I’m going to college in Arizona, really far from home. My step sister also went far, and in her first year she applied to in state and became a resident by her second year. However, there were really strict rules about what she could do, and she couldn’t leave the state for more than 2 weeks in a year. I’m just wondering if every state is like this with the time you’re allowed to leave for? I couldn’t find AZs rules.
**also, I’m 18 and want to get my license before I leave, but I know that you need either a state issued ID or drivers license to apply for residency (of the state that you want the residence) so should I wait to do that?
There are a couple of states that allow a student to become a resident after a year of being in the state, but then they want you to really BE a resident. States have rules about how long you can live in the state without transferring your driver’s license (often 30 days), registering to vote there, and not living there. More than 2-4 weeks out of the state might mean you aren’t really a resident. Utah and Missouri are two states that have a clear path to residency FOR TUITION PURPOSES. Anyone can be a resident for other purposes, but getting instate tuition takes more.
Arizona is not one of those states that makes it easy to become a resident for tuition purposes.
Most states require you to be able to be financially independent in order to declare residency, if your parents are not in that state. In other words, be more than just a student. From what I just read about Arizona rules, that would be true of Arizona as well.
@ProfessorPlum168 a lot of my family is in the state, but my dad isn’t, and he won’t be for the unforeseen future. I’m making all the payments towards my education for myself, and my dad isn’t even going to be taking out any loans towards it, so I’m as financially independent as they come haha