<p>I have a question about residency for tuition (and admission) purposes. I am an international student (F-1 Visa) studying at a California Community College. I am planning to apply as a transfer to Berkeley (and other schools, mostly CA though) for Fall 2009. This year I was one of the DV-2009 Lottery winners, which means that I will receive a Green Card next year, around May 2009. I have been working on-campus at my Community College for 1 year now (2 years by the time I will get my Green Card) as a student worker, which means that I have a Social Security Number. When I apply, will I be considered a CA resident? Will I get priority like other California Community College transfers do? Will I pay in-state tuition? Or do I have to wait and live in California for one more year to be considered a resident?</p>
<p>I know I should contact the universities I'm applying to, I already did that, but did not get any satisfying answers. So I'm just wondering if any of you were in a similar situation before or know anything about it.</p>
<p>Even if you get a green card, you will not be an in-state student unless one of the following is true:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Your parents live and establish residence in CA.</p></li>
<li><p>You are at least 24 years old.</p></li>
<li><p>You are financially independent of your parents.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>The rational behind these rules is to exclude typical college students from getting in-state tuiton in another state than the one they lived in before they went to college, unless their family moves. I guess I am in the same boat as you: I came to the US as an international student and won the green card lottery. Now I am a permanent resident but I do not qualify for in-state tuition anywhere because all states assume that my residence is in the same state as my parents', who happen to live overseas.</p>
<p>If you happened to graduate from a CA high school after at least 3 years of attendance, you would qualify for in-state tuition as an out-of-state student.</p>
<p>Where did you get these "rules" from? As far as I know every university has their own set of requirements for classifying students as international/in-state. For the UCs it seems like they want "objective evidence that you intend to make California your permanent home" and proof of financial independece. </p>
<p>As examples of this evidence they give </p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
registering to vote and voting in California elections; designating California as your permanent address on all school and employment records, including military records if you are in the military service; obtaining a California driver's license or, if you never had a driver's license from any state, a California Identification Card; obtaining California vehicle registration; paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on income earned outside California from the date you establish residence;
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>However, this is rather vague. It surely wouldn't be a problem to designate CA as my permanent address, get a drivers license and since I'm working I'm already paying taxes.</p>
<p>And for financial independence they say
<a href="6">QUOTE</a> you are a single undergraduate student who was not claimed as an income tax deduction by your parents or any other individual for the two tax years immediately preceding the term for which you are requesting resident classification, and you can demonstrate self-sufficiency for those years and the current year."
[/QUOTE]
This is rather vague as well. I paid taxes by myself last year (my parents don't live here) and will do the same thing next year. I DO get money from my parents, but I'm not totally dependent on them since I'm working part-time by myself.</p>
<p>Also, would it make a difference if one of my parents would move to California as a GC holder? I did not win the GC lottery myself, my father did, but since I am still under 21 years of age, I will get a GC as well when he gets his. He didn't have any intention to come here, but if that would classify me as in-state he may do it.</p>
<p>You probably satisfy the first two but not the last one. As explained on the website, you can satisfy the "financial independence" requirement by one of the following conditions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Being dependent upon a resident of California</li>
<li>Being 24 or older</li>
<li>Being self-sufficient</li>
</ul>
<p>It seems like you cannot satisfy any of these criteria.</p>
<p>"And for financial independence they say... and you can demonstrate self-sufficiency for those years and the current year. This is rather vague as well."</p>
<p>This is not vague at all: if you get money from your parents (other than $200 for x-mas), you are not self-sufficient. You may not be totally dependent on them, but you are not independent or self-sufficient either.</p>
<p>And yes, it would make a difference if one of your parents moved to CA. If your parents were CA residents you would fulfill the "financial independence" requirement even though you are not financially independent (which is why I put the requirement in quotes). However, your parent would have to live in CA for at least a year before establishing residency, which is probably too late for your transfer application.</p>
<p>So If im over 24, studying at Cali community college for 1 year and Im fiancially independant of myslef, I will be able to get residence fees when i transfer to a big school ?</p>