I have been living in Maryland since 2010 (Moved to the States) and went to high school and undergrad there. I have been living in NJ for 2 years now to work prior to applying for graduate school. I still list my MD address in all my paperwork. My parents still live in Maryland and have my all belongings there as I intend to move back to my home state. I still have my MD driver’s license. I never got a driver’s license or id for NJ as I don’t drive here and I planned to be here temporarily and move back to MD. I filed NJ taxes as a resident and non-resident MD taxes according to TurboTax guidelines. I was informed by the school that since I do not own a house/car that’s registered in Maryland and am not dependent under anyone, I do not qualify for the in-state tuition and may need to appeal. I was told to fill out a petition form and see if anything can be done. Do I have any chances of being considered for an in-state tuition fee?
I have gathered some pieces of evidence that include:
My legal/immigration, bank statement, school loans paperwork with Maryland address.
My Maryland driver’s license
My citizenship paperwork
Planning to provide voters registration information as well since I just became a US citizen, I have not registered yet.
I’m not sure how to prove that I do travel every weekend ( almost) to home and that all my belongings are in Maryland. I will be moving back in February before school starts in May 2019 and plan to move there permanently.
Does anyone have experience with this? I’m very lost and could use some advice.
Thank you!
Can you move back now? That would probably be your best option if you absolutely must study in MD. Your other option would be to accept that you really do live in NJ and look for a place that will meet your academic needs there for grad school.
Seriously? You have lived and worked in NJ for TWO years and never changed your drivers license, etc. I’m quite sure you have exceeded the amount of time to live in NJ without changing your drivers license at least.
Since you worked and lived in NJ, how in the world did you justify filing taxes as a Maryland resident?
Regardless. Your state of residency for tuition purposes is the state in which you actually RESIDE. In your case, you have lived and worked in NJ for two years. That’s your state of residence. Since you are now an independent student…the residency of your parents doesn’t matter at all.
Maryland requires that you reside IN Maryland for at least 12 months prior to starting college there…for instate status. You have missed the boat on that timeline. I would suggest you move back to Maryland now, get a job there, really BE a resident of Maryland, and start college fall 2020.
I don’t think you have any grounds to appeal. You are not a child that can use your mum and dad’s address any more. Your own evidence confirms you live in NJ and that you intend to move to MD for school.
I believe you have exceeded the amount of time allotted to be considered a MD resident with your job and residence in NJ. You are a tax paying resident of NJ as you have straight out said. You should be able to get in state tuition at the NJ schools.
If you leave NJ, and live in MD for a year, (check the rules), you can become a MD resident.
You likely were (are) violating NJ Motor vehicle rules , keeping your MD driver’s license. That NJ did not enforce their rules does not make it legally right.
There are a lot of people who have mailing addresses in a state other than where they live. Some of my kids still get mail at my house. A lot of people neglect to change their car registration, drivers license, etc etc too. But there are rules as to what state is your residence. You physically live and have lived in NJ. You pay taxes as a NJ RESIDENT and as a MD NONRESIDENT. You are not a resident of Maryland. If you move back now , you may still miss the 1 year for MD in state tuition deadline. Rules for that can and do differ from becoming a MD resident for tax purposes, motor vehicle purposes, etc.
And really, it looks like you should take care not be classified as to have moved just for education, becuase then they may never get instate rates. As you start school in May, it would be prudent to change that date if this is a possibility.