Financial Aid for Undocumented Students

File your Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) yearly.

Financial aid, through state and institutional funds, may be available to students who are not eligible for federal aid because of immigration status.  If your status is  undocumented, DACA recipient, or other select non-citizen, complete a WASFA between October 1 and by the UW’s priority filing date to be considered for financial aid for the next school year.  This is a yearly application process that must be completed each year you are attending the UW.  If you have already filed a FAFSA for the same academic year, it is not necessary to also file a WASFA.  However, you must contact the financial aid office to ensure your Free Aid Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is reviewed.

If you file your financial aid application after the UW’s priority filing date, you are a late applicant and can only be considered for limited types of aid.  If there were special circumstances that prevented you from filing your financial aid application on-time, or if you have any questions regarding the financial aid application process, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to speak with a counselor.  We will do our best to provide assistance.

Once we receive your aid application, we may request other information/documentation for verification purposes. Respond to all requests promptly.

NOTE: Graduate students in fee-based programs of study are not eligible for financial aid. Undergraduate students in eligible fee-based programs of study are limited to the WCG (Washington College Grant).
 

Verify Washington State Residency

IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO RECEIVE UW FINANCIAL AID FOR THE FIRST TIME, verification of your Washington State residency is required prior to disbursement of financial aid.  For information regarding the residency verification process, including quarterly submission and deadline dates, please contact the UW Tacoma Office of the Registrar.

Verification of your instate residency status requires that you complete the Affidavit of Residency.  The Affidavit of Residency may be submitted as part of the WASFA application or by submitting the form at the link below to the Office of the Registrar. If you meet the following conditions below, be sure to indicate that on your WASFA.  By doing so, you will have submitted your Affidavit and no additional residency application is required.  The Office of the Registrar will contact you if additional materials are required to verify you meet the criteria of the affidavit.

Affidavit of Residency

• Received a high school diploma (or equivalent).
• Maintained a primary residence in Washington for at least one year (12 months) immediately prior to starting their first admitted quarter at the University of Washington Tacoma. The Washington residence must be for purposes other than college. If you take any courses at another Washington college during the prior 12 months, you cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. If you exceed that limit you must prove that you have a Washington residence for non-college reasons.
• Affirm that you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or that you will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States as soon as you are eligible to apply.

Each campus processes their own residency applications.  Should additional information be required, your campus residency office will contact you.  Once you submit your residency application and have questions, please contact the UW Tacoma Office of the Registrar.

NOTE:  If your residency application is denied, any financial aid awarded to you is subject to cancellation.