How to to become an NC in-state student

External Since: Jul 22, 2003 Posts: 4

Hi!
I'm originally from Germany, but I've been staying in the US (in North
Carolina to be exact) since August 2002. I mainly came here to be with
my boyfriend, who is American, and to study. In November 2002 I
finally got my student visa, and I started my studies in January 2003.
I now heard that after staying in one state for two months, even
foreign students gain 'in-state rights', meaning that I'll only have
to pay in-state tuition and be eligible for scholarships. At the
moment however, I pay three to four times more than a 'real' North
Carolinian, and I'm further not eligible for scholarships (which is
frustrating since my GPA is 4.0 so far....).As you can imagine, I'm
not too happy about all that. So now I'm wondering, is this two year
rumor right?? What do I have to do to get those rights? Is there
beaurocracy and paperwork involved, or will my status 'automatically'
switch to in-state?
I already asked some people at my college, but nobody was able to help
me..So yall are my last resort Wink

I'd love to read some helpful
answers!!!
Thanks!
Nicky

External Since: Jun 25, 2003 Posts: 261

Nicky,

Every state has it's own rules on this, but in general most require at
least one year residency by the beginning of classes, and if you attend
college during that waiting period it's assumed you are there primarily
for education so it won't count toward establishing residency. This
could mean that in your case you'd have to take no classes from now
until a year from now in order to possibly qualify for the resident
tuition rate for September 2004.

But as a non-citizen of the U.S. there may be other complications as
well, not to mention that you are here on a student visa which pretty
much says that your reason for being in North Carolina is to study, not
establish residence. And since you are neither a U.S. citizen nor on a
permanent resident visa, you won't qualify for federal financial aid.

Every state-supported school charges non-state residents higher tuition
because state residents are already paying to support the college
through their taxes.

According to an old reference that I have, and it may be out of date,
the North Carolina agency to contact for a definitive answer in your
situation is the State Education Assistance Authority, Box 2688, Chapel
Hill, NC. Phone: (919)549-8614.

--
Steven B. Blank
College Financial Aid Consultants
29 Ives Hill Court
Cheshire, CT 06410
(203)250-7761

Nicky wrote:

> Hi!
> I'm originally from Germany, but I've been staying in the US (in North
> Carolina to be exact) since August 2002. I mainly came here to be with
> my boyfriend, who is American, and to study. In November 2002 I
> finally got my student visa, and I started my studies in January 2003.
> I now heard that after staying in one state for two months, even
> foreign students gain 'in-state rights', meaning that I'll only have
> to pay in-state tuition and be eligible for scholarships. At the
> moment however, I pay three to four times more than a 'real' North
> Carolinian, and I'm further not eligible for scholarships (which is
> frustrating since my GPA is 4.0 so far....).As you can imagine, I'm
> not too happy about all that. So now I'm wondering, is this two year
> rumor right?? What do I have to do to get those rights? Is there
> beaurocracy and paperwork involved, or will my status 'automatically'
> switch to in-state?
> I already asked some people at my college, but nobody was able to help
> me..So yall are my last resort Wink

I'd love to read some helpful
> answers!!!
> Thanks!
> Nicky