<p>I'm a born United States citizen, i moved abroad five years ago to continue middle school and three years of high school. I'm currently in the eleventh grade and will be moving back to the US to graduate high school and attend college. I will be permanently residing in Michigan ( home state). I am well aware that i am no longer considered a resident of the state of Michigan due to my absence. What must i do to regain residential status and be able to apply for in state tuition? I will be living there with my older brother (21 years old) and my parents will remain abroad. I will also acquire a Michigan driver's license and i will also work. Please if this is in the wrong forum and you know where it would be more appropriately placed don't hesitate to comment. Thank you.</p>
<p>The best thing to do is to look on the website of the schools that you are considering and read what it takes to become a resident for tuition purposes at each school. The University of Michigan, the last time I looked, will not permit you to become a resident for tuition purposes. A parent has to become a resident for a year and be paying Michigan taxes. If you are considered a dependent for financial aid purposes which is under age 24 for the most part for under grad, unless you meet one of the listed criteria (check them yourself–for most high school, young adults right out of high school, it’s not going to happen), that you are in state and have residency via drivers license, job, pay taxes, doesn’t matter. It’s where your parents live that counts. If they are not tax paying Michigan folks who have kept up their residence there, it’s a no go. </p>
<p>Do double check, as these things can change and check if other Michigan schoolshave different rules, but those are the ones For UMich in Ann Arbor a few years ago. I know a number of people who have tried to do what you are attempting, and without committing fraud, you can’t do it without a parent moving here with you and staying here. It’s all on the parent for most undergraduates. </p>
<p>I was in that position some years ago with no home state since my parents did not keep one as a tax base when they moved overseas. </p>
<p>You need to find out what the in-state residency policies are at the colleges and universities that you will eventually be applying to in Michigan. Unless a student can be considered independent for financial aid purposes (24 years old, married, military veteran, etc.), in most cases residency is based on where the parents live. Do not be surprised if you cannot establish residency for tuition and fees purposes in Michigan. Do not be surprised if none of the MI public colleges and universities have the same policy. It is entirely possible that all could be different. Be sure to check each of them one by one.</p>
<p>I believe you will still be considered out of state because your PARENTS live out of state. The domicile of the parents is used when determining residency for the very vast majority of undergraduate students. This is because the parents pay taxes to the state in which they establish their domicile. Those taxes support public universities, and instate residents get the benefit of this. </p>
<p>I will add…we have expats such as you in our family. They even own homes in the U.S. In various places. They do NOT have instate residency status at all. Their parents live abroad. </p>