How difficult is it to obtain residency in California? Im from Florida, 20 years old, and will be financially independent, I will be working while in Cal but my parents will most likely send some money along the way. I also have $11,000 saved up. I will also obtain DL, lease, voter registration, car registration, etc. I hope to move there between june and july 2015 and transfer into a university for the fall of 2016. How realistic is it that I can get In state tuition?
If you can make it work, you really should publish a book on how you did it. It will be a best-seller! It would really help if you could arrange to get married and if you could delay college for a year. Otherwise, you would want to delay college 3 years from your plan, until you are 24.
wow that sucks
A bit of hyperbole. Actually, consult the Residence Affairs Office for a definitive answer. The one at UC Berkeley can be reached at: (510) 644-9181.
Physical Presence:
You must be physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date of the term for which classification as a resident is requested.
Intent:
You must establish your intent to make California your home one year prior to the residence determination date of the term for which classification as a resident is requested.
If you are physically present in California solely for educational purposes, you will not be eligible for resident classification regardless of the length of your stay in California. The physical presence requirement (above) will be extended until you can demonstrate a concurrence of both physical presence and intent for one full year.
Financial Independence:
If you will not reach age 24 by December 31 of the year in which classification as a resident is requested, and are not dependent upon a California resident parent (biological or legally adoptive only) for tuition purposes, you will be required to satisfy the University’s self-sufficiency requirement.
It should be noted that this requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduates who do not have a parent domiciled in California to qualify for classification as a resident at a University of California campus.
Here is more information regarding residency for the ucop.edu website:
http://www.ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/10-things-undergrad.pdf
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL
10 THINGS UNDERGRADUATES NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CALIFORNIA RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF TUITION AND FEES
- Upon admittance to the University of California, your resident or nonresident classification is determined for purposes of tuition and fees only after you have completed and submitted a Statement of Legal Residence to the campus Residence Deputy.
- If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, it is unlikely that you will be able to qualify as a California resident for purposes of tuition and fees.
- The term “California resident for purposes of tuition and fees” comes from the University’s residence regulations and differs from other definitions of California residence. For example, a person who is a California resident for tax or voting purposes will not necessarily be a resident for purposes of tuition and fees. Admissions and Financial Aid definitions of resident also differ. They do not confer residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- You do not become a resident for purposes of tuition and fees simply by living in California for 366 days or more. The length of time you attend the University of California or live in California is not the sole determining factor of residency.
- In order to establish residence in California for purposes of tuition and fees, you must have the legal ability to establish a permanent domicile in the United States, meaning that you must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold a valid, qualifying nonimmigrant visa.
- The UC residence regulations require that you and your parent(s), if they claim California residency, prove: 1) At least 366 days of physical presence in California with 2) concurrent intent to permanently remain in the state. If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and are not dependent upon California-resident parent(s), 3) you must be able to confirm financial independence for two full years immediately preceding the term you wish to enroll.
- To prove financial independence, you must be able to document that you have not been claimed as an income tax dependent by any individual for two tax years immediately preceding the term, and that you have been totally self-sufficient for two full years prior to the residence determination date, supporting yourself, for example, through jobs, financial aid, commercial/institutional loans in your name only, and savings from your earnings. You must be able to document that you have paid rent and all other expenses from your own earnings.
- You normally cannot establish California residence for purposes of tuition and fees while maintaining legal ties to another state or country (e.g. state tax liability, driver’s license, voter’s or vehicle registration). Further, if you have moved to California primarily to attend the University of California, you are here for educational purposes and so are not eligible for a resident classification for purposes of tuition and fees.
- It is your burden to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that you have satisfied all applicable UC residence requirements. Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating whether you are able to qualify for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- This is only a summary of the main UC regulations for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees. Please access the UC Residence Policy at http://www.ucop.edu/ogc/documents/uc-residence-policy.pdf for details. Contact the Office of the General Counsel at residency.appeal@ucop.edu if you have any further questions after reviewing the Residence Policy and Guidelines.
Here is more information regarding residency for the ucop.edu website:
http://www.ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/10-things-undergrad.pdf
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL
10 THINGS UNDERGRADUATES NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CALIFORNIA RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF TUITION AND FEES
- Upon admittance to the University of California, your resident or nonresident classification is determined for purposes of tuition and fees only after you have completed and submitted a Statement of Legal Residence to the campus Residence Deputy.
- If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, it is unlikely that you will be able to qualify as a California resident for purposes of tuition and fees.
- The term “California resident for purposes of tuition and fees” comes from the University’s residence regulations and differs from other definitions of California residence. For example, a person who is a California resident for tax or voting purposes will not necessarily be a resident for purposes of tuition and fees. Admissions and Financial Aid definitions of resident also differ. They do not confer residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- You do not become a resident for purposes of tuition and fees simply by living in California for 366 days or more. The length of time you attend the University of California or live in California is not the sole determining factor of residency.
