Establishing residency

[LittleMissMagic]

It depends on what state and what the rules are.

I went to UCLA for grad school, so establishing California residency was essential to saving on tuition!! It's a pretty popular thing to do in California, and UCLA's website even had a checklist of what you need to do.

For us, we had to get a CA driver's license within two weeks of moving there, change our billing address, register to vote in CA, and have proof of residency in California over the summer - not just rent or electricity payments because you could have subleased your apartment, but your spending on groceries, gas, daily life which proves you were living in CA during the summer.

The proof of residency over the summer is what I had trouble with. See, I was a student with no income, so all of my expenses were on my credit card which was billed to my dad's account... back in South Carolina. My personal expenses on my debit card were not enough to prove my residency. My job was an under-the-table sort of thing, where I received personal checks to help out my professor, so that did nothing and maybe looked sketchy. But I had a fortunate (unfortunate) incident - I had gotten in a car wreck that summer. So I was able to provide them with police report, proof of a rental car for a month in CA, and proof that I had purchased a new car in California. They approved my residency for tuition purposes after that.

So that's my big tip to everyone trying to prove residency - it's residency of the student, not you or a family member. So if you own a property, have an uncle in the state, or are paying their bills to live in that state - that doesn't really tell them what they need to know. The main thing is that make sure that their expenses are on a card in their name, with their in-state billing address. And it would also help if they could get some sort of job on payroll in state over the summer.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't know about establishing residency but thought I'd bring up our experience with out of state public colleges. My daughter applied to a few (she's currently a college freshman). She got merit scholarships to all that more than made up the difference of the out of state tuition.

Some aid $ would definitely help as well, and if applicable, could offset the net gain of jumping through residency hoops.

 

[RangerPooh]

After I completed my bachelors degree DH and moved to WA so that he could complete his degree. We were CA residents but needed to figure out a way to become in state residents in order to pay for school. We were fortunate that we found an inexpensive place to buy land and purchased a parcel for less than $5k. Owning the property and building a small home on it circumnavigated the residing in the state x years before applying for residency requirement. Not ideal for most people but it allowed us to establish in state residency. Later sold the property for more than we paid. Not for loads of money but paid for a new car, vacation, and money for relocating out of state.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We went through this with DS20. We moved to NC right after he graduated HS. He started at community college--we knew we'd have to pay OOS tuition for the first year, but hey--community college, NBD. Well, you would not believe the hoops we had to go through, to prove that he was now a full-fledged resident of the state of North Carolina. It actually took us three tries with the admissions office--they were very nice, but they needed certain things, like tax returns (ours, since he was a dependent, as well as his, because he had some investment income and filed his own). The one document that started the one-year clock was his voter registration. We ended up having to pay an extra semester of OOS tuition, but again, thankfully, it was only community college versus Pricey U. But it turned out to be a huge hassle. Ironically, when he first enrolled, we had to go down and change him from in-state to out of state--some probably wouldn't have done this, but we felt it was the honest thing to do.

On a side note, we are now in the process of changing our oldest DD from dependent to independent, for purposes of car insurance. She lives in Boston, and we pay a small fortune to keep our cars insured for her down here. We can't take her off the insurance until she registers to vote in MA, even though she hasn't been home since January. She's graduated, has a job, has an apartment lease--is a gen-yoo-ine adult. But, still on our car insurance.

 

[NHdisneylover]

So that's my big tip to everyone trying to prove residency - it's residency of the student, not you or a family member. So if you own a property, have an uncle in the state, or are paying their bills to live in that state - that doesn't really tell them what they need to know. The main thing is that make sure that their expenses are on a card in their name, with their in-state billing address. And it would also help if they could get some sort of job on payroll in state over the summer.

I guess that varies by state as well. In the case of my kid in COlorado it is all about where the parents live. My kid has credit cards, lives on campus year round, works on campus year round, has a state ID (they don't drive), etc (plus our US credit card goes to my in laws' house in Colorado and has for almost 9 years now, and that is the address on our US bank account too). It doesn't matter. WE, parents, do not physically reside in Colorado over 6 months per year and do not pay COlorado income tax, therefore nothing that my kid does qualifies them as in state---even though that is truly where they live.

(that said, like a PP, My oldest has scholarship which more than cover the out of state tuition as well----our bill this semester is $498. They work on campus and that includes room and board so that helps a lot. If your student is a valuable student for the school in question, you might get lucky).

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I guess that varies by state as well. In the case of my kid in COlorado it is all about where the parents live. My kid has credit cards, lives on campus year round, works on campus year round, has a state ID (they don't drive), etc (plus our US credit card goes to my in laws' house in Colorado and has for almost 9 years now, and that is the address on our US bank account too). It doesn't matter. WE, parents, do not physically reside in Colorado over 6 months per year and do not pay COlorado income tax, therefore nothing that my kid does qualifies them as in state---even though that is truly where they live.

