Residency Requirement

Students who receive the WV Invests Grant must be residents of West Virginia for two years after they are no longer enrolled at least half time in a WV Invests Grant eligible program.

After you drop below half-time enrollment* from a WV Invests Grant eligible program or withdraw, the post-enrollment obligation (residency requirement) you agreed to when signing the promissory note begins.

Your residency must be verified three times (at the beginning, middle and end) during the two years after the grace period to prevent the grant from converting to a loan.

*Students cannot start verifying their residency in West Virginia while still receiving a WV Invests Grant award.

Post Enrollment

The post-enrollment residency requirement for the WV Invests Grant begins after you are no longer enrolled at least half time in a WV Invests Grant eligible program, unless you are receiving WV Invests Grant funds while enrolled less than half time. While you are enrolled at least half time in a WV Invests Grant eligible program (even if you transfer to another institution and no longer receive the WV Invests Grant), you will not start verifying your residency but will need to be placed in an in-school deferment.

Grace Period

All recipients will first enter a six-month grace period. During the grace period, we will request you complete an Exit Interview and first attempt to verify you are a resident with other state agencies. If successful, we will automatically enter you into a deferment. If unsuccessful, we will send an e-mail requesting you complete a West Virginia Invests Grant Program Residency Verification Form and submit documentation as instructed to document you are residing in West Virginia; it is your responsibility to submit the appropriate forms in a timely manner to meet your obligation or else you will enter repayment.

We will verify your residency three times during the two-year post-enrollment period. After the third successful verification, we will cancel the obligation and your WV Invests Grant will remain a grant. It is important you keep your contact information up to date so you receive all our communications.

Documentation

If required to provide documentation, you will submit two to three forms of documentation with the completed WV Invests Grant Residency Verification Form. All documents must be in the student’s name and show an address and date (where applicable). Acceptable documentation will be listed on the Residency Verification Form and includes:

Student’s valid state-issued photo ID
Valid West Virginia vehicle registration card in the student’s name
Valid West Virginia Concealed Carry Permit with photo
Recent West Virginia personal property tax receipt
Student’s recent signed West Virginia state tax return
History of Utilities in the student’s name with address showing 12 consecutive payments
Two Utility bills from the same utility one with the current bill and one dates 12 months prior
Recent employment records, pay stub, or W-2
Statement of WV Public Assistance for the last 12 months
Mortgage payments or rental agreement in West Virginia
Statement of homeowner’s/renter’s insurance
West Virginia Voter Registration Car
Current utility bill
Recent credit card or other billing statement
Recent bank statement
Current WV DNR fishing or hunting license showing Resident status and address

Do NOT submit documentation until requested and after you are no longer enrolled in college at least part time. Instructions about how to securely submit documentation will be included on the Residency Verification Form.

I Got A Bill

If you receive a billing statement from Heartland ECSI, your grant has converted to a loan. If you are enrolled at least half time in a WV Invests Grant eligible program or living in West Virginia, do not pay the bill yet but immediately contact our office at wvinvests@wvctcs.edu or 304-558-4618 so your records may be reviewed to determine if you can submit documentation, should request an in-school deferment or must pay back the funds.

I turned in my documents, why am I getting another email requesting them

It’s possible there was an issue with your documentation and we may need additional or different documents. Contact our office to find out what is still required from you.

If you are not fulfilling your residency obligation or your residency is not verified

Your account at Heartland ECSI will enter repayment six months after you dropped below half-time enrollment in a WV Invests Grant eligible program. One month after the grace period ends, your first payment is due.

You must pay back your grant/loan, plus interest and fees, if you do not verify living in West Virginia for 2 years after no longer being enrolled at least half time in a WV Invests Grant eligible program. This is true no matter what your circumstances – even if you don’t finish school or your education doesn’t meet your expectations. If you are living in West Virginia, you should not have to pay it back as long as you provide the residency documentation in a timely manner, regardless of whether you finished your program or not.

Heartland ECSI will send you communications about repayment. You may also set up an online account at https://heartland.ecsi.net/.

Check out Frequently Asked Questions about the Residency Requirement and more on our FAQs page.