My son is a junior here in NM. If we both move to CA this summer and he finishes his senior year and gets a CA HS diploma. Are we CA residents? Do I pay OOS or in-state tuition when he is admitted to one of the UCs?
The above link is for students who are 18 or older. Here’s the link for students who are minors: https://students.ucsd.edu/finances/fees/residence/minors-guardians.html
If you or your spouse works for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in any capacity (direct employ-not as a contactor), your son is eligible for in-state tuition at any UC. LANL staff are technically employees are of the UC system.
Your son would apply as OOS student, but after acceptance he will petition for in-state rates. He’ll have to reapply annually but it’s always granted.
http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/3106.html
I know a number of NM students who attended UCs at instate rates.
It looks to me like if you move to California, stay for you son’s senior year and then leave California, you will not have shown intent to become California residents and you will pay OOS tuition.
If you can afford to move back and forth between sates you can afford to pay OOS tuition.
California residency is rather easy to obtain after one year if the whole family moves. If you move here at the beginning of senior year, you will have to prove your intent to remain a resident. For instate tuition, you will likely have to appeal to the campus that accepts you. No way to “prove” intent, absent buying a house, so it will be up to the reviewer to decide.