(that said, like a PP, My oldest has scholarship which more than cover the out of state tuition as well----our bill this semester is $498. They work on campus and that includes room and board so that helps a lot. If your student is a valuable student for the school in question, you might get lucky).

It does vary state-by-state, but something that I forgot to mention is that I filed as an independent (23 years old at the time, already had my Bachelor's degree). Had I been a dependent of my parents, then there is no way I could have qualified for in-state. I think it's a little easier for graduate students to get residency, since we're more likely to be considered as dependents. And because I was an independent, I didn't even need to provide much information about my parents.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I don't know about establishing residency but thought I'd bring up our experience with out of state public colleges. My daughter applied to a few (she's currently a college freshman). She got merit scholarships to all that more than made up the difference of the out of state tuition.

Yes, I forgot about that. DS17'S school of choice does the same thing, however, to get the scholarship, the student must live on campus. DS has always planned on living with his aunt, so there were no savings there for us. Tuition only is about $4000/semester, and instate room/board/tuition runs about $15k a year. Out of state is about $25k per year.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

That makes sense. That was the situation for my BIL in Colorado. Looking at Texas.

The requirement in Texas is intent to establish permanent residence. I got this from their website.

What that means in practical terms.

1. Physically residing in Texas for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding enrollment with the intent to make Texas a permanent home;
2. Being gainfully employed during the 12 months while residing in the state of Texas (spouse’s employment may be used if filing joint Federal income taxes);
3. Income tax form or, if current year’s Federal tax form has not been filed, a signed, statement regarding the student’s independence or regarding the individual(s) who claim the student as a dependent;
4. Permanent Texas driver's license - Texas law requires that driver's license be obtained within 30 days of moving to the state;

Also three of the following are required

• Registration of automobiles in Texas and payment of personal property taxes thereon;
• Texas voter registration;
• Deed indicating purchase of a homestead and/or property tax statements for year preceding the requested residency change;
• Lease agreement which includes student's name and period covered;
• Employer statement that presence in Texas is part of a household transferred to the State by an employer or as part of a household moved to the state to accept employment offered in Texas;
• Establishment of a business in Texas;
• Documentation on checking accounts, savings accounts, or safe deposit boxes in Texas;
• Current credit report and/or credit cards bills which confirm residency status for the 12-month period preceding the requested change in residency;
• Utility bills for the year preceding the requested change in residency;
• Wills or other legal documents indicating residence in Texas;
• Membership in professional organizations or other state organizations;
• Other third party notarized documentation which confirms residency status for the 12-month period preceding the requested residency change;
• Other documentation, which indicates residency in Texas for year preceding the requested change in residency.

 

[sk!mom]

That makes sense. That was the situation for my BIL in Colorado. Looking at Texas.

Okay, looks like she would need to get a job in TX (or I would) in order to establish residency. That could be doable.

Texas makes it difficult. Here are the basics...

"Under the state statutes in the State of Texas, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in Austin, Texas interprets those statutes and prospective students who will be classified as a resident, non-resident, or as an international student.

A citizen, national or a permanent resident of the United States, who is independent 18 years of age or over and who has lived in Texas for 12 consecutive months and has been gainfully employed within the state prior to enrollment in an institution of higher education is entitled to be classified as a resident of Texas. As an independent student, your parents should not claim you on their federal income tax return for tax purposes for the previous year and the current year.

The core residency questions are found at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Website. Go to the Menu/Get All the Facts/Find the Right College/Admissions information/Residency information."

Me again, pay close attention to "is independent." It's very difficult to prove that a student is independent when they actually are. It's virtually impossible when (like the cases on this board) they aren't. Basically, they're on to people trying to game the system.

I don't know about establishing residency but thought I'd bring up our experience with out of state public colleges. My daughter applied to a few (she's currently a college freshman). She got merit scholarships to all that more than made up the difference of the out of state tuition.

Great point. Texas doesn't offer reciprocity but it has a lot of Universities. As long as you aren't trying to go to UT, many schools have great scholarship offers for excellent out of state students.

 

[low-key]

Do what ever you could do to save money, but stop leaving a digital trail

 

[teller80]

I'm thinking about the timeline here. If she graduates and moves to Texas next May (2018), she'd have to live there for a year before she could apply, right? And since applications are usually due in the fall to start the following year, it'll be two years before she'd start college.

For example:

Student 1 is currently a high school senior. She's applying right now to colleges, gets her acceptance letters in the spring of 2018, graduates high school in May and starts college in Sept, 2018.

Student 2 graduates high school and moves to Texas in May 2018. She lives there a year to establish residency and the following fall (Sept 2019) she applies to college, gets her acceptance letters in the spring and starts college Sept 2020.

If she's student #2, then she'll graduate at 24 instead of 22.

 

[Starwind]

Also consider scholarships and other possible waivers of out of state to in state tuition. Texas has a number.

When I did my University in Texas (graduated a few years ago), a competitve academic scholarship of at least $1000 (there were some specific rules/conditions that had to be met) waived out of state tuition to the equivalent of in state tuition.

