Opinion ID: 2621130
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Substantial evidence to support denial

Text: The department principally relied on three factors when it denied Anderson's application: (1) the short period of Anderson's adult residency in Alaska as compared to his length of absence; (2) Anderson's career choice and his resulting lack of control with respect to residency; and (3) the infrequent and short duration of the return visits Anderson made to Alaska during his absence. Given this evidence, and the regulation requiring the department to give greater weight to the claims of individuals who make frequent, non-compulsory return visits to Alaska, [19] the department found that Anderson had not overcome the presumption of non-residency. After reviewing the evidence in the record, we hold that there was sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that Anderson failed to overcome the presumption of non-residency. That evidence includes Anderson's infrequent and short-duration return visits, his choice to use only a small percentage of his leave time visiting Alaska, his inability to control his residency, his choice to vote absentee in Alaska elections only once during his absence, his decision to accept a transfer to the East Coast knowing that this would lessen his chances of an Alaska assignment, and his short duration of adult residency compared to his time of absence.