Am I a California Resident?

State Forums
1

<p>I lived in California almost my entire life, I moved to Oklahoma about a few months ago. If I am technically living with in California this summer with my mother, does that make me a California resident if I leave back to Oklahoma to finish high school? I will be in Oklahoma less than a year and to be a resident in a state you have to reside there for at least a year. Thanks in advance for the help, I'd rather go to college in my home state and not have to pay triple the amount.</p>

2

<p>Each college you apply to will have its own requirements. Look up their websites’ Bursars page.</p>

3

<p>It sounds like your mom and dad are divorced and you live with your dad in OK while your mom stayed in CA?</p>

4

<p>For public schools in California, each has different rules on who qualifies for California resident tuition. Community colleges, the CSU system, the UC system. You can look up the rules for each online.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses. I am living in California right now. I’ve been here for almost 3 months. Prior to that I was in Oklahoma for a few months. I’m technically enrolled in school in Oklahoma. I’d rather go to California in college because I feel more accepted than in Oklahoma because of my ethnicity. My mom is currently a resident of California. I just want to know how strict the UC’s are when determining if you are a California Resident. Does staying at my mothers for 3 months count? If it does when I go back to Oklahoma Ill be there less than a year. Will being there less than a year make me a California Resident that’s just been absent out of state? Thanks again for responses.</p>

6

<p>If you return to OK to finish high school, and want to attend a UC next year, I’d say no. </p>

<p>The relevant UC Residence Requirements are:</p>

<p>Physical Presence:The adult student (at least 18 years of age) and parent must have been physically present in the state for 366 days prior to the first day of instruction (the UC Residence Determination Date) of the term for which he/she wishes to be considered a resident;</p>

<p>Intent: The adult student (at least 18 years of age) and parent must have demonstrated intent simultaneously with their presence to make California his/her legal permanent home, as opposed to coming to California solely for the purpose of attending school.</p>

<p>If you want to apply as a California resident, it would be best to graduate from a California high school.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the response. Would it make a difference if I am a minor and when I return to California next year I will be a minor for 3 months while residing with my mother?</p>

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<p>Honestly, if you finish high school in Oklahoma, you’ll have a hard time convincing California (or any state) that you’re not an Oklahoman. </p>

<p>California used to be very lenient about granting residency (for tuition purposes) to out-of-staters who migrated to the state. But these days California is always dead-flat broke and on the brink of ruin. California has no business handing out in-state tuition to out-of-staters, and it’s gotten a lot stricter about doing so.</p>

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<p>[Office</a> of the University Registrar: Minors](<a href=“http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/tuition/residence/parents/minors.cfm]Office”>http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/tuition/residence/parents/minors.cfm)</p>

<p>The answer may vary by campus. Here’s what Davis says:
You may be able to derive California resident status from a California resident parent if you move to California to live with that parent on or before your 18th birthday. </p>

<p>They go on to say your parent must be able to prove they are residents and have been supporting you for the previous year.</p>

<p>So - probably not. I’d contact the school you are interested in directly and ask.</p>

10

<p>Mvtjbay, you didn’t respond as to whether your parents are separated or divorced. For divorced/separated parents, your residence is determined by which parent you live with HOWEVER A minor student will derive residence through a California-resident parent only if s/he begins living with the California parent prior to attaining majority (18th birthday). The student is not required to fulfill the 366-day physical presence requirement; however, the California parent must satisfy the University’s residence requirements for tuition purposes. The student must provide clear and convincing evidence that s/he actually changed the domicile to the California-resident parent’s home prior to the student’s 18th birthday. The parent must provide clear and convincing evidence that California has been the primary home for at least 366 days and that s/he has severed ties to the former out-of-state home. </p>

<p>If your parents are divorced/separated and you return to California to live with your California parent prior to turning 18, you will be considered a California resident. </p>

<p>You need to read ALL the information here regarding residence status to determine what may apply in your situation - <a href=“UC Legal - Office of the General Counsel | UCOP”>UC Legal - Office of the General Counsel | UCOP;