<p>Hey, I wanted to get peoples opinions on this, and see if anyone else has gone through this also....</p>
<p>Me and my Girlfriend moved down here August of 2008....I was already claimed as a in-state resident because my family had already been living in NC 2 years prior. But her on the other hand got denied for instate and had to pay out of state tuition for the last 2 years because her parents live in another state.</p>
<p>She has her car registered here, has an NC license, voted here, works/pays taxes on her car, filed taxes here etc.</p>
<p>Even with all that they still would deny her for instate just because her parents live out of state. But what I was wondering what if we got married this summer would that help any? Has anyone done this before?</p>
<p>We do live together (in my parents house) and have been together for the past 8 years.</p>
<p>If you’re able to show that you are paying your girlfriend’s expenses then she might qualify for instate. Keep in mind that approving your girlfriend’s request for instate will cost UNC money … something not in the university’s best interest.</p>
<p>If her parents are paying her tuition then I don’t know why she would be considered in-state.</p>
<p>YOu have to read up on the rules on the college web site on what THAT PARTICULAR COLLEGE defines as in-state, not the state rules. Most colleges are pretty clear that if the student is a dependent by their definitions, s/he is considered a resident of the state where the parent/s reside, not where s/he is going to school. Also many schools have a one year rule about state residency where you have to have proof that you lived there for a year.</p>
<p>sure, get married for the wrong reasons, that was dumb!</p>
<p>Marriage would make a difference, but if the one year rule is in effect, she would still be bound by it.</p>
<p>According to OP, she’s been there for 2 years now. Do her parents provide any of her support? Is she a dependent on their taxes? If not, she may be able to declare herself legally independent.</p>
<p>Those two years don’t count unless she has been eligible to be a dependent at that time. The state won’t care. They will consider you a resident for tax purposes lickety split and will give you a driver’s license, registration for your car, etc with no issues. It’s what a particular school wants. </p>
<p>My son votes in his college state, may buy and register a car there, and get a driver’s license for the state. The state will happily take any taxes from employment or otherwise for him. However, the state school is not interested in any of that. He is considered a dependent for school purposes and therefore the resident of the state where we live, for state residency tuition rates. That is the policy of that state flagship. How the rules are enforced is a whole other story.</p>
<p>“sure, get married for the wrong reasons, that was dumb!”</p>
<p>My wife and I thought about doing this when we were in college. If you plan to get married anyway, this might not be a bad idea. It doesn’t even have to be as official as a green card marriage.</p>