Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mallard · Joined: 03 Jul 2008

I've been living in Korea for over 2 years now, and I'm planning to go back for a masters next Fall. I'm from Florida, and was hoping to get in-state tution again. Do you know if living overseas for an extended amount of time suspends my residency and keeps me from getting the lower tution? I still have a valid drivers liscense and voter registration from that state. I'm 26 so a bit too old to claim my parents. Does anyone have any experience with this?

cpolian · Joined: 18 Oct 2009

You are still a FL resident.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

For this purpose, you can still claim Florida residency.

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

I think you have to apply to change residency(?), so you should still be a FL resident.

I'm from FL also, where are you thinking of going to school? I'm sort of leaning towards doing my master's at FIU because I want to live in Miami.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

technically no. if your in another country for another place for more than 6 months your that place's resident. If you've still got a permanent valid address than your still a resident but it'll get dicey if they ever audit you.

Lolimahro · Joined: 19 May 2009

Did you pay state taxes for FL while in Korea? Maybe that can help you prove residency...

hochhasd · Joined: 05 Jul 2008

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

tampabulls · Joined: 20 Sep 2009

GoodMike · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

MattAwesome · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

unless you filled something out claiming otherwise, you are still a resident. still have a valid license there and are still expected to federal taxes. same concept as us citzenship i believe. jsut because you move somewhere doesnt actually change those things.
although i have no intention of returning for more than a short vacation. i will keep my residency in the states.

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

Every school is different so you'll have to check with the particular college. When I got out of the Army, I was accepted into the Masters of Social work at Arizona State University and they required you to have lived in state for six months prior to start of classes.

Obviously schools in sunny areas have a large student body of students from colder states so they make a lot of money on out of state tuition.

I would bet Florida has a very similar policy to cash in on all those boys and girls up north.

Once again, check with the university.

If they say you aren't, then when you apply, say you are until they ask you to prove it.

travelnguy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007

From experience, I would say that you are not a Florida resident right now. You are a Korean resident. You are still a US citizen, but you are not even a US resident right now. If you were, then you would have to pay taxes on your earned income in Korea and there would be no tax free amount up to 80,000USD or what ever the current amount is.

I say from experience because I got accepted by USF and was then told that I would have to pay out of state tuition. I explained that I was born in Florida and lived there for 28 years. I was only in Korea for 2 years and then right back to Florida. It didn't matter. You have to be living in Florida for 12 months prior to you going to university.

When applying to school, you have to prove you are a resident still. To do this, you need a valid drivers license that is dated at least one year prior to admissions and one other item. You can use voters registration or your title to your automobile. All must have been valid for at least one year prior to admissions.

Mallard · Joined: 03 Jul 2008

Thank you everyone for all the replies. Wow travelnguy that sucks. That's exactly what I was fearing. As for my tax return, I haven't taken advantage of the foreign income tax exclusion because I wanted to invest in a roth ira which you can't do if your income isn't taxed so I figured it was better to get taxed on the small sum now, then pay a lot more taxes later on when I cash out. So while I do list my employers I still use my mom's florida address on my taxes. Hopefully just listing my employers won't damn me.

I think after reading the experiences of people on this board, I'll probably fib on my application about where I've been the last 12 months so as to not raise any eyebrows at admission. The economy is pretty bad so maybe an empty year won't be too much of a strike against me. I'll report back when I know if they've accepted me and my residency. Thanks again everyone for your replies.

steveinincheon · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: in The Shadows of Gyeyangsan

but OP you said you still have a valid FL driver's license AND a valid FL voter's registration. If that's true you can still probably get away with claiming residency. If they are both still valid and have been valid for over a year I would say you can still claim residency.

I just found out I am still legally a MI resident. I have a valid MI driver's license, and MI voter's registration and was just called to jury duty. It's been a year and a half since I've set foot in MI and I'm afraid now that I will have to renounce my MI residency, which I don't want to do. Based on this I would say that you are still considered a resident of FL.