Onondaga County

Certificate of Residence in Onondaga County

Who can apply for the Certificate of Residence in Onondaga County?
• Residents of Onondaga County who plan to attend a community college outside Onondaga County within New York State.

Who cannot apply for the Certificate in Onondaga County?
• Residents of Onondaga County planning on attending Onondaga Community College.
• Students living in Onondaga County for the purpose of attending school. Their legal address is that of their parent/guardian or where they lived prior to attending college.
• Members of the Armed Services serving here part-time on active duty. Their legal address is their former/permanent address.

Where does one apply for the Certificate?
By Mail:   Finance Department
               RE: Certificate of Residence
               421 Montgomery St – 15th Floor
               Syracuse, NY 13202

   (The Finance Department will mail the Certificate to the Bursar’s office of the college)

In Person:To the address above during normal business hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.
   (The student must see to it that the Certificate gets to the Bursar’s office of the college)

When can the Certificate be applied for?
Within 60 days prior to registration of the class(es). This must be applied for upon the start of every school year and is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

What documents are needed?
1. An application form. This can be obtained from the college, at the Onondaga County Finance Department at the address above, or a form can be found HERE. THE APPLICATION MUST BE NOTARIZED if it is mailed in or if someone brings it in, other than the student. If the student is applying in person, please bring picture ID. Relatives may NOT notarize this document.
2. Documentary proof of residence for the past year.
     
   This proof must be:

a. IN THE STUDENT’S NAME. Proof of parents’/guardians’ address is not proof of where the student lives. The student must provide personal proof to receive the residency certificate.
b. PHYSICAL ADDRESS. P.O. Boxes will not be accepted.
c. DATED for the past 6 months within Onondaga County and for the past year within New York State. If you’ve lived in New York State for the full year, but in Onondaga County for less than 6 months, please provide proof for all residences within the previous year.
d. PREPRINTED. Personal/Professional affidavits will not be accepted as proof. See the list below for acceptable proof.

   ACCEPTABLE PROOF:

a. New York State Driver’s License or State ID Card
b. Sheriff’s ID (the expiration date is shown and is 5 years from the issue date)
c. Voter’s Registration Card or printout from the Board of Elections (located across
    the hall from the Finance Dept)
d. Parents’ Income Tax Return filed the previous year claiming the student as a dependant     (must be preprinted and prepared by a Tax accountant).
e. Student’s Income Tax Return filed the previous year or W-2
    (must be preprinted and prepared by a Tax accountant).
f. Payroll Stub
g. Bank Statement/Loan Agreement
h. Utility Bill
i. School (High School or College) Transcript, Report Card, Registration, etc
j. Mortgage or Lease Agreement
k. Car Registration/Insurance Card
l. Postmarked Mail (Mail with a yellow re-directed sticker on it will not be accepted)

   UNACCEPTABLE PROOF:

a. Personal/Professional Affidavits
b. School ID
c. Birth Certificate
d. Social Security Card
e. Proof of Residency in Parents’/Guardians’ names.
f. Passport

Why should a Certificate of Residence be completed?
Failure to submit a Certificate of Residence to the college may result in delayed registration and/or may cause the student to be charged the higher, Out-of-State (Non-Resident) tuition rate. The student is responsible for the timely completion of this process.
This document of residency gives the college being attending (in person or on-line) proof that the student resides within New York State, thereby charging the student the lower, In-State (Resident) tuition rate. When residency has been proven in Onondaga County for the past 6 months, the County will then be charged the difference between the In-State (Resident) tuition and the Out-of-State (Non-Resident) tuition rates.

Where may one view the Education Law pertaining to the Certificate of Residence?
You can view Education Law Article 126 HERE. The part pertaining to the definition of Resident is 6301 and pertaining to Non-Resident [Out-of-County] and Out-of-State Students (Certificates of Residence) is Section 6305.