I don’t live in the united states, but I am a citizen and I do have relatives in the state of the college I want to apply to. Can I apply to the college as an in-state resident under the premise that I intend to live with them. If not, can I attend a year of college while living with them, change my residency details and then pay the in-state fees for the next term?
No.
States all have different requirements so you’d have to indicate what state, but at best you’d need to move with your relatives, work full time for a year, and not take more than one community college class per semester. At worst, it’s not possible.
However if you enroll in college, you are considered as 'moving for educational purpose ’ - the only exception that I know of would be Utah and Missouri .
You need to check the residency requirements at the school where you will be applying/studying. Schools are typically legally required to have you prove actual residence. It is not wise to try to fake residence to qualify for in-state tuition. That would be a very serious matter for you if the school learned of it, even late in your studies. Besides, you don’t want to start your adult life committing fraud and cheating your friends and peers who are following the rules and perhaps would be paying much more, or even attending a different school, as a result. It would actually be as reprehensible as if you went into their wallets/purses and took their cash, even more so. I hope you do the right thing. Good luck!
If you move in with your relatives (or live by yourself) and work for a specific period of time, typically 1-2 years, paying state taxes, you can then apply as an in-state resident. You should check with the colleges that you are interested in about their specific requirements.
If you would move in with the relatives before you turn 18, and your parents would formally transfer legal guardianship with a court order, then it might be possible to beome a in-state resident. However, given that a legal process is involved, your parents and your relatives would need to get formal legal advice.
Is the place you want to study a public college or university? If it is private, it won’t matter that you aren’t a state resident.
As others have said, you have to check that state, but here is a question, do your parent’s pay state taxes to that state, or any other state? There are situation, you can qualify for residency without being physically present in the state. Military and missionary are two examples. I’m not sure about U.S. Citizens working abroad on short term assignments (think petroleum engineer assigned to overseas location for two years).
No usually!! In the vast majority of cases, residency for tuition purposes is based on where your PARENTS reside. Your parents are not residents of ANY state.
To establish residency…you would need to move to the state of your choice at least a year…or two prior to enrolling in college. In the vast majority of cases, your parents would need to make this move with you.
Yes…read the residency requirements for your possible state. But simply having relatives in your preferred state is not a guarantee that you can gain instate residency in the state.
In other words…check…but don’t count on it.
Note that the in state tuition rate policy varies fron school to school, not just the state. Gaining state residency can be very different from gettin in state tuition eligibility.
This is absolutely true. You can easily become a state resident…move there, get a place to live, get a driver’s license, get a job. You will be a resident of the state.
BUT this does NOT mean you will have instate tuition status at the public universities in that state.
And there is no question that JUST having relatives who live in the state is NOT a way tomget instate residency status for tuition purposes.
There are a LOT of expatriates who find themselves in your position. They do NOT have instate residency status anywhere in the U.S.