<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My niece wants to live in California. She is going to live with me for the first couple of years and I will be supporting her while she goes to college here. She is going to be 18 when she gets here. She is moving from Louisiana. For financial aid purposes, she is considered to be independent since a Louisiana court appointed legal guardians for her as a child (from age 10).</p>
<p>I don't know if this means she is also independent for purposes of residency or not. If I claim her on my tax returns for the year she arrives (2011), will she be dependent and thus use my residency status, or will she be independent (no source of income outside me or grants) for purposes of residency determination?</p>
<p>I realize this is a question outside the norm, so any input will be greatly appreciated...
Thanks!
kalyson</p>
<p>You don’t mention what schools she would like to attend.</p>
<p>Being independent for financial aid does not grant residency. For the UCs, CSUs and California Community Colleges, she must have lived in California for a full year before attending school to be considered a resident. Residency cannot be established while attending college. [University</a> of California - Admissions](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/ca_residency.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/ca_residency.html)</p>
<p>For private universities in California, her state of residence is not an issue.</p>
<p>Residency for the purposes of In-State Tuition is VERY, VERY, VERY hard to establish. A student must show that they have been living in CA and 100% financially self sufficient (and document their earnings to support this) for (I think) 24 months prior to being granted In-State tuition at the UCs. Don’t know about Cal States or Community Colleges.</p>
<p>This means they cannot be claimed on another person’s taxes, and more importantly, that they must document how they have earned the money to pay rent, utilities, living expenses, auto, etc.</p>
<p>The State of CA is really quite determined to prevent residents of other states from coming to CA primarily to attend college, waiting a year, then starting school after living her for a year, and taking advantage of the CA resident tuition waiver.</p>
<p>It’s 12 months, not 24, of being a self-supporting resident of CA. However they cannot have been claimed for the two previous years as a dependent on the taxes of out-of-state parents or guardians.</p>
<p>And, yeah, you cannot be attending school during that year of establishing residency.</p>
<p>Some community colleges have more leniant guidelines for establishing residency. If community college is something your niece is considering, you need to check the residency requirements of the particular college – it varies from school to school.</p>
<p>Also check with the community college to see whether (assuming she meets their residency requirments) she can have resident status when the time comes to transfer to a UC or CSU after a couple years. I have heard conflicting opinions on this… but I think the most reliable information will come directly from the community college itself.</p>