Asking this for a very close friend of mine:
My friend was born in the U.S, yet he and his parents both live in Mexico. He has lived and studied there all of his life, and although having being born in California, has never actually lived there. He would very much like to study in one of the local CC and transfer over to a UC school. He is as fluent as any local and has excellent grades as well.
- I'm sure that he would require to pay OOS tuition, and it would increase significantly when transferring to a UC. If both of his parents haven't and most likely never will pay taxes, and he has not lived in the state, what would be the possibilities of getting In-State tuition once he transfers if he moves there entirely?
- Based on the previous question, what would his standpoint be in Financial Aid? If he ends up being a independent student or such, would he receive any extra help? What does he put on his parents social security, earnings, etc.
- On a final note, his uncle and aunt both live in town. He usually stays over the summer and is currently here as of a month ago. As a 18 year old, what would be his chances or steps to take living with his uncle and aunt from now on to live and study in California? He would be planning to stay in California and achieve residency fully. Could he receive in state tuition by the time he transfers to a UC? Would a full year of working, living, and paying taxes and such be enough (As noted on having resided for at least 366 days).
Thank you for your time
1-- If he’s lived in the state for a certain amount of time, he’ll get in state tuition. I believe you have to have lived in CA for 1-2 years at the time of application in order to get in state tuition.
2-- He will likely be judged for financial aid based on the income of his parents.
3-- If he lives with his aunt and uncle for 1-2 years (please look this number up and make sure of what the required length of time in-state is), then he will receive in state tuition. He’ll need documented proof of state residency for that length of time as well.
Your friend should be posting this questions not you.
Here is a link on establishing California residency for tuition purposes.
http://ucop.edu/residency/establishing-residency.html
The basics are if your friend is under the age of 24 and dependent upon his parents, then his residency is determined by where his parents live.
Guidelines for being an independent student are outlined in the link and not feasibly possible if he is 18.
If he is a US resident, then he is eligible for Federal aid for college but not state aid (California) since his parents are not residents of any states.
Living with his aunt and uncle will also not make him a resident, unless he is legally adopted.
I appreciate the link. It seems like to be considered he would have to prove will to reside in the state. He would most likely be getting a job, going to school, registering a library card, drivers license, etc. So it seems to point towards if my friend stays indefinitely, he could get in state tuition in a matter of a year or two. Also, I mention his relatives not on the grounds of adoption, but of actually renting a room and paying for his stay.
Cal grants would most likely not be needed until he transfers, so that is ok. On these terms, could he get in-state tuition by the end of CC? Or does it depend on if he is deemed a California resident by the end of this time line?
Thank you for your time.
To be considered an independent, he would have to prove he receives no financial help from relatives or his parents. As an 18 year old, that is hard to do. Anything is possible but not probable plus he should not attend any California CC before the 366 day period or it is assumed he is establishing residency for tuition purposes.
Your friend’s family has not been paying state taxes, so getting in-state residency will be extremely difficult.
He is a citizen but would only be eligible for federal aid which is not much when weighed against OOS costs for both the CC and any public university in California.
He needs to establish residency by contacting a UC and asking about a residency determination date then working in California for two years and paying market rates for his rent without any help from his parents, aunt/uncle, no one. After he has supported himself for two years then he can apply to the CC and may get instate residency. This is very hard to do because of the costs of living in California.
He cannot just live in California, with his aunt and uncle, and expect to get in-state residency after a year of living with them. He has to live independently and submit receipts for two years. His budget and W-2s, Federal income tax forms, State of California income taxes and his living expenses need to match his income. If he attempts to go to school within those two years, he will be charged OOS fees for both CC’s and any UC.
if you didn’t graduate HS in CA, it is virtually impossible to gain CA residency while you attend a CC. If he moves here to attend college, he will be charged OOS tuition. If he moves here, established himself as a resident (as described above) then decides to go to college, that’s a different story. If your friend performed really well in HS elsewhere and wants to attend college in CA, I would suggest he apply to private schools like USD and LMU, they are known for offering pretty generous aid to well qualified applicants.
What are his stats?