- In order to establish residence in California for purposes of tuition and fees, you must have the legal ability to establish a permanent domicile in the United States, meaning that you must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold a valid, qualifying nonimmigrant visa.
- The UC residence regulations require that you and your parent(s), if they claim California residency, prove: 1) At least 366 days of physical presence in California with 2) concurrent intent to permanently remain in the state. If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and are not dependent upon California-resident parent(s), 3) you must be able to confirm financial independence for two full years immediately preceding the term you wish to enroll.
- To prove financial independence, you must be able to document that you have not been claimed as an income tax dependent by any individual for two tax years immediately preceding the term, and that you have been totally self-sufficient for two full years prior to the residence determination date, supporting yourself, for example, through jobs, financial aid, commercial/institutional loans in your name only, and savings from your earnings. You must be able to document that you have paid rent and all other expenses from your own earnings.
- You normally cannot establish California residence for purposes of tuition and fees while maintaining legal ties to another state or country (e.g. state tax liability, driver’s license, voter’s or vehicle registration). Further, if you have moved to California primarily to attend the University of California, you are here for educational purposes and so are not eligible for a resident classification for purposes of tuition and fees.
- It is your burden to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that you have satisfied all applicable UC residence requirements. Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating whether you are able to qualify for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- This is only a summary of the main UC regulations for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees. Please access the UC Residence Policy at http://www.ucop.edu/ogc/documents/uc-residence-policy.pdf for details. Contact the Office of the General Counsel at residency.appeal@ucop.edu if you have any further questions after reviewing the Residence Policy and Guidelines.
Here is more information regarding residency for the ucop.edu website:
http://www.ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/10-things-undergrad.pdf
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL
10 THINGS UNDERGRADUATES NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CALIFORNIA RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF TUITION AND FEES
- Upon admittance to the University of California, your resident or nonresident classification is determined for purposes of tuition and fees only after you have completed and submitted a Statement of Legal Residence to the campus Residence Deputy.
- If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, it is unlikely that you will be able to qualify as a California resident for purposes of tuition and fees.
- The term “California resident for purposes of tuition and fees” comes from the University’s residence regulations and differs from other definitions of California residence. For example, a person who is a California resident for tax or voting purposes will not necessarily be a resident for purposes of tuition and fees. Admissions and Financial Aid definitions of resident also differ. They do not confer residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- You do not become a resident for purposes of tuition and fees simply by living in California for 366 days or more. The length of time you attend the University of California or live in California is not the sole determining factor of residency.
- In order to establish residence in California for purposes of tuition and fees, you must have the legal ability to establish a permanent domicile in the United States, meaning that you must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold a valid, qualifying nonimmigrant visa.
- The UC residence regulations require that you and your parent(s), if they claim California residency, prove: 1) At least 366 days of physical presence in California with 2) concurrent intent to permanently remain in the state. If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and are not dependent upon California-resident parent(s), 3) you must be able to confirm financial independence for two full years immediately preceding the term you wish to enroll.
- To prove financial independence, you must be able to document that you have not been claimed as an income tax dependent by any individual for two tax years immediately preceding the term, and that you have been totally self-sufficient for two full years prior to the residence determination date, supporting yourself, for example, through jobs, financial aid, commercial/institutional loans in your name only, and savings from your earnings. You must be able to document that you have paid rent and all other expenses from your own earnings.
- You normally cannot establish California residence for purposes of tuition and fees while maintaining legal ties to another state or country (e.g. state tax liability, driver’s license, voter’s or vehicle registration). Further, if you have moved to California primarily to attend the University of California, you are here for educational purposes and so are not eligible for a resident classification for purposes of tuition and fees.
- It is your burden to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that you have satisfied all applicable UC residence requirements. Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating whether you are able to qualify for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees.
- This is only a summary of the main UC regulations for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees. Please access the UC Residence Policy at http://www.ucop.edu/ogc/documents/uc-residence-policy.pdf for details. Contact the Office of the General Counsel at residency.appeal@ucop.edu if you have any further questions after reviewing the Residence Policy and Guidelines.
I guess for CSULB I can establish residency for one year without going to school (basically a gap year) and then apply for in state tuition while still being dependent on my parents.
For Cal States this is the information for establishing residency.
The general rule is that a student must have established and maintained permanent residence in California for at least one year immediately preceding the residence determination date in order to qualify as a resident student for tuition purposes. A residence determination date is set for each academic term and is the date from which residence is determined for that term.
•Residence Determination Dates:
•September 20 for fall semester
•January 25 for spring semester
How do I qualify for resident status as an adult student?
Applicants 19 years of age or older by the residence determination date are considered adults for residency purposes. To be eligible for resident status adult students must maintain a physical presence in California, show intent to make California his or her permanent home and/or maintain proper immigration status for one year prior to September 20 for the fall semester, and one year prior to January 25 for the spring semester.
