Question

[incanada1234 0]

Do all universities require a non-US citizen to be in state for 2 years before paying resident tuition or does it vary by state/school?

[homesick_american 1]

Do all universities require a non-US citizen to be in state for 2 years before paying resident tuition or does it vary by state/school?

Varies by institution and by state. In Texas, I believe you have to live there for 12 months for resident tuition purposes. I'm not sure what your citizenship status has to be; I think you might have to be a lawful permanent resident. I don't think you can establish residency for tuition purposes if you are on a non-immigrant visa in the state of Texas. I refer to Texas because that's where I'm from, so I'm marginally familiar with it. If you check out the websites of the schools you want to go to, they'll probably have information or a contact e-mail or number.

If it's a private university, how long you've lived in the US won't make a smidge of difference usually because their tuition fees are the same for in-state, out-of-state, US, and foreign students 99.99% of the time.

[Flames9_RN 358]

There is a thread of this nature here:http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31950

Pretty much boils down that each school is different so contact that school and see what there requirments are. For me it was based on my wifes residency. Since she had resided in VA for over a yr, I got in state tuition rates,even though I had just arrived to the USA. All varies from state to state, school to school, so best to call.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Even worse variance than just by state/school.

Also can vary by visa/status of non-USC.

Examples:

• in IL, all temp visas (H1-b/H4 or TN-1/TD) get clobbered for non-resident; I've seen questions about converting TD to F-1 from people in IL (in this case, one can nicely say "go for it")
  
• CA allows resident for H1-b/H4 but NOT TN-1/TD (even if the TN-1/TD has been renewed several times in CA)
  

[incanada1234 0]

Thanks for that link, flames. I couldn't get ahold of the school last night because, obviously, admissions was closed. All I wanted to know immediately was if residency varies by state to state or school to school, etc. I called admissions right now and OF COURSE the woman who could answer our questions is out of the office today. Always works that way, huh?

After reading that link though, I see that it does vary but it doesn't, if that makes sense. It seems most universities do require you be in state for at least a year, although there seems to be a SLIGHT chance we could get around that. We think my husband may be eligible for in-state tuition if I'M eligible, since he's married to me.

[incanada1234 0]

By the way, anyone know how long you can use old college credits? My husband went to Laurier U. in Ontario and had an A- average, but it was 6 years ago. Are we completely stupid for hoping he could use that as his first year?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

By the way, anyone know how long you can use old college credits? My husband went to Laurier U. in Ontario and had an A- average, but it was 6 years ago. Are we completely stupid for hoping he could use that as his first year?

You have to ask the college you're applying to. Whether or not a college accepts credits from another institution is their decision, there is no national/state policy.

[incanada1234 0]

Alright. I figured I'd get an opinion here before calling them and sounding stupid.

[CarolineM 0]

Use a transcript evaluation company. You can use them usually, just have to have it "Fit" the american system.

Stewart attends Uni here in Fl. Started one week after getting here and he gets in-state as a result of being married to a fl resident.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Use a transcript evaluation company. You can use them usually, just have to have it "Fit" the american system.

Stewart attends Uni here in Fl. Started one week after getting here and he gets in-state as a result of being married to a fl resident.

The transcript eval company will say how many "American" credits he has and what his "American" GPA is.

It will not say whether or not the institution he wishes to attend will actually accept those credits. That decision lies solely with the institution. The easiest way to get a "feel" for what that decision may be is to go meet with an advisor from the college.

[CarolineM 0]

true Stewart was required by the Uni here to have it translated to see if they WOULD take them.

[incanada1234 0]

Karo, had you left the U.S. for any number of years before Stewart lived in America and attended college? Since I was in Canada for 46 months, *I* might not even qualify for in-state tuition.

[CarolineM 0]

Nope....sadly enough I've been in the scho0ol system here since I was in Kindergarten - straight through...and I'm 28!! Yikes.

in-state status varies state by state. Like...I moved to NYC for a few years, but kept my permanate addy in Fl. I filed my yaxes in FL even...so I could stay a FL resident...if you were living and working in Canada...yaeh...might not make you a resident but I'm really not sure sorry i'm no help

[rclouse 0]

California requires one year residency. They made us bring in our previous year's tax returns for proof. YMMV.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

California requires one year residency. They made us bring in our previous year's tax returns for proof. YMMV.

NJ is the same. 12 months. Evidence is tax return or deed/lease. They also give spouses who have been in the state less than 12 months in-state status if their spouse has been a resident for 12 months. Lastly, there is a petition process by which you can ask for in-state status even though you've only been around for less than 12 months.