<p>Hello. I'm going to be attending college soon. HOWEVER, since I'm living overseas with my parents, as they are military works, I don't really know my state of residency for tuition purposes. I'd like to go to college in California, but the cost of attendance is extremely high. BUT, my mother is the soldier that sponcers me to live here (my dad is a civilian employee) so I'm her "dependent," and SHE has California residency (I.E. Drivers Liscence, Voter Registration, Pays Taxes) So would this mean by default I'm a California resident aw well anyway? Because if not I'm going to pay out of state tuition wherever I go, and that's not fair. :(( I didn't choose the military life, the military life chose me lol.</p>
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<p>Based on the facts in your post, probably.</p>
<p>You would likely be considered a CA resident, but to be safe - I would follow up with all of the schools you are planning on applying to for confirmation. </p>
<p>Look up what the schools on your list in CA have for residency requirements for Military. CA is likely your state of residency. </p>
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<li><p>If you are actually resident in a state, then you are a resident of that state. (duh.)</p></li>
<li><p>For many states, you also can claim the benefits of residency if you are dependent on someone who is a resident of that state. In your case, with your parents presumably supporting and claiming you together, you are dependent on both of them. So you can likely claim <em>either</em> of their state residencies. Note that as a general rule US citizens do NOT give up their state residency/citizenship when they spend time out of state, unless they are clearly establishing residency in a different state or US territory. Thus, even if your parents were on a long-term (multi-year) assignment overseas, they would both still have their old US states of residency. If your mother decided she didn’t want to be a California resident anymore, for example, she couldn’t just end that and tell California off - she must first establish residency in a new state, by the new state’s laws. </p></li>
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<p>You generally are NOT required to choose one of your parents’ state residencies if they are different; you can generally count yourself as in-state for both their states.</p>
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<li><p>I believe California is a state that has special rules permitting residency for military members who were ever stationed there; this shouldn’t matter in your case, as your mother still maintains her California residency. But she might be able to establish residency in a new state, and you might still be eligible for California residency afterwards. Check California law on this.</p></li>
<li><p>Some states also offer immediate residency to veterans and their dependents moving there. You’d have to check this on a state-by-state basis. For example, see North Carolina’s statutes on this subject.</p></li>
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<p>If CA is the state your mom uses for taxes on her LES, then you would be in-state for CA tuition. </p>