Texas Residency Laws

[pkbronco]

Does anyone know how Texas schools regulate who is a state resident or not. I'm considering moving there to be with my fiance as she finishes school. I would be there a few months before applying for med school. Is this enough time to establish residency in TX? Thanks!

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[BigKurz]

I'm not sure about Texas specifically, but in general I have found two differing states of "residency." I'm having the same issue with North Carolina.

I may apply to AMCAS as a North Carolina resident. By that I mean, I will soon be obtaining an NC Driver's License, I have an apartment lease, I pay taxes, and I'm registered to vote here. In terms of "admission," I believe I can declare NC residency.

The problem comes with in-state rates. In NC, you need to have 12 months paying taxes, fully self-supported before you can earn in-state rates. At this point, I would much prefer to GET INTO UNC-Chapel Hill, and worry about what I pay later. If i have to spend one year paying OOS first, so be it.

 

[star22]

Does anyone know how Texas schools regulate who is a state resident or not. I'm considering moving there to be with my fiance as she finishes school. I would be there a few months before applying for med school. Is this enough time to establish residency in TX? Thanks!

I looked into this a few months ago and TX requires that you have lived/worked there for 12 months before you submit your application, so you would have to wait and apply for 2008 if you want to go there. Other than that, I think every thing is really straight forward... register your car, register to vote, get a drivers license, etc.

 

[afterthought]

I looked into this a few months ago and TX requires that you have lived/worked there for 12 months before you submit your application, so you would have to wait and apply for 2008 if you want to go there. Other than that, I think every thing is really straight forward... register your car, register to vote, get a drivers license, etc.

I've heard of folks who go to Baylor (private, but subsidized by the state so TX residents pay the equivalent of state school tuition) buying a condo in Houston and getting in-state tuition after their first year. (I gather from this that owning property for a year makes you a resident, but what do I know?)

 

[Skaterbabe74]

TX is one of the hardest states to get residency in. You have to transfer everything (car, license, job, etc) to TX for 12 months prior to taking any classes to be considered a resident. I looked into it when my bf at the time was considering moving back down there, and I was thinking about trying to transfer for ugrad. The only way around the no classes at all for the 12 months as you are becoming a resident is if you work for certain companies, and transfer (or get a job) with these companies and move to TX for the purpose of that job, then you can pay in-state tuition during those 12 months. There's a website that lists all of the companies that qualify for this, but I don't have the link anymore. Otherwise, if you take any classes during your first 12 months of living in TX you will be considered out of state for the entire degree. This is for the state schools, Baylor may be different tho.

 

[jace's mom]

For the purpose of application: I called the support number at TMDSAS to ask this question, and I was told that I had to be a resident (lived here with appropriate documentation 12 months prior) by October 15th of the year I was submitting my application (the day the application period closes) in order for TMDSAS to report me as a resident to the schools. This is important because of how strongly Texas favors in-staters. So even if I would be a resident before I began medical school, if I wasn't a resident by the time the application period closed, I wouldn't be reported as one.

For the purpose of tuition: Established residency 12 months before the semester begins.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I've heard of folks who go to Baylor (private, but subsidized by the state so TX residents pay the equivalent of state school tuition) buying a condo in Houston and getting in-state tuition after their first year. (I gather from this that owning property for a year makes you a resident, but what do I know?)

The residency requirement is such that you must have lived in TX for 12 months for a NON-ACADEMIC purpose to be eligible to be considered a resident for school purposes. Therefore, unless I am missing something, your plan to apply for resident tuition after a year will probably not work. Buying property when you begin school doesn't change this.

You could go through the flowchart on the second page of the TMDSAS application to see what you would need to do to be considered a resident.

 

[karirunner]

To become a TX resident, you need to have resided in Texas for 12 months. You can only attend school part time during the period in which you are trying to establish residency. On the form TMDSAS has you use to determine residency, they ask (1) where you are registered to vote (2)if you own property in the state (3) the state that issued you a driver's license (4) which states in which you have bank accounts. Unless you want to deal with the hassle of trying to change residency during the app process (not a good idea-TMDSAS in my experience has been kind of disorganized), it takes about 1.5 to 2 yrs to establish residency. Hope that helps!

 

[riceman04]

TX is one of the hardest states to get residency in. You have to transfer everything (car, license, job, etc) to TX for 12 months prior to taking any classes to be considered a resident. I looked into it when my bf at the time was considering moving back down there, and I was thinking about trying to transfer for ugrad. The only way around the no classes at all for the 12 months as you are becoming a resident is if you work for certain companies, and transfer (or get a job) with these companies and move to TX for the purpose of that job, then you can pay in-state tuition during those 12 months. There's a website that lists all of the companies that qualify for this, but I don't have the link anymore. Otherwise, if you take any classes during your first 12 months of living in TX you will be considered out of state for the entire degree. This is for the state schools, Baylor may be different tho.

no it is actually one of the easiest!!!

