Residency Requirements

To avoid paying any non-resident tuition fees, you will need to establish your California residency status with our Admissions office. Here, we help you get an understanding of California鈥檚 residency requirements, who should establish residency, and how you should go about doing it.

Please don鈥檛 hesitate to email or call the Admissions & Records office if you have any questions, issues or concerns.

What Are California鈥檚 Residency Requirements?

Residency is determined by the union of physical presence and evidence of intent to make California the permanent home for one prior year as of the residence determination date. The residence determination date is the day immediately preceding the opening day of a semester or session.

If you establish residency, this means that you would not need to pay additional non-resident tuition fees.

Who Needs to Take This Step?

California state law requires that a student who is applying for admission or who is currently enrolled and is requesting residency reclassification provide information and evidence to determine his or her status.

Physical Presence

Physical presence for one year prior to the residency determination date includes but is not limited to:
Rental/lease agreement
Utility bills
Employment paystubs
Bank statements

Intent

If you cannot establish residency, you may still be able to establish an intent of residency.

Acceptable intent includes but is not limited to:

Possession of a valid Resident California Vehicle Registration.

Being a petitioner for divorce in California.
Obtain licensing from California for professional practice.
Registering for Selective Service.

Students who have immigrant or non-immigrant status may also be required to submit verification of their application date or adjustment of status from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ().

Residency for Different Situations

There may be different ways to establish residency depending on your living situation. So we鈥檝e compiled some mini-guides to help!

Unmarried minors derive their residency status from the parent with whom they are residing. If the minor is not living with either parent, residency is derived from the parent with whom he or she last lived.

The student may be classified as a resident if the parent meets the residency requirements.

Note: There are some exceptions to the rule for minors and these exceptions are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Who is an undocumented immigrant?
An undocumented immigrant is a person who has no documents showing that he or she has applied to the BASES to legalize his or her status in the US.

How can undocumented immigrants establish residency?
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to establish California residency. However, they may become eligible to establish California residency if they take the appropriate steps with BCIS to change their status to a classification that does not preclude them from establishing domicile in the U.S.

Are there any ways for undocumented immigrants to avoid paying nonresident tuition?
There is an exemption from payment of nonresident tuition for certain nonresident students who have attended high school in California and received a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Follow this link for more information about AB540 to see if it can work for you.
Which types of documented immigrants can establish residency?
Those considered eligible to establish California residency are permanent residents, lawful temporary residents, amnesty, refugees, asylees, and those with valid visas in the following categories (not a complete list):

A-1, A-2, A-3, E-1, E-2, E-3, G-1,
G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, H-1B, H-1C, H-4 (if spouse or child of H-1B or H-1C), I, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, L-1A, L-1B, L-2, NATO 1-7, N-8, N-9, O-1, O-3 (if spouse or child of O-1), and R-1, R-2, SIV, T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4, U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, V-1, V-2, V-3
The following Visa types are precluded from establishing residency (cannot be classified as residents):
B
C
D
F
H2
H3
J
M
O
P
Q
TN
TD

Note for Mexican Nationals
Mexican Nationals who currently possess a valid B1/B2 visa and/or Mexican passport, must submit an international student application to the 色界吧 Admissions Office (International Student Advisor) prior to submitting a general college application.
Active U.S. military personnel, U.S. military veterans, and their dependents may qualify for waivers of out-of-state tuition fees under certain conditions.
Active military personnel regardless of the length of stay in California shall be classified as residents and are exempt from non-resident tuition.

Conditions
Verification of active status with military identification every term of re-enrollment.

Requirements
No forms required. Only to present military ID to Admissions personnel for every term registered.
A student who is a natural or adopted child, stepchild or spouse of an active military member shall be given resident classification until he or she has resided in California the minimum time necessary to become a resident.

Conditions
A student must be a dependent for federal income tax purposes. The student must not have lived in California for more than one year since arriving or since attaining age 18, whichever came later.

Requirements
Military Dependent Application for Waiver of Non-Resident Tuition (completed and sealed/stamped by authorized personnel at sponsor's command)
A student who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States (or who is a dependent of such a veteran) is entitled to a waiver of non-resident tuition.

Conditions

Veterans
Veterans must submit a copy of form DD-214 and Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Veterans Administration confirming the approved education benefits for the veteran student along with the waiver form.

Dependants
Dependents must submit a copy of Sponsor's DD-214 and Certificate of Eligibility along with the waiver form.

Surviving Spouse or Children
Surviving Spouse or Children must submit DD-214 and Fry Scholarship documentation along with the waiver form.

Required form: AB13 VACA Veteran Dependent Waiver

When Do I Need To Do This?

When is Documentation Due?

All documentation must be received by the week before Final Examination Week begins for full-semester-length classes.

Note: See Important Dates and Deadlines for current semester dates. No appeals or documents will be accepted once final exams have begun.

Disclaimer: The information posted on the residency page is in no way a complete explanation of the residency laws and regulations. Some cases require more extensive investigation and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. However, the burden of proof to clearly demonstrate both physical presence and intent is the responsibility of the student.

Fax: (619) 482-6489

admissions@swccd.edu

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