Maintaining In-State Residency after Relocation

[droog55]

First of all, I'm not a parent, but this looked like the best forum section to ask this question.

I'm currently entering my junior year, paying in-state tuition. However, my parents moved to a different state over the summer, and now I'm worried I may lose my in-state residency.

I've extensively read the school's residency rules and FAQ's, but found them to be quite ambivalent. First, it says that students who begin school with in-state residency will maintain this residency as long as they're enrolled continuously (meaning, no breaks in their education). However, as I read on it stated that students who's domicile changes to a different state will have a 12-month grace period during which they can continue paying instate tuition. If this 12-month graces period ends in the middle of the term, they can finish out the term.

Anyone been through the same experience? Any advice on what I can do to maintain my residency?

Thank you

[happymomof1]

This is institution specific. You need to sit down with the head of the financial aid office, and find out what can be done in your individual situation.

[barrons]

I would not say anything to anyone in admin. Just keep quiet and keep paying. You might need to get a local PO box for your parents unless they send the tuition bills to you.

[thumper1]

Barrons, what you are suggesting is dishonest.

[Momzie]

I know two families where Dad got transferred and Mom stayed behind to maintain the home and in-state residency. Not that far-fetched in these difficult economic times. Both families had two kids in state schools and may be apart for as long as four years. Dad comes home on weekends most of the time.

[emeraldkity4]

In "difficult economic times", how can you afford to have two residences?

Not being able to afford to get divorced is why some people are still married!

[droog55]

Barrons,

That's the usual response I get, and is what I've been doing so far. However, I'm looking for a more stable way to go about this, and I don't think a P.O. Box is enough to prove domicile in a state.

[droog55]

Thumper1,

I know Barrons' suggestion isn't the most honorable route, which is why I'm trying to start a discussion on the different options there are available. From all the reading on college residency rules, residency FAQ's, and CC forums, most people (colleges included) agree that residency rule are more-or-less open to interpretation and are executed on a case-by-case basis.

The worst-case scenario is that I'm deemed out-of-state in both states (since most states require a 12-month physical presence in the state before entering the school).

And even if I do transfer, I will most likely lose credits in the process, and may even have to stay for an extra year (since most schools have a maximum number of credits that you can transfer with).

[barrons]

I'm usually a rule abider but if the parents lived there and paid taxes most of his life and then happen to leave due to job reasons I think it is fair to keep instate. I did not say be dishonest. I just said say nothing. It is their job to check such things but in my experience they do not and if you are admitted instate you can remain instate.

Wisconsin makes it fairly clear:
"4.Any minor student who has resided substantially in this state during the years of minority and at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which such student registers at an institution. (is instate for tuition)

[MD Mom]

I would print out the policy that says once you are in-state you stay in-state if you have no breaks and keep it in a safe place. If there are questions, you have the policy.

[thumper1]

If the school rule is that students do not maintain instate residency after a year of family living out of state, then it doesn't matter a bit if the parents lived in and paid taxes to the state prior to that time. The student would be reclassified as out of state for tuition purposes.

This student needs to sit down and find out what HIS school policy is, and then abide by that.

[sopranomom92]

Is the state California? In our case, our D went out of state for college, but we never moved. She signed up for a cc course this summer to transfer back to her college, and was deemed "out of state." Lucky for us, she had kept her drivers license in California, and she had filed California state taxes - so they refunded the $. Also, she had not registered to vote in the other state. Our residence had nothing to do with it. Of course, it's institution specific, but my suggestion would be to register to vote in your college town, get a state driver's license (you probably have this already), and, if you have even the tiniest job at school, file a state tax return, even if not required. Also, if you do not leave the state to visit your folks for more than 30 days, I don't see any way that your college can consider you anything but a resident. Your quote of the rules seems to refer to YOU changing your residence, not your folks. So, next summer, go ahead and get a summer job near school, or, keep your apartment if you can.

IMO, you are morally and practically a resident of the state where you are attending school, and the fact that your parents are moving shouldn't matter. I think that's what barrens is alluding to, and I agree. Your state has received and continues to receive plenty of your family's tax $. If it were me or my kid, I'd simply assume I was a resident--you are, you are continuing to attend your college.

[wis75]

You would be a resident for Wisconsin as an example. Graduating from HS instate as a state resident and turning 18 should be sufficient to maintain your residency in WI. Minors follow their parents' residency, adults don't. Typically public schools are concerned with students who come from OOS and try to claim residency for attending college instate. Many are very strict about working full time for one full year to BECOME a resident. But you are already a resident and presumably are at least 18 by now. You can choose to stay instate during summers or VISIT your parents OOS. You get to remain a state resident even if your parents don't. It becomes easy if you have a 12 month lease on an apartment. Just be sure to keep a state drivers license- do not move your address to your parents address. It doesn't matter who pays the bills or where the payor lives.

[2collegewego]

OH students who graduated hs there and whose parents move away also maintain residency.

If it's a big enough school, perhaps you could post a link and see if it makes sense to any of the parents. But if it is ambiguous, you need to call the Registrar's office. Frankly, I suggest just calling anonymously so it isn't flagged right away. It sounds like, at worst, you have a year to figure this out. You may be able to keep your residency by living off-campus year-round.

[somemom]

You are a junior in college, not HS, right? This is very state specific. In CA, as long as the student does not stop attending school they can maintain residency in that state where they started. You may want to NOT change your residency to the new state, just to be extra careful. I know one warning they give is that if you do a study abroad you must do one sponsored by that school, sometimes, some students do other university sponsored programs and that would not work. Same with a leave of absence, etc.

You might ask them about summers, some schools will consider that you are a resident of the place you summer or at least use that info to disqualify you from state residency.

And, yes, you could theoretically end up a resident of no state if you are not careful. One caveat is that you may consider grad school in the new state and need to be sure to be careful of all the details, possibly even taking a gap year to establish residency as an adult in the new state. Some states have rules that address parents moving and some do not.

It would really be helpful to know which state you are in as so many people here have had experiences with various states and may know the rules.