Hello, I am in a weird situation lol. Earlier last year I applied for school, but now, I have moved to canada for a year and a half. For tuition purposes I do not know what to do. Portland Community College (Which I would be attending fully online) Charges instate tuition for any of the bordering states, and I am from California and have lived there the past 10 years, also my parents still live there. I came to Canada to be with my girlfriend, but will most likely be going back sometime next year. I have called the school and talked to two different people and they are confused. Am I a California state resident still and should pay instate tuition? Or should I change it to a Canadian resident, even though I am a Temporary resident here for the time being?
From PCCs website:
What is Residency?
A residence is a place in which a person resides – a dwelling place or abode – essentially a house or apartment. Residence is not established by attendance at a college.
In-state student: a United States citizen, immigrant, or permanent resident who has established and maintains residency in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, or California.
Out-of-state student: a United States citizen, immigrant, or permanent resident who has not established or does not maintain residency in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, or California.
International student: citizen of another country.
Where have you “established and maintained residency?”
Do you have a Canadian bank account? Driver’s license? Lease?
Or have you been “temporarily in Canada” and you are not “residing” in Canada?
For California, non-residents may be exempt from non-resident tuition under certain conditions based on high school attendance and graduation in California:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/tuition-and-cost/ab540/
http://ucop.edu/student-affairs/policies/universitywide-program-policies-and-guidelines/AB540.html
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/2008_ab_540_affidavit.pdf
http://ab540.com/What_Is_AB540_.html
Personally I would say to look at the evidence. If your parents live in California, if you have a California driver license and you graduated from a California HS, you appear to be a California resident.
Also your parents have been paying taxes to California.
Are you independent for financial aid purposes? If you aren’t independent, then in most cases, your residence for tuition and fees purposes is based on your parents’ residence.
However, some educational institutions (especially community colleges) determine residency differently. For example, our local CC will consider a student independent from their parents for residency purposes if they have covered more than 50% of their own living expenses for the past 12 months.
You need to ask PCC if residency for tuition and fees is dependent on you, or on your parents.
Yeah it’s a weird situation, I contacted PCC and they said they did not know. Also, what do you mean by independent? I put “at home” for housing, because I am only here on a temporary visit until May/June. I looked up what California residency is and I have a Cali drivers liscence and bank account etc, and I do plan on Califonia being my main home for the foreseeable future. Based off of that California still considered me a Resident. So I think I am fine?