Gaining CA residency for tuition purposes?

[CommPhD]

Hello, I searched the forums for this particular question but didn't find anything super relevant. Please point me to any related threads if they exist.

I'm going to start an MA program at a California State School, and am offered a non-resident tuition waiver for this upcoming year (part of my teaching assistant position). But CSU only offers the waiver for one year. This means I must gain CA residency by fall 2011. I know that UC does something similar - I'm hoping that means it's relatively easy for grad students in CA to get residency, but I have no clue and my department is very vague about the whole thing.

There is a residency change application I have to turn in next year, and I am wondering, how do they know if you are being honest? Many of the questions relate to financial support from your parents, or living with your parents - how do they know whether you are telling the truth or not? Do they actually have some way to check your addresses and/or bank accounts?

And has anybody successfully (or failed to) gained CA residency after one year of living in the state? I plan to take all the necessary steps such as getting a CA driver's license, registering car, saving CA leases, voting, filing taxes, etc. But I'm nervous about the prospect of possibly having to pay out of state tuition next year, which I certainly can't afford.

[anthropologygeek]

Normally the school will tell you. If I remember correctly in Cali you must not be enrolled for 6 months and living there to gain it. I could be wrong or it could depend on the school.

[CommPhD]

Normally the school will tell you. If I remember correctly in Cali you must not be enrolled for 6 months and living there to gain it. I could be wrong or it could depend on the school.

I can look at the website and view the application. For CSU specifically, you have to live in the sate of CA for at least one year (and you can be in school), register your car, register to vote, and not accept money from your parents, etc.

My question specifically is how do they know if you are being honest? Do they actually have some way to check your addresses and/or bank accounts? And if I were to say "yes I received more than $750 from my parents this past year" does that automatically disqualify me from residency, or is there some sort of "point system" where I can have a few "strikes" on my application, or is the decision made arbitrarily by someone in the registrars office? I realize the methods are different by state and school, which is why I am asking for some personal experiences with CSU (or UC) beyond the info given by the school.

It seems to be this big uneasy secret because they say even if you do XYZ there is NO GUARANTEE that you will gain residency for tuition purposes.

Edited July 10, 2010 by juju

[rachaelski]

Typically you need to prove you have lived there a year by providing a copy of a signed lease. I am not in CA, but I am doing the same thing for New Mexico. I filled out a form from UNM, copied my lease, my NM driver's license, and provided a copy of my voter registration.

[American in Beijing]

My department also told me to save the hard copies of my plane tickets to prove I began my life in California at a specific time. Also, I should apply for a CA driver's license the second I arrive . . . but for me it makes more sense to wait until I get my actual apartment first, haha.

[sra08]

From my experiences, here's what you should do right away:

-Register to vote in CA.

-Switch your bank accounts to CA.

-Get a driver's license or state ID.

-Save a copy of your lease.

You should be good if you do those things.

[t_ruth]

Mine just went through, woo! It was relatively easy...just had to have copies of license, registration, bank account info, etc.

[CommPhD]

It's been a year since I posted this but just wanted to report back because I see quite a few people have viewed this thread.

I recently gained CA residency for this coming year and it was incredibly easy. Though now that in-state tuition is likely going up ~25% this fall--and probably increasing again next Spring--I'm feeling the financial squeeze.