Also, the other posters are correct that the first year of residency you can't be a student. There may be a provision to le tyou be parttime, but you certainly cannot be fulltime. When I moved to Texas (husband got a new job there, so we ended up in TX) shortly after getting married, I had to wait a year before I could start university in TX, unless I wanted to pay out of state tuition.

SW

 

[NHdisneylover]

It does vary state-by-state, but something that I forgot to mention is that I filed as an independent (23 years old at the time, already had my Bachelor's degree). Had I been a dependent of my parents, then there is no way I could have qualified for in-state. I think it's a little easier for graduate students to get residency, since we're more likely to be considered as dependents. And because I was an independent, I didn't even need to provide much information about my parents.

yes---grad sschool is much easier to be "independent" from what we have been told

 

[RangerPooh]

yes---grad sschool is much easier to be "independent" from what we have been told

Keep in mind that financial aid often has you listed as a dependent until you are 24 years old. The exceptions: you are a ward of the court/legally emancipated, you are married, have a child, or were a military service member. Regarding resident purposes, I did have a few classmates (over age 24) who paid out of state tuition for their first year of grad school but then gained residency status by their second year thanks to work study/or spouses employment.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

yes---grad sschool is much easier to be "independent" from what we have been told

Grad school usually gives out teaching or research assistantships which cover the tuition and fees plus a stipend. It's usually enough to get by. Though many schools have phased out grad/married student housing, they have built apartment style dorms that are pretty much the same thing.

 

[sasywtch]

My DD moved to OK with my 2nd husband and myself for 6 years. My 1st xH (my kids dad) remained in CA where we had lived before moving to OK. DD wanted to move back to CA to get her BA from a CSU school and live with her dad. She was considered an out of state student for a year. I found it rather sad that it prohibits a child in choosing which parent she lives with. If they want to know all of our incomes at that age, they should also determine the residency by that. I ended up divorcing (after coming to my senses) and moving back with her to CA where she lived with me, paid her way through college. She did work during that year for a medical company (Apria?) so was able to do instate after a year.

 

[mamacatnv]

Just my opinion and not a well researched one - the hoops are not worth the possible savings.

I don't know about establishing residency but thought I'd bring up our experience with out of state public colleges. My daughter applied to a few (she's currently a college freshman). She got merit scholarships to all that more than made up the difference of the out of state tuition.

This! We live in Texas - DD has no desire to go to any of the schools in this state and so, she is using her grades and test scores to seek out merit where OOS Tuition is reduced or brought down to the in-state level.

Also, look at interstate exchanges such as the WICHE OR WUE (these are west coast and the ones I know off the top of my head) but I know exchanges and reciprocity exists in different areas of the country.

 

[DisneyOma]

The requirement in Texas is intent to establish permanent residence. I got this from their website.

What that means in practical terms.

1. Physically residing in Texas for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding enrollment with the intent to make Texas a permanent home;
2. Being gainfully employed during the 12 months while residing in the state of Texas (spouse’s employment may be used if filing joint Federal income taxes);
3. Income tax form or, if current year’s Federal tax form has not been filed, a signed, statement regarding the student’s independence or regarding the individual(s) who claim the student as a dependent;
4. Permanent Texas driver's license - Texas law requires that driver's license be obtained within 30 days of moving to the state;

Also three of the following are required

• Registration of automobiles in Texas and payment of personal property taxes thereon;
• Texas voter registration;
• Deed indicating purchase of a homestead and/or property tax statements for year preceding the requested residency change;
• Lease agreement which includes student's name and period covered;
• Employer statement that presence in Texas is part of a household transferred to the State by an employer or as part of a household moved to the state to accept employment offered in Texas;
• Establishment of a business in Texas;
• Documentation on checking accounts, savings accounts, or safe deposit boxes in Texas;
• Current credit report and/or credit cards bills which confirm residency status for the 12-month period preceding the requested change in residency;
• Utility bills for the year preceding the requested change in residency;
• Wills or other legal documents indicating residence in Texas;
• Membership in professional organizations or other state organizations;
• Other third party notarized documentation which confirms residency status for the 12-month period preceding the requested residency change;
• Other documentation, which indicates residency in Texas for year preceding the requested change in residency.

Oh my goodness, so glad my daughter is getting paid to get her master's degree and doctorate down in Texas. I can't imagine having to jump through so many hoops to get a reduced tuition!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Oh my goodness, so glad my daughter is getting paid to get her master's degree and doctorate down in Texas. I can't imagine having to jump through so many hoops to get a reduced tuition!

One of mine is an undergrad but is going to a private school. They ended up less expensive than out of state tuition due to the ship money they had. The private school even matched our state's lottery scholarship.

 

[Aliceacc]

As I understand it, you frequently need to establish residency-- actually live there-- for a good year in many states to get in state tuition.

They're aware of how attractive in state tuition is, and try hard not to give it to anyone who doesn't actually live there.