All you need is a bank account in state and/ or be a registered voter and live in the state without attending any higher level education institution for a year.

And yeah...buying property does work too!

 

[Skaterbabe74]

no it is actually one of the easiest!!!

All you need is a bank account in state and/ or be a registered voter and live in the state without attending any higher level education institution for a year.

And yeah...buying property does work too!

Exactly - you have to live in the state without taking any classes for a year (at least for undergrad at the UT schools unless it has changed in the past year when I was looking at the info)...the majority of other states typically let you take a few classes, or even full time during part of that year to get residency after the first year. In TX that doesn't work. That's why I consider it one of the harder states to get residency in. Most other states, so long as you are working, and have car plates, license, etc from your new home, will let you become a resident after the first year regardless of whether you took classes as an out-of-stater during that year, especially if your significant other is working full-time or you buy property.

On the other hand, most states do stipulate that you can't just move there for school, and expect to establish residency...voting reg, car plates, license, bank account, and job are typically required regardless of the state. The difference is in the length of time you have to be there, and whether you're allowed to take any classes or not while establishing residency.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

And yeah...buying property does work too!

...but does not remove the requirement to live in state for 1 year for a NON-ACADEMIC purpose before residency can be established.

 

[donks06]

What if I was born there and lived there until the 3rd grade?

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

What if I was born there and lived there until the 3rd grade?

(I'm assuming you don't live in TX now.)

If one or both of your parents lives in TX, and you are their dependent, than you may be able to be classified as a resident.

If not, you are not a resident.

 

[Dr.McDreamy]

Hi. this is a great thread since i need to know something about this also. I am in Cali and I have a friend who is an undergrad right now (1st year). He lives with his parents. His family plans to move to Texas after his 1st year. So if he is a dependent, will he be able to be a full time student while paying in-state tuition? Does anyone know? Thanks in advance.

 

[jace's mom]

Okay, I'm confused. Some posts are saying that you can't take any classes that first year, while others are saying as long as it's part-time you'll be okay. I have to take one class this fall in order to get my prereqs finished, and unfortunately I won't be a resident until Sep 19th. So - I was planning on paying OOS tuition for that one class. I'm not enrolled in a degree plan or anything - I already have a BS degree (earned in Texas) and an MPH (Florida).
I did move here for a job - a professional one, and I moved my family with me. Even so, does this mean that if I get into a Texas med school, I will be considered an OOS student for the duration of the degree? I read the actual wording of the law, but still came away confused. One part talked about full-time classwork, which may be where people are getting the "part-time is okay" thing. I'm going to contact my local college today and ask, but has anyone had experience with this type of situation? Thanks!

 

[pkbronco]

I am finishing my masters in physiology in california currently and have one more year, but and then looking to going back to texas for med school to be with my fiance and get married.
What if this summer I established residency in TX by getting a license, registering to vote and getting my name on my soon to be wife's lease for an apartment. If I finish school in cali, but come back often to TX and end up paying taxes in Texas, could that make me a resident for the next cycle (2007-2008 class)?? I know it's a bit shady, but think it might work??

 

[jace's mom]

PK, I honestly don't know the answer to your question, except to say that what you have planned sounds risky and yes, a bit shady. I would be cautious.

I do have a follow up to my own question. I spoke with two schools in Texas (the local JC and UT-Austin), and both assured me that the "you can't take any classes the first year" rule no longer applies. It used to, but new laws were passed just recently and that is no longer a consideration. I'll have to pay OOS for this fall, but I will reclassified as IS beginning in the spring. I'm attempting to get this in writing from someone now, just to be safe.

 

[bejeabeez]

I am finishing my masters in physiology in california currently and have one more year, but and then looking to going back to texas for med school to be with my fiance and get married.
What if this summer I established residency in TX by getting a license, registering to vote and getting my name on my soon to be wife's lease for an apartment. If I finish school in cali, but come back often to TX and end up paying taxes in Texas, could that make me a resident for the next cycle (2007-2008 class)?? I know it's a bit shady, but think it might work??

I did something similar to this but not for as long a time. I moved to Texas to live with my fiancé in the summer of 2004 and opened a bank account in Texas but that was about it, I didn't transfer my license or anything. Then I went back to my home state and finished the fall 2004 semester so I could graduate. Then I moved back to Texas and started working in Jan. 2005 and applied for the 2006-2007 school year as an in state resident and TMDSAS didn't question it. At one of my interviews the people who interviewed me were asking why I moved to Texas so I had to explain myself, but I ended up getting into that school.