You are the only one who knows your true intent so you have the burden of proving your residency for tuition purposes. RDS must determine that your actions, taken as a whole, demonstrate your intent to make North Carolina your permanent dwelling place, rather than your residence in the state only for the purpose of attending college. This determination does not come from any single action, but from a cluster of events, which clearly show that at least 12 months before you claim residency the greater part of information about you points to North Carolina as your domicile. In other words, you have done the kinds of things that a permanent resident does, and have not been acting like a temporary visitor. There is no set checklist of items which guarantee a determination as a resident for tuition purposes.

RDS may ask you some of these important questions:

• Did you or your parents file an income tax return in another state indicating that you were a resident during the last tax year?
• Is your vehicle registered in North Carolina?
• Do you have a current North Carolina driver license?
• Are you registered to vote in North Carolina?
• Where and when did you last vote?
• What is your financial capacity?
• What is the source(s) of your financial capacity?
• Do you own real estate in North Carolina?
• Where are you, or were you, employed or working and earning income?