Q&A for How to Become a Florida Resident

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Question

Can I apply for citizenship after my probation?

Dhenu Maru
Immigration Lawyer
Dhenu Maru is an Immigration Lawyer, as well as the Founder and CEO of SwagatUSA, LLC. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in family immigration and business immigration. She earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her BA in Philosophy & Child Development from Tufts University. She was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for 2017, 2018, and 2019. She earned the title of Super Lawyer in 2021 and has been selected again for 2023.

Dhenu Maru

Immigration Lawyer

Expert Answer

Sure, but US citizenship requires proving good moral character for a period of five years. There is broad discretion to go further than that and to look at the entire history of the person, especially in the case of a very serious offense. So, it would be determined on a case by case basis and it would be something that the person would definitely need to consult with an attorney.

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Question

Can a man be a Florida resident, but not his wife?

Community Answer

Yes. You and your spouse do not have to be residents of the same state. I'm a Florida resident and my husband is a Maine resident.

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Question

Can I apply for employment and get an interview prior to becoming a resident of Florida?

Community Answer

You should be able to. I know people who have done this, they just applied using their current addresses and informed the employer that they would soon be moving to the area.

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Question

Does renting a condo for over 6 months qualify as a residence?

Community Answer

Yes, a resident of Florida is a person who has resided continuously for a period of 4 calendar months or more within the preceding year, regardless of whether the person resided in a recreation vehicle, hotel, rental unit, or other temporary or permanent location

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Question

What physical location do I go to where I can file declaration of domicile papers after I have had them signed and notarized?

Community Answer

Take it to your county records office, generally located by/in the courthouse.

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Question

How does a non driver get Florida residence?

Community Answer

Get a state identification card, instead. No driving is required.

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Question

Does being a Florida resident reduce my property taxes?

Community Answer

If you are talking about real estate, no. If you are talking about a "use tax," then yes.

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Question

How many months do I need to live in Florida to establish residency?

Community Answer

The rule is 30 days if you have purchased a home or rented a condo.

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Question

If I move to Florida and establish residency, how long does it take for my income to be counted as Florida income without income taxes to be paid from another state?

Community Answer

I'm not a tax professional, but in my experience, having lived in multiple states and abroad, the tax I paid depended upon where I was working when I generated the income. So Day 1 of working in FL would be considered FL income. However, if I worked in my state (and even some localities) for more than six months in a calendar year, I had to file a tax return in that state. So if you move to FL on Nov 1, the following April you would have to fix a tax return in your old state and reconcile your taxes for Jan-Oct. But if you moved to FL on Jun 15, you wouldn't have to file. But you need to check your current state's laws, and be sure to change your address with your employer right away.

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Question

I am retiring at the end of the year and want to immediately move to Florida. I plan on living with a fellow retiree. What do I need to do to establish immediate residency?

Community Answer

I found that you should immediately register to vote, register a vehicle, get a FL driver's license, declaration of domicile, and some mail with your name and Florida address.

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Question

Can I live in my camper?

Community Answer

Probably not. Most communities consider living in a vehicle to be vagrancy. In a rural setting, you might get way with it.

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Question

How does owning a business in another state affect my ability to become a Florida resident?

Community Answer

It shouldn't affect it at all as long as you can prove that Florida is your primary residence.

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Question

For work I travel all around the country. As such, I do not own a home - I live in my RV. A large portion of the year (4 - 6 non-consecutive months) is spent in Florida. Can I establish residency?

Community Answer

Yes, if you register your RV in Florida and you obtain a Florida drivers license.

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Question

How much does it cost to register a car in Florida?

Community Answer

A one-time fee of $225, plus fees depending on the weight of your vehicle that range from $46.15 to $72.40.

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Question

Do I have to have a Florida car registration and driver's license to be considered a resident?

Community Answer

Yes, you will need to have your car registered and have a valid Florida driver's license to be considered for residency.

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