Reclassification
Family Reclassification (dependent student under the age of 24 years old) –
A dependent student under the age of 24 years old who has been initially classified as nonresident for tuition and fee purposes may become eligible for reclassification if his or her parents/legal guardians have permanently relocated to Montana. The student and their parents/legal guardians should submit a petition along with proof of their Montana residency. Please note, a married student applying for residency should apply as an independent student, not dependent student.
If a student is determined to be a dependent student, their residency will be decided based on their parents/legal guardians domicile information and supporting documentation, not their own. Supporting documents should provide proof of maintaining a bona fide domicile (permanent legal residency) in the state of Montana for the required residency petition period of 12-consecutive months, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence.
The required 12-month residency petition period does not run for any period in which the student and their parents/legal guardians maintain legal ties to another state or country such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, or tax liability, regardless of the person’s reasons for establishing or maintaining such ties. A petition for reclassification of residency is considered complete when all documents have been received from the student and their parents/legal guardians.
A student and their parents/legal guardians who are seeking in-state status will need to have established legal ties on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which they begin the required 12-month residency petition period. Any exception requires a written appeal and explanation to be reviewed by the full Office of the Registrar’s Residency Committee.
Required Documentation
Click here for a printable checklist of all required documentation for family reclassification.
This questionnaire, provided by the Board of Regents, needs to be filled out legibly in ink and signed by the petitioner. The instructions are found on pages 6 & 7 and pages 8 & 9 contain the:
- Tax Exemption Affidavit – required if the student is younger than 24 years of age or was claimed as a dependent on their parent’s most recent tax filing. All parents / legal guardians need to sign this form in front of a notary; and
- Employment Affidavit – required for petitioners who are currently employed in a full-time permanent, position that brought them to Montana. Along with the Employment Affidavit submit a letter of transfer from an employer to parent to meet reclassification consideration. Please see Board of Regent’s Policy 940.1, §I.1.(b).
(from student and their parents/legal guardians)
If the student and their parents/legal guardians have a driver’s license and/or identification card in another state, they will need to obtain a Montana Driver’s License or Identification Card to cut that tie. Must show current date obtained and earliest date obtained, if different. Driver's License and/or Identification Cards can be obtained through the Montana Vehicle Department, an appointment can be made here: https://dojmt.gov/driving/.
The 12-month period does not run for any period in which the dependent student and their parents/legal guardians maintain legal ties to another state or country such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, or tax liability, regardless of the person’s reasons for establishing or maintaining such ties. An individual seeking in-state status would need to have established legal ties on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which they begin the residency process.
(from student and their parents/legal guardians)
If the dependent student and their parents/legal guardians have registered to vote in another state, they will need to obtain new voter status in the State of Montana to cut that tie. Voter registration proof must contain the issue date. A Certificate of Registration can be obtained from the Voter Registration / County Election Office, which is located at 311 W Main St, Room 210, Bozeman, MT in the old Court House. Please note, a Certificate of Registration CANNOT be obtained online or through the mail.
The 12-month period does not run for any period in which the dependent student and their parents/legal guardians maintain legal ties to another state or country such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, or tax liability, regardless of the person’s reasons for establishing or maintaining such ties. An individual seeking in-state status would need to have established legal ties on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which they begin the residency process.
(from student and/or their parents/legal guardians)
If a vehicle, which is registered in another state, is operated in the State of Montana, the vehicle will need to register in the State of Montana, prior to the required 12-month residency petition period beginning, in order to cut that tie.
The 12-month period does not run for any period in which the dependent student and their parents/legal guardians maintain legal ties to another state or country such as a driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, or tax liability, regardless of the person’s reasons for establishing or maintaining such ties. An individual seeking in-state status would need to have established legal ties on or before the 15th class day of the semester in which they begin the residency process.
(from parents/legal guardians)
Provide a copy of the parent’s bank statement or a voided check or a deposit slip from the parent’s/legal guardians checkbook showing their Montana mailing address. It is not required to be a bank in Montana.
(from parents/legal guardians)
The parents/legal guardians are required to submit their most recent paystub(s) for the current year from all jobs held, showing their year-to-date gross earnings.
(from parents/legal guardians)
The parents/legal guardians are required to submit their most recent resident Montana tax return. The parents/legal guardians seeking in-state status must file any required resident Montana tax returns for all taxable income earned during the period in which residency is claimed. For difficulty obtaining tax returns, please reach out to the Montana Department of Revenue at (406) 444-6900 for assistance.
(from student)
If applicable, information showing what the student was awarded and what the student accepted for the Academic School Year. This link is located at the bottom of the award page in My Info, if the student cannot find it, they should let someone in the Office of the Registrar know.
(from parents/legal guardians)
If applicable, the student should provide proof of their home ownership in Montana.
Other Significant Factors
Please refer to policy for more details:
- A student who registers for more than 7.0 credit hours in any given semester in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.
- A student who leaves the state for more than 30 days (total) in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.
- A student who accepts an Academic Achievement Award or Blue & Gold Scholarship or Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship (WUE) in the year in which they are establishing residency is presumed to be in the state for educational purposes.
Appeals Process
If a student and their parents/legal guardians are denied in-state status, they may appeal the decision to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education within 14 calendar days of the committee’s decision. An appeal may be accompanied by any additional written materials they wish to submit. These materials should be submitted to Veronica Jordan, who will transmit the entire packet to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): (applies to residency)
This Act protects the privacy of all education records, in any medium, maintained by Montana State University. Although the law was written in 1974, its coverage is not limited to paper copies. All student education records, including records about students contained in computer databases, are protected. Additionally, Montana law protects students' right to privacy and is considered more restrictive in its approach to the release of dependent student information to parents.