I currently live in Texas. In order to be a California resident, how long do I have to stay there? I'm asking this because I'm going to attend a college there.
2007-03-27 16:52:50 · 9 answers · asked by kevinova 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
Unfortunately, this is a very complicated question. The best way to find out the EXACT answer to your question is to contact the school(s) you will be attending and find out their specific policy and procedures.
Residency for tuition purposes (which is different from residency for other purposes) is established over a one year period. However, the requirements are very stringent and must be followed exactly if the year is to "count".
There are three elements to establishing residency for tuition purposes: physical presence, financial independence, and intent. Each is equally important, if not established will result in a denial of residency.
Physical presence means you have been living in the state of California for a year. This is established through drivers license, voter registration, car registration, bank records, taxes etc. You can leave CA from time to time, but your legal residence must be in CA and you must live there most of the time.
Financial independence means that you are not dependent on your parents for support. If you are 24 or older, this does not apply because you cannot (except under rare conditions) be considered a dependent. If you are younger than 24, you must be able to demonstrate to the university that you have or make enough money on your own to support yourself without the help of non-CA resident parents. The exceptions include things like military service, having a dependent child of your own, and a few others. Again, pretty strict.
Intent is, in my opinion, the toughest of all. You need to demonstrate to the school that you intend to live in CA for the INDEFINITE FUTURE. That means, basically, that you are planning to stay in California forever and do not intend to return to your previous state after you graduate. Now, in reality, this is almost never the case. Nevertheless, you are expected to maintain this illusion for one year in order to gain residency. Intent is demonstrated in a few easy ways, for example by severing ties to your previous state (getting a new ID, car registration, voting, etc.) and moving to California. There are some hitches, though. If you are living in dormitory housing, your intent may be questioned. If you maintain a second residence in your previous state, your intent may be questioned. If you take a summer vacation in your previous state, your intent may be questioned. Do expect to be asked to prove that you were present in California for your first summer in the state! Schools may request that you provide proof of employment in the state of California during the off-school months or that you provide bank statements showing that you were making point-of-sale transactions in the state.
Anyway, if you plan on trying to get California residency for tuition you need to get started right away. Contact the school you will be attending and find out their exact timeline for demonstrating residency and make a plan for fulfilling it. Better to do it right than wind up paying an extra year of in-state tuition because your claim of residency was denied.
Good luck!
2007-03-27 17:49:43 · answer #1 · answered by coreyander 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh I have checked this with college i went to in california and it is 1 year as far as getting the cheaper cost for resident of the state. Then once you hit that, it will be more affordable for sure.
2007-03-28 11:22:27 · answer #2 · answered by dmh7593 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, so what you are asking about is really how to qualify for in-state tuition. Don't it just make your skin crawl knowing that as a United States citizen from Texas, your tuition in a California college or university will be dramatically higher than the tuition being paid by illegal aliens. Welcome to the "Left" coast.
2007-03-28 04:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by Peedlepup 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the dmv expects you to get a driver's license i believe, within 10 days.
for tax and legal purposes, i believe it's when you establish residence.
for in state tuition purposes, i suggest you check the college's website. They may have a requirement of 6 months.
if you mean emotionally, that is as soon as you feel this is home.
2007-03-28 15:13:14 · answer #4 · answered by chieromancer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One year. I moved from La. to Ca. and ran into the same thing when applying to a college. It's one year, I swear. 3 years, no way. 30 days to register your car, that has nothing to do with residency. It's one year before you get in-state tuition.
2007-03-28 00:06:27 · answer #5 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
One year, NOT as a student. If you take any classes at all during the one year, your time does not count toward residency. Students can not earn residency.
2007-03-28 00:13:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As soon as you move to CA and get a legal address and ID or driver license you will be consider a CA resident.
2007-03-28 00:00:49 · answer #7 · answered by darlene100568 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it is either a year or 30 days. I know that when you move to a new state you have 30 days to change your tags but I think it might be a year if you are a student
2007-03-28 00:03:27 · answer #8 · answered by Carrie Lynn A 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
three years.
2007-03-28 00:05:44 · answer #9 · answered by copestir 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