Evidence of intent to make California one’s permanent home may include, but is not limited to:
•California voter registration and voting in California elections.
•California driver’s license.
•California automobile registration.
•California State income tax obligations on total income.
•Ownership of residential property or continuous occupancy or renting of an apartment on a lease basis where your personal belongings are kept.
•Active savings and/or checking accounts in a California bank.
•Immigration status with legal capacity to establish California residency.
•Maintaining a permanent military address and home of record in California.
•Military leave and earning statements showing California as legal residence
I would contact CSULB or any of the other Cal states you plan to apply, to make sure your classes are transferable especially since they are not from a CC in California.
For Cal States this is the information for establishing residency.
The general rule is that a student must have established and maintained permanent residence in California for at least one year immediately preceding the residence determination date in order to qualify as a resident student for tuition purposes. A residence determination date is set for each academic term and is the date from which residence is determined for that term.
•Residence Determination Dates:
•September 20 for fall semester
•January 25 for spring semester
How do I qualify for resident status as an adult student?
Applicants 19 years of age or older by the residence determination date are considered adults for residency purposes. To be eligible for resident status adult students must maintain a physical presence in California, show intent to make California his or her permanent home and/or maintain proper immigration status for one year prior to September 20 for the fall semester, and one year prior to January 25 for the spring semester.
Evidence of intent to make California one’s permanent home may include, but is not limited to:
•California voter registration and voting in California elections.
•California driver’s license.
•California automobile registration.
•California State income tax obligations on total income.
•Ownership of residential property or continuous occupancy or renting of an apartment on a lease basis where your personal belongings are kept.
•Active savings and/or checking accounts in a California bank.
•Immigration status with legal capacity to establish California residency.
•Maintaining a permanent military address and home of record in California.
•Military leave and earning statements showing California as legal residence
I would contact CSULB or any of the other Cal states you plan to apply, to make sure your classes are transferable especially since they are not from a CC in California.
So my comments in the first post relate to point 6) subpoint 3) & point 7. You could possibly do it if you work for 2 years instead of the 1 you propose AND you do the things you need to do as outlined above (and your parents do not claim you for 2015 & 2016 and you start in 2017).
I spoke with CSULB and they said I van become resident after 1 year. I don’t need to work for 2 and then start in 2017 I can start in 2016 and still be dependent on my parents (Dad paying rent).
That doesn’t sound right. I don’t think you can be in-state if your parent is paying your rent OOS.
For CSULB if I establish residency in Cal for 1 full year with intent to stay and I am over 19 then financial dependency from my parents is not an issue according to their Residence Specialist Dianne North
My dad will be supplying me with money basically every month but the lease agreement will be with my name on it and I will be paying for it…technically.
Nope, you will be dependent on your OOS parents for money, so you won’t qualify for in-state residency. California is out of money and the universities are very strict about in-state residency since they lose money is they qualify everyone who moves to California for school.
From the CSULB web site:
"Generally, establishing California residency for tuition purposes requires a combination of physical presence and intent to remain indefinitely. An adult who, at least one full year prior to the residency determination date for the term in which enrollment is contemplated, can demonstrate both physical presence in the state combined with evidence of intent to remain in California indefinitely may establish California residency for tuition purposes. A minor normally derives residency from the parent(s) they reside with or most recently resided with.
Evidence demonstrating intent may vary from case to case but will include, and is not limited to, the absence of residential ties to any other state, California voter registration and voting in California elections, maintaining California vehicle registration and driver’s license, maintaining active California bank accounts, filing California income tax returns and listing a California address on federal tax returns, owning residential property or occupying or renting an apartment where permanent belongings are kept, maintaining active memberships in California professional or social organizations, and maintaining a permanent military address and home of record in California.
Nonresident students seeking reclassification are required to complete a supplemental questionnaire that includes questions concerning their financial dependence on parents or others who do not meet University requirements for classification as residents for tuition purposes. Financial independence is required, along with physical presence and intent, to be eligible for reclassification."
Note that, “financial independence” is required. You have to prove how you will be paying your rent and it can’t be from your parents. Rents in California, especially near Long Beach are very expensive.
Check the website:
http://web.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/catalog/current/fees/determination_of_residence.html
It looks to me like you have a plan, and a solution. The way I read it, you will enter as a resident, so you will not be a nonresident student in need of reclassification. I had always seen the UC requirements- CSU requirements seem surprisingly lenient.
Your plan doesn’t make sense to me.
In your other/parallel thread, you say you want to finish your AA with online FL classes while living in CA and trying to establish residency?
Transcripts don’t usually show that classes were taken online - my D’s don’t. So when a CSU looks at your transcript, they should assume you were a FL resident paying FL resident fees for classes, even if you provide all your other CA evidence. So you’d need to start all over to establish CA residency.
Also, even if you have an AA, all your classes may not transfer over. You may be faced with taking CA CC courses at nonresident fees to make up for any shortfall to successfully transfer.