<p>Well, my parents and I came to an agreement that it would be a good idea for me to move and live with my relatives in CA because I have no attentions of going to a school in the state where I live in now and because I hate it here. :o (I'll be going to a UC - the OOS tuition was a concern among other things.) </p>
<p>My parents will be moving after 2006 (the year of my graduation). My question now would be: How do I establish residency in CA? and what kinds of paperwork would need to be taken care of? I'm from the state of Washington if that matters.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"To be considered a California resident for purposes of fees, an out-of-state student must have lived in California for more than one year preceding the residence determination date, relinquish residence in other states, show an intent to establish residency in California and demonstrate financial independence. Unmarried undergraduates from other states qualify as financially independent if they were not claimed by their parents or others as dependents for tax purposes for two preceding tax years and if their annual income is sufficient to meet their needs."
<p>I think this has come up before, and I recall that it's hard to establish CA residency for UC purposes unless you're living independently. Good luck with your investigations and plans!</p>
[quote]
6. Dependent Child of a California Resident Parent
If you have not been an adult resident of California for more than one year and you are a dependent child of a California resident parent who has been a resident for more than one year immediately before the residence determination date, you may be entitled to a waiver of the nonresident tuition fee until you have resided in California for the minimum time necessary to become a resident as long as you maintain continuous attendance at an educational institution.
<p>There is also the new laws. If the child has studied in a state high school for the last 3 years, the child is allowed in-state tuition in Universities where there is a difference between instate and out-of- state tuitions. The 4 states that have implemented this are Texas, New York, California and Washington. The bill is still pending in several states including NJ, S.Carolina, Maryland, Virginia etc. This is so that children of illegal immigrants and visaed temperory workers are not penalised. This option I think is not available to Carolyn since she has only one year left. </p>
<p>For permenant residents and citizens, I would think that the dependent child will have instate facilities in both the state that he/she resided for the last one year with one parent who lives there and files state taxes, as well as the state where the other parent was working and residing for the last year.</p>
<p>"If you are an unmarried minor (under age 18), the residence of the parent with whom you live is considered your residence. If you have a parent living, you cannot change your residence by your own act, by the appointment of a legal guardian, or by the relinquishment of a parent's right of control."</p>
<p>I turn 18 in December. </p>
<p>"3. Self-Support
If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible alien and are either a minor or age 18 and can prove that you lived in California for the entire year immediately before the residence determination date, that you have been self-supporting for that year, and that you intend to make California your permanent home, you may be eligible for resident status."</p>
<p>How does FAFSA intertwine in this situation?</p>
<p>Your parents state of residency will take preference and determine your state residency!! - where THEY file their tax return - per the FAFSA and per the schools residency requirements. Where they claim you as a dependant of theirs - thus you are a resident of the state where your parents reside - unless you fit the requirements for an independant student - which I seriously doubt you will be able to do.</p>
<p>Other possibility ?? maybe - you move to CA - work - establish your residency there for at the very least a year - could be more - not be claimed by your parents on fed taxes - file your taxes independantly - they maybe - maybe - you could be considered a CA resident for tuition purposes.</p>
<p>You would have to - register to vote in CA - register/insure a vehicle - obtain CA drivers liscense - pay rent/utilities - in your name - have a CA income that pays CA taxes - be able to convince CA schools that you are financially independant of all $$ responsibilities - not be claimed on any one elses fed tax return - all this for a minimum of 1 year at the very least - maybe even for 2 years - prior to applying to CA schools. Key word here is INDEPENDANT!!!</p>
<p>Given the quality of UCs at the price, everyone and his brother would try this if it was simple. I don't know all the details, but I know they make it difficult. At the very least, your parents can not have claimed you as a dependent on their taxes for at least 2 years to not be a dependent. Then there are other tests. A high school diploma from another state will sink you.</p>
<p>I moved to Ca. shortly before starting UCB as a grad student. This was way, way back and they were not as stringent in residency requirement then. Still, key factors for me were that I was married, my father had died 13 months prior, so no one had claimed me as a dependent for a year. Further, I had to show -even in those more lenient times - utility bills in my name in Ca., registration to vote in Ca., registration of my car in Ca., driver's license in Ca., father's death certificate, that my sources of income were my own - not from oostate parents etc. etc.</p>
<p>As zagat said, we would all send our kids to stay w relatives/friends if it were that easy. My S lived in California as a toddler and we would gladly have considered sending him back there for a year if that would have worked. And we even paid taxes in Ca. for almost 20 years. </p>
<p>Crayon, nice try, but I think you are dreaming. If you decide to move to Ca. just to achieve in-state tuition this way, I wouldn't chance it without getting a clear statement from the UC that your plan will cut it. I seriously doubt it.</p>
<p>to be independent
married
have a dependent of your own
23 years old
honorably discharged from military.
If you are not one of above- I suspect it will be difficult to claim that you are the legal dependent of your relatives in California.
Especially if you did not graduate high school in CA.
Since virtually everyone has relatives in California- I don't expect that it will be easy to switch to instate residency if your parents reside elsewhere.</p>