US student living in Florida, Not US Parents living abroad

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>Let me know if this is the correct section of the forum for this topic. As in the discussion title, I am actually living with my sister (not American) in Miami, FL and we are both attending a private University for less than a year. My parents, who are not US citizens, live out of the country. I am receiving financial aid (loans and grants), and I am also working at the University through the work-study program. The fact is that I would like to transfer to FIU soon, but if I do so, I would like to pay for the IN-state tuition and not OUT-of-state. So, I am still trying to figure it out, and I would appreciate the help of any person who knows what I am talking about, because I think that mine is a particular situation.
Moreover, I will certainly have to file my federal tax return, and I am not claiming no one as my dependent, and my parents will not file any federal tax return because they do not live in the US and are not Americans, so I will not appear as dependent in any federal tax return. I am also paying for my expenses and bills, but I would like to understand whether a person is dependent or independent (including exemptions).
I also already have some of the documents they require when claiming the residency for tuition purposes.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your help and availability.</p>

2

<p>It looks like once you may not be able to get classified as a state resident for tuition purposes:</p>

<p>Major areas of consideration that university staff review when determining residency include, but are not limited to, the following:</p>

<p>Is the student a dependent or independent student? Dependent or independent status will be based on a copy of a student’s or his/her parent’s or legal guardian’s most recent tax return and/or other documentation as appropriate.</p>

<p>Has the student (or the student’s parent or legal guardian if the student is considered dependent) established legal ties to Florida? University personnel reviewing a student’s application for residency purposes will require various forms of documentation to verify legal ties and timelines. A student and his/her parent or legal guardian may be asked to provide copies of driver’s licenses or State of Florida Identification Card, voter registration, proof of purchase of permanent home or full-time Florida employment, Florida vehicle registration, or other form of documentation. </p>

<p>NOTE: A student who is permanently relocating to Florida will be asked to provide official documentation (driver’s license, voter registration, etc.) in order to establish a starting point for his/her 12 month residency requirement</p>

<p>Has the student (or the student’s parent or legal guardian if the student is considered dependent) established a physical presence in Florida for at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding the first day of residency for which Florida residency is sought?</p>

<p>Has the intent of residing in Florida for the required minimum 12 month period been for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile rather than for the purpose of enrollment in an institution of higher education? </p>

<p>A student who comes to Florida to enroll full-time in a state university as an out-of-state resident and continuously enrolls in a state university will not normally meet the Florida residency requirements for in-state tuition regardless of the length of time enrolled.</p>

<p>Is the student seeking reclassification? Students who were classified as a dependent student for tuition purposes may seek to be reclassified as an independent student should they meet certain criteria. The burden of proof is on the student seeking reclassification to show: (1) residency in Florida for the requisite 12-month period; (2) residency in the state was not temporary or incidental to enrolling in a university located in Florida; and (3) verification as an independent student if currently classified as a dependent student whose parents or legal guardians are still residing out-of-state. </p>

<p>Examples of evidence that may assist in substantiating residency for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile may include: full-time employment (minimum of 30 hours a week), immediate relatives currently living in Florida for the previous 12 months, purchase of home, or part-time enrollment in a Florida higher education institution during the previous 12 months.</p>

3

<p>Right, but how can I determine if I am dependent or independent? It says that “Dependent or independent status will be based on a copy of a student’s or his/her parent’s or legal guardian’s most recent tax return and/or other documentation as appropriate” but I cannot see how can I consider that answer satisfactory if my parents do not file any federal tax return.</p>

<p>I also do not understand very well the paragraph where it says that “A student who comes to Florida to enroll full-time in a state university as an out-of-state resident and continuously enrolls in a state university will not normally meet the Florida residency requirements for in-state tuition regardless of the length of time enrolled”. I think they repeated “state university” twice. I am actually enrolled full-time in a private University and would like to transfer to a public University, such as FIU, preferably paying for the in-state tuition.</p>

4

<p>Even starting at a private college lends the impression that you came to Florida for the sake of obtaining an education.</p>

<p>For college purposes, students are considered dependents of their parents until age 24. IRS definitions of dependents is not relevant. </p>

5

<p>In order to be considered for in-state tuition, considering your parents don’t live in the US but you are an American, you would need to stop going to college and work full-time for 12 months without taking any class + have a FL driver’s license + pay taxes in Florida + be registered to vote in FL.
You came to Florida for the purpose of education, so you would be considered OOS if you transferred from your private university to a public university.
You would not be considered independent - your financial aid would depend on your parents’ income or you would simply have to pay for tuition (whether in-state or OOS) without financial aid, depending on your stats.</p>

6

<p>Ok, I definitely got it now. Thank you so much for all your help!</p>

7

<p>Are you a U.S. citizen?</p>

8

<p>Did u attend and graduate from a Florida high school? If you have only lived in FL to attend college, then it’s unlikely you’ll get resident status.</p>

<p>How are u able to afford private college tuition & living expenses now?</p>