Texas Residency Status: How Does TMDSAS determine it?

[Suryatej Vakkalanka]

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Hi @wysdoc, I am from OOS and currently attending undergrad in Texas. If I run a tutoring business for a 12-month period while also living in college dorms in Texas, would that count for domicile purposes?

Also, does the 12-month period when I establish domicile need to immediately precede the Nov 1st deadline of the year that I apply, or can it be any 12 months before the deadline? For example, could the 12-month period be from August 2024 to July 2025 if the deadline for the year I apply is November 1, 2026?

Finally, thank you for your time.

 

[wysdoc]

Hi @wysdoc, I am from OOS and currently attending undergrad in Texas. If I run a tutoring business for a 12-month period while also living in college dorms in Texas, would that count for domicile purposes?

Also, does the 12-month period when I establish domicile need to immediately precede the Nov 1st deadline of the year that I apply, or can it be any 12 months before the deadline? For example, could the 12-month period be from August 2024 to July 2025 if the deadline for the year I apply is November 1, 2026?

Finally, thank you for your time.

Being in Texas while you are an OOS college student is not a qualifying time period.
If you lived and worked at least 20 hours a week after graduating, and not simultaneously being a student, for 12 consecutive months, that would count.
Work-study jobs in college do not qualify.
Texas tuition is affordable even at the OOS rate but it’s not simple to establish domicile and the loopholes you hear about don’t exist.

 

[Suryatej Vakkalanka]

I understand completely. I forgot to mention that I am under scholarship, and I was under the impression that if you get a scholarship in Texas undergrad you can get in state tuition for undergrad. Does this matter at all for the designation for in state/OOS for med school?

 

[wysdoc]

I understand completely. I forgot to mention that I am under scholarship, and I was under the impression that if you get a scholarship in Texas undergrad you can get in state tuition for undergrad. Does this matter at all for the designation for in state/OOS for med school?

The rules for the med schools with regards to residency status are more restrictive and specific.
The fact that you got a scholarship to allow you to pay In-state tuition in undergrad still does not make you a Texan, but it's a nice way for the school to make you feel appreciated as an OOS student with this "tuition discount."

There are a few TMDSAS medical schools (not all) who will do this for OOS pre-med students they are trying to recruit. We were discussing this recently here: #171 This is not exactly a scholarship you can apply for, but something one of these schools which wants you might offer.

 

[Suryatej Vakkalanka]

Hi @wysdoc ,

If I were to file taxes as an independent, have sole ownership of residential real property in Texas, and live there for 12 consecutive months by the application deadline, would that qualify me as a Texas resident for my medical school application without taking a gap year? (considering I am an out-of-state college student and a US citizen).

For context: I found this on the TMDSAS website which leads me to believe that I can establish residency by establishing domicile even though I am living in Texas solely for educational purposes

(Residency)

 

[wysdoc]

Hi @wysdoc ,

If I were to file taxes as an independent, have sole ownership of residential real property in Texas, and live there for 12 consecutive months by the application deadline, would that qualify me as a Texas resident for my medical school application without taking a gap year? (considering I am an out-of-state college student and a US citizen).

For context: I found this on the TMDSAS website which leads me to believe that I can establish residency by establishing domicile even though I am living in Texas solely for educational purposes
View attachment 384323
(Residency)

It looks likely, if you actually live in the residential property. However I’m not the arbiter so when you fill out your TMDSAS primary answer all the questions relating to residency one by one and see what their ruling will be.

 

[Suryatej Vakkalanka]

Thank you so much! Will do.

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

Hi @wysdoc! Thanks for all your help 🙂

I'm applying this cycle and I believe I qualify for TX residency, however is there a set number for how much you have to earn to become a TX resident under TMDSAS standards? I currently make about 20k (not contingent on student status, it's through an MA job and data filing work), and I wanted to know if I qualify before I put all my money in on TMDSAS.

 

[wysdoc]

Hi @wysdoc! Thanks for all your help 🙂

I'm applying this cycle and I believe I qualify for TX residency, however is there a set number for how much you have to earn to become a TX resident under TMDSAS standards? I currently make about 20k, and I wanted to know if I qualify before I put all my money in on TMDSAS.

No wage restrictions. Just answer all the questions on the TMDSAS app in the residency section and they will tell you their ruling on your status. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a “yes” answer for every single question

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

No wage restrictions. Just answer all the questions on the TMDSAS app in the residency section and they will tell you their ruling on your status. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a “yes” answer for every single question

Thank you, that helps a lot! Also, my apologies if this has been asked already (despite solid stats, I must confess I feel rather slow), but does this still apply if you're a full-time student? I'm currently a junior but earn the aforementioned 20k through non-work-study sources to support myself + get clinical experience on top of a scholarship (and because I rather like money). Am I still eligible to claim TX residency, despite being a full time student?

 

[wysdoc]

Thank you, that helps a lot! Also, my apologies if this has been asked already (despite solid stats, I must confess I feel rather slow), but does this still apply if you're a full-time student? I'm currently a junior but earn the aforementioned 20k through non-work-study sources to support myself + get clinical experience on top of a scholarship (and because I rather like money). Am I still eligible to claim TX residency, despite being a full time student?

I can’t make that judgement, sorry. You will need to answer all the TMDSAS questions truthfully and see what their decision is.
There is also a long video on this topic on Texas Health Education Service YouTube page.

 

[IWishICouldPhysics]

I can’t make that judgement, sorry. You will need to answer all the TMDSAS questions truthfully and see what their decision is.
There is also a long video on this topic on Texas Health Education Service YouTube page.

I'll check that video out, thank you! I appreciate your time and patience 🙂

 

[wysdoc]

Most recent video explaining Texas residency criteria

 

[wysdoc]

This residency is a bit confusing. i am self-employed, but started in august of the preceding year. if i apply in may of this year, can i still claim in-state if by the application deadline i will have over 12 months worth of income?

right now, I don't have 12 months looking backwards (have 10 months), but i will by october 1st. they word it a bit weird when discussing casually in the YouTube videos, saying "make sure you have 12 consecutive months of pay-stubs" while also saying "by the application deadline," but i won't have that when I apply in May.

how can one have 12 consecutive months of pay stubs by the deadline if they are applying before the deadline? Do we continue to upload them over time?

all I have are:
- Invoices
- Filed Tax Returns
- Payments

wondering if anyone can help me validate that i am not crazy

The date stamp is 12 months by October 1 in your application year (Oct 1 2025 for you)