I am an U.S. citizen living abroad(Taiwan) . Now I am 21 years old and I want to go to college in the U.S. The issue is that I am not resident for any state, so I have OOS tuition for all the states… I am planning to go to community college in California or Washington. Is that possible for me to get resident for either of two states after first year(which is easier)?
I have not voted for any state, register vehicle, pay tax, have housing, or even have a legal resident ID. My parents are in the same conditions. During the first year, I will do all the things listed above to show my intend to become a permanent resident, not only for education purpose. My parents will do the same things for that state and also pay the tax. But they will still stay in Taiwan.
Do I have any possibilities?
In most states no. In general you must live in the state for a full year without going to college.
Usually, to establish residency, your parents would need to live there, not just own property there.
In some states you can establish residency on your own. Do you have any job skills? In my county in Maryland, you would qualify for in-county tuition at the community college after living here for three months, and if you have paid the majority of your living expenses for 12 months. Not that I specifically recommend moving here! It is a high cost of living area. So do keep looking. Some states make things easier (Missouri? Texas?).
As for voting, citizens living abroad can register to vote in the state they last lived when they lived in the US. Citizens born abroad can register to vote in the state where a citizen parent last lived. Contact the Citizens’ Service office at the closest US Consulate for help with the paperwork.
When did you finish secondary school, and what have you been doing since then? If you have been studying at a college or university in Taiwan, you will need to apply as a transfer student.
Thank you so much for help.
I did my freshman year in Taiwan and majored in Drama and Theater. Since I want to change my major to biology, most of my credits are not transferable. My family cannot afford the OOS tuition so I want to go to community college first. I seems that it will be very difficult to claim residency unless I take a year off and work in that state…or one of my parents should come with me and show the intention to become resident…
You need to check the residency requirements at EACH college. They vary. To be honest, in most places…even if you live there yourself for a year, that won’t be enough. You would need to show that this is your domicile and YOU are paying all of your bills. Will you be able to do that?
You WILL be applying as a transfer student as well.
What you need to do is look for lower cost colleges.
@twoinanddone usually has these at her fingertips.
Also, most community colleges also charge a higher price for OOS students.
Good luck establishing residency in CA. If I’m not mistaken…it takes TWO years of residency to become eligible for instate tuition. Washington isn’t any easier.
Both states have lots of folks from abroad trying this…and they have seen it all.
How will your parents pay taxes to a state, register to vote, get a driver’s license. Etc…when they plan to STAY in Taiwan? You have to,show residency documentation tomget a driver’s license, and register to vote, for example. They won’t be residents.
Keep in mind…there is a difference between becoming a resident of a state (driver’s license, taxes, etc), and being a resident of that state for instate tuition purposes.
If you come here to attend community college…it will most definitely appear that you are here for educational purposes. That is viewed negatively when one is looking to establish residency for TUITION purposes. You would need to establish your residency…as would your parents…a year BEFORE you enroll.
And really…I can’t think that it’s at all honest for folks who reside in another country to suddenly declare residency in a state…unless they are REALLY residents of that state. It sounds like your parents are NOT.
What was the last state your parents lived in and when? That may be your best option. CA is one of the hardest states to get residency for school so I would look elsewhere.
According to THIS thread…you are studying at Penn State. That was as of June.
Please clarify the conflicting information.
The last state my parents lived is Virginia.
@thumper1
yeah, I did 2017 spring in Penn State. I transferred from Taiwan to Penn State. However, my family’s finance get worse and worse this year so they asked me to stop studying in Penn State and go back to Taiwan. I did not claim as a resident for Pennsylvania. But I really want to study in U.S. so I am considering if I can go to community college and use my student loans to pay for it. And I won’t put pressure on my parents. Since I have very few credits for biology, I may spend one to two year in community college to finish general courses.
You have one year in Taiwan, and one semester at Penn State? Is that correct?
So you have 1 1/2 years of college…and you think you need one to two more years of general education requirements at a community college?
You need to look at the requirements for your degree, and what courses you have already taken to satisfy gen ed requirements.
How will you pay for tuition, housing, food, and other living expenses at a community college in CA? It’s a VERY expensive place to live.
As an American citizen, you qualify for financial aid. Try running the net price calculators at some private colleges. You may get a price lower than OOS tuition. Try a few CTCL schools like Earlham, Lawrence, or Wooster and see what they say.
This student is a transfer student. Some of the colleges you listed have much less aid for transfers than incoming freshmen. Most don’t meet full need for all. Most cost more than Penn State which is not affordable for this student.
You wrote this:
You are now about 20 years old. Your parents have lived outside of this country for 20 years…or so.
So tell me…how would they suddenly be able to become residents of California in any way when they plan to remain in Taiwan?
Your mom is a U.S. citizen. Has she been filing U.S. tax returns all these years?
@thumper1 Meeting full need would be awesome, but I was just hoping for a lower overall price tag than OOS tuition. (State schools often don’t meet full need either, especially for OOS.) Since we don’t know the full financial picture, OP will need to run the calculators and talk to financial aid offices and see what they say.
Utah and Missouri make it easy for students to become residents for tuition purposes after just one year.
A couple of things.
First…this student is looking for an admissions spot AND significant financial aid NOW for the 2017-2018 school year. That is going to be tough to find.
He is a transfer student. The net price calculators are set up for incoming freshmen…unless they specifically ask if the student is a transfer student. Most do not ask this question.
Apparently this student’s father was paying his college costs. There has been some change in family finances.
BUT remember. Financial aid for the 2017-2018 school year is based on 2015 income. This student would need to apply to a school…and then ask for a special circumstances consideration based on the change in finances.
It’s getting a little late for that for the 2017-2018 school year.
Perhaps this student should ask for a leave from Penn State for a year…and try to figure out college financing.
@thumper1 It’s a little late for everything for this fall. However, I suspect we both agree focusing on getting in-state in Washington or California is not a great strategy here, even if we disagree as to where to hunt. And, yes, OP will need to ask for special consideration based on whatever caused the change in financial circumstances once he locates some promising schools.
Yes, community college costs are lower. Community colleges also are open admission except for specialized programs like nursing. The OP can pretty much go anywhere in the country and find a CC to enroll in. Provided that CC has a formal articulation agreement for the OPs major with an in-state public U, then the OP is basically guaranteed a transfer spot after completing the pre-reqs. The issue here is affordability.
Instead of focusing on CA and WA, the OP needs to research residency policies, and find which states will work.
I think those responding all agree. This poster needs to concentrate on affordability…and CA and WA probably aren’t the best choices for that.
Also, this student needs to pick a college with the potential to actually stay and finish a degree. This will be her second transfer…third college. She doesn’t want to do that again.
In addition to tuition costs, she also needs living expenses somehow covered.
I’m not clear whether or not her parents can help her…and to what extent.
Agree the CA and WA are bad choices because their residency requirements are very strict.
For VA and FL (more typical) you would need to live in the state for 366 days with your parent before attending college to get instate tuition.
As another poster noted, Maryland is a little more relaxed depending on the county for community college. I know of a student who is getting instate at Chesapeake community college in Easton Md. by moving there in June (with signed lease) before she starts classes in September. Her parent is not moving with her.
Utah State actively encourages its students to become residents for tuition purposes. You pay out of state the first year, then show you have lived continuously in Utah for 12 months (including the time you were in school) to get instate tuition. For the first year they give a discount for high school GPA and test scores. (Shown on their website) -so their costs can be very reasonable. I don’t know how this works for transfers but you can call them and ask. They also have good music and theater depts. I know a very happy student (and family) there.
Good luck to you.