Simple Question Regarding Residency

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>So I am currently a resident of the state of New Hampshire and I am interested in pursuing UC-Berkeley via transfer status. My plan is to try to apply as a junior level transfer after 2 years at a California city college (CCSF specifically). </p>

<p>I would be looking to get into an apartment around August 2007 to begin the upcoming Fall 2007 semester and ultimately apply to UC-Berkeley during the following Fall 2008 semester. </p>

<p>My question is, if I continue to reside in California from August 2007 all the way up until I apply to UC-Berkeley, for the entire two years at a city college, would I gain California in-state residency in regards to paying in-state tuition fees? When I say "reside in California", I mean during summer breaks from academic periods as well. Ideally, I would be financially independant because I have been working a full-time job for the past two years and will be working until this upcoming August. Upon getting to California, I would then be in the hunt for a part-time job during classes and full-time during the summer break.</p>

<p>I know that the UC schools, such as Berkeley, as very fickle when it comes to who gets in-state tuition fees and who doesn't, so I want to make sure that I play all of my cards right! I have asked around, and gotten alot of mixed responses, so I was hoping to get some quality advice here.</p>

<p>Thank You.</p>

2

<p>Yes, you can gain California Resident status after just one year. Make sure you keep things like phone bills and your lease. Also, get a California drivers license as soon as possible.</p>

3

<p>umm ... I am far from an expert but I'd suggest that you double check that time spend in the state as a full-time student counts to gaining residency ... I say this because if that is the case tons of people would spend the summer after their freshman year working in CA and then try to attend the UCs as in-state residents from their sophomore year on.</p>

4

<p><a href="http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Read the Berkeley guidelines, check out the SLR (statement of legal residency) and make sure you meet all the guidelines- register to vote, driver's license, etc. I do not know if you, as a dependent minor, could establish residency in CA that would satisfy Berkeley. You may want to call and ask about it.</p>

5

<p>I agree with somemom. I remember the SLR had to do with parent information.</p>

6

<p>I may have been a bit unclear about what my situation would be once I moved to California, so please allow me to clarify:</p>

<p>I have been working full-time for close to the last 2 years and have been saving alot of this in preparation of this move. In August, I would be moving permanently to California (either Berkeley or San Francisco), most likely into an open room (via Craigslist, other want ads, etc.) or if cheap enough, my own studio apt.</p>

<p>I would spend the entire academic year (apprx. August-May) here and continue through the summer break until the following academic year begins in August. In most of the residency information I have read (which is alot, yet it never seems to become any less confusing!!! haha), it seems that to claim residency one must prove intent to make California their permanent state of residence and not soley for academic purposes. </p>

<p>I imagine once I got settled in my new living situation, I would make sure to get a California drivers license during the first 2 months or so, then open new bank accounts, include my new address on permanent records/billing information, register to vote.</p>

<p>The last little piece of information that seems to be confusing me is financial independance. As of now, I am claimed by my parents on their taxes and officially "dependant", however by moving, I would be changing all of this. With the amount of money I have saved up right now, I could easily afford rent for a room and other minimal living expenses during school with a part-time job. I am hoping that this would be enough to convince Berkeley that I moved to California permanently, gained financial independance, and plan on making it my permanent residence and not soley for academic purposes.</p>

<p>I am hoping to make sure that I take all the necessary precautions before I go ahead and move out to Calfornia for 2 years, apply, hopefully get accepted (it's purely hypothetical!!), only to be told "Sorry, you have been accepted however we are not charging you as an in-state student because you (insert dissappointing reason here).</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the responses thus far, I appreciate them!</p>

7

<p>Make sure to document everything that would help show your intent to be a resident of California. I don't know anything about their procedures for establishing residency, but it seems like a good idea.</p>

8

<p>FYI - your parents claiming you as a dependent is not a functionof where you live but who provides the majoirty of your living expenses. I had an issue with this issue while in college as my parents claimed me as a dependent after I was paying the majority of my own expenses ... I was filing as an independent adult while my parents were claiming still claiming me ... fortunately we were small fish and the IRS never audited us.</p>

9

<p>Here's the info on the Financial Independence Requirement from the link somemom provided:</p>

<p>
[quote]
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]
</p>

<p>If you are applying for admission to Fall 2009, then the income tax filing applies to Tax Years 2007 and 2008. That is my understanding of the requirement. If you are moving to California in August of 2007, it may be difficult to show self-sufficiency for 2007. </p>

<p>Some other thoughts, you may want to consider going to DVC (Diablo Valley College) it is a Community College feeder school to CAL. I believe it has the highest rate of xfers to CAL.</p>

<p>The Berkeley co-ops may be a good housing alternative. Although many CAL students live there, you do not need to be a CAL student; just a full-time student.</p>

10

<p>I know that it is a rather broad question, but you (or anybody else for that matter) wouldn't have any ideas as to how I could go about achieving "self-succiciency" for the 7 or 8 months in 2007 prior to moving to California? </p>

<p>I am currently residing in the same house as my parents, and considered a dependant. However, I have discussed my plan to move with my parents and have asked not to be filed as a dependant on their 2007 taxes. I wonder if this would help? This is such a confusing process and I'm just trying to do everything I can before I move so that I won't get stuck paying that ridiculous out of state tuition!! haha</p>

<p>*Here's an idea. I have relatives in Southern California who have told me that if I would like, I could temporarily move out there in the beginning of 2007 and reside with them, ultimately making this my new permanent residence. This would help me in gaining a few more months of "self sufficiency" than I would get if I moved to CA in August 2007, yes? Oh well, I'm sure it will all work out in the end!</p>

11

<p>I would suggest you call the residency dept at Cal and talk to them about how to properly enact your change. You don't want to cheat the system, you just want to change your life and do it the right way. They have no problem with that, the key question is whether or not you can have a different residency than your parents and how you can do that.</p>