Moving Out of State

[EqSci]

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For those moving out of state, are you changing your residency (for other than tuition purposes)?

I'll be living and working in Iowa for the next 4+ years (currently in PA and have been my whole life). I'm not sure if I have to change my driver's license, car registration and plates, re-register to vote, etc. Are there any advantages to doing this? Can I keep my permanent residency in PA even though I will have an income, bank account, etc. in Iowa? I assume all the states have exceptions for students, but I'm not sure if professional students count or not.

Anyone else having trouble getting everything situated? I'm still under my mom's health insurance and should be for another year, but it's going to be tricky when I move OOS. And my cell phone is much cheaper when it's on my parents' plan... but again, I need to find a way to get the bill sent to me instead of them. Need to change all my credit cards too.

I will be calling the companies to see if there is a way to figure it out, but I wanted some advice here first so that I can sound a little more informed when speaking with them! I really have no clue at this point how people go about this.

 

[1Vista1Grey]

I went to undergrad in different state for 4 years and didnt have to change residency. Health insurance was a pain because I could only see a primary care phys in Massachusetts, so if I was sick I had to go to the emergency room (which sucked because I ended up getting really sick for over a year).

As far as bills, I would just send a lump check to my mom and she would pay them for me. If you tell your car insurance comany you are residing in another state they jack up your bill.

I worked in Ohio as a Mass resident and had no problems. I just had to file a federal, Ohio and Mass tax return, which worked out because I got a pretty good refund.

I didn't have to change my license or anything while I was in Ohio. However if I do end up getting off of a wait list I may try to change residency or somehow register my car to that state. Mainly because Mass auto insurance is double what other states usually average at, so I would probly save about $70 a month. Changing residency can be really hard though. Every state has a different requirement and some states wont allow you residency if you moved there to be a full time student.

I dont think the credit card companies will really care where they are sending the bill, as long as it gets paid, but I could be wrong. They should be pretty helpful if you call them (and talk to a real human being).

 

[rugbychick16]

It really varies from state to state-but in general, state residency is fairly ambiguous....permanent state residency isn't clearly defined and usually isn't a big deal. Its not affected by where you earn your income/have a bank account. But check specifically with PA/Iowa if you want to be certain.
If you're a student, you're usually not under the restrictions to change your drivers license/registration to the new state (you can if you want or if its beneficial to you). You'll see an assortment of state plates in the vet school parking lot. You can register to vote with your new address or vote absentee for your home state, again which ever you prefer.
You should be able to get AVMA-GHLIT insurance once you start vet school if you're interested in switching. And I am also pretty sure the credit cards aren't a big deal, just change the address to where the bill is sent.
If you don't already have it, look into insurance for your personal belongings, and check to see what might have to change on it when you move to a new state and get fancy new vet school belongings. I also increased my insurance on my computer when I got the nice new notebook.

 

[deadvet]

EqSci,
Suggest connecting with a student currently at the school and if possible making that contact someone from your home state. Dr. Howard at ISU has done this before to help students. Good luck

 

[EqSci]

Thanks all, that helped! Deadvet, I completely forgot that she e-mailed me and asked me if I wanted a contact! I'll have to take her up on that.

 

[elefante7]

I'll be changing things over. I definitely want to change where I am registered to vote because I don't want to deal with getting called for jury duty in a town a couple states away from where I am living.

 

[VAgirl]

EqSci...are you looking to become an Iowa resident for tuition purposes? Because if you're going to become a resident for tuition purposes, you generally have to really truly become a resident (vote, drivers license, etc.). This is true in CA and I'm pretty sure it's true everywhere else I looked that would allow you to become a resident. (Plus the school should have a list of requirements.) If you're not concerned about the tuition, then you should be able to do whatever you want and whatever you find to be easiest.

 

[BR549]

I am going to keep my residency, since my Mom has lived in the same house my entire life. I am going to have all of my bills sent to my new address. To me, it will just be easier, since I plan on moving back to GA after I graduate. Not to mentionthat I paid for a 10 year driver's license, and it doesn't expire until 2017!

 

[sumstorm]

It may be necessary to talk to an official in the state you are entering and the state you are departing. Some states have unusual standards that do require changing residency if you aren't a dependent and are working in the state or residing in the state. Also, if you will be out of state, talk to all insurers to be certain that you are adequatly covered in the state you will spend most of your time in. Some states require higher auto coverage than others and if you are in an accident and do not have adequate coverage but are spending a majority of your time in that locality, you can be fined/sued same as not having insurance.

 

[EqSci]

EqSci...are you looking to become an Iowa resident for tuition purposes? Because if you're going to become a resident for tuition purposes, you generally have to really truly become a resident (vote, drivers license, etc.). This is true in CA and I'm pretty sure it's true everywhere else I looked that would allow you to become a resident. (Plus the school should have a list of requirements.) If you're not concerned about the tuition, then you should be able to do whatever you want and whatever you find to be easiest.

No, Iowa doesn't allow you to gain residency for tuition purposes. So it would just be for... I don't know? Guess that was my question. lol

Looks like I have the option either way, I'll be calling some people and seeing what works best.

 

[beshhami]

I transferred from Wisconsin to Florida for my undergrad and kept my permanent residence in Wi. I was almost completely independent of my parents at that point (ie: claimed myself on taxes, had separate car insurance, separate cell phone). The only thing was that I had health insurance under my father's plan (who lived in Michigan). The health insurance was never an issue because the company had a nationwide plan. One thing to consider is that changing your driver's license and car insurance may raise or lower your insurance rates. I was out of school for about two years, but decided to go back to school and wanted in-state rates. I didn't find out until I became a resident of Florida that I would have saved probably $30 a month on my car insurance by transferring it. Over the course of 5 years, that would have been $1800 in my pocket. Also, getting pulled over could be a problem if you don't follow that state's residency requirements. Had I been pulled over at any point after I graduated, but before I became a resident, I may have gotten in trouble for not changing residency.