Residency Status FAQ | Greenville Technical College

Can international students be considered residents?

International students are not considered residents of the state until they gain permanent resident status from the Immigration and Naturalization Service and have lived in South Carolina for one year after the "resident since" date on their card, or have provided verification of full-time employment in South Carolina.

Why is residency status important?

It is important that each applicant for admission and each enrolled student know his or her resident status for tuition payment and understand the regulations governing resident status. If a student is unsure about residency, information is available at the Admissions Office.

What is considered a legal resident of South Carolina?

A legal resident of the state is one who has his or her legal domicile in the state of South Carolina for a period of 12 continuous months. South Carolina residency law information can be found at https://che.sc.gov/sc-residency-information.

An applicant or student residing in South Carolina for the sole purpose of enrolling at Greenville Technical College may not acquire resident status.

When is residency determined?

The initial determination of one's resident classification is made at the time of admission. The determination at that time, and any determination made thereafter, prevails for each semester until the determination is challenged successfully.

Will my residency be updated automatically when I have attended for a year?

No. Changes in residency must be initiated by the applicant/student.

Will my tuition rate change when I update my address online?

No. Changes in address that will impact residency/tuition rate must be accompanied by the residency certification form and completed by the Admissions Office or Student Services at a satellite campus.

What is considered full-time employment for the one year residency exception?

Full-time employment is defined as working at least 36.5 hours a week and being offered benefits. Two part-time jobs do not equal one full-time job.

Full-time can also be defined as receiving full Social Security Disability Benefits.

If retired, receiving a pension or annuity deposited in South Carolina can meet the qualifications.