STudent Residency Information

Student Residency Information

Each student at the time of admission or readmission is classified according to his/her legal residence. Residency determination is made as of the day before the first day of the semester applied for. Students that have been classified as a NON-RESIDENT of California for educational purposes are subject to non-resident tuition. Non-resident students pay both the $36 per unit fee and the $176 per unit non-resident tuition. Out of country non-resident students also pay an additional $ 24 surcharge per unit.

Establishing Residency

Students that intend to become residents of California must fulfill both the Physical Presence and Intent requirements listed below.

Physical Presence

The student must be physically present in the State of California for one (1) year prior to the start of the term for which he/she is applying or enrolling for. The one-year period begins when the student is not only present in California but also has demonstrated clear intent to become a permanent resident of California. Students will be required to provide proof of continuous presence in California for the past (12) months. This may be accomplished by providing a rental/lease agreement, utility bills, employment pay stubs, etc. for the past (12) months in the student's name.

Intent

Students must clearly verify intent to make California their permanent place of residency by (no one factor is controlling):

• Living in California for two consecutive years
• Paying California State tax as a resident
• Establishing and maintaining an active California bank account
• Registered to vote in the State of California
• Owning residential property
• Possessing a California ID or Drivers License

Non-resident students that wish to change their status or students that feel they have been classified as non-residents in error will need to apply for re-classification of residency status. To change status, students must complete the Supplemental Residency Questionnaire Form and submit it along with supporting documentation to the Admissions & Records office; incomplete forms will not be accepted.

Supporting documentation consists of three proofs of residency demonstrating physical presence and intent. Two items must be dated at least one year and one day prior to the start of the term for which you are applying for. These items must not be older than two years prior to the start of the term. The third item must show that the student is currently a resident of California.

Examples of acceptable documentation are:

• California Driver's License or California ID
• A resident California Tax Form (540)
• California Vehicle Registration
• Rental/Lease agreement
• Bank Statement

Download and print the Supplemental Residency Questionnaire Form.

International Students

Students that are in the United States with a visa that allows establishment of residency must fulfill the one year physical presence and intent requirements listed above. Students with a visa that precludes establishment of residency, will be charged the California enrollment fee plus non-resident and out-of-country fees. International Student in F-1 visa status must contact the Center for International Student and Programs at Riverside City College to obtain critical admission requirement or go to http://www.rcc-int.us/

California Non-resident Tuition Exemption (The law passed by the Legislature in 2001 as "AB 540")

Any student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges, the California State University and the University of California (all public colleges and universities in California) if all of the following requirements have been met an AB540 Affidavit is submitted.

Requirements:

• The student must have attended a high school (public or private) in California for three or more years.
• The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (for example, passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam).
• An alien student who is without lawful immigration status must file an affidavit with the college or university stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.
• Students who are non-immigrants [for example, those who hold F (student) visas, J or B (visitor) visas, etc.] are not eligible for this exemption.
• The student must file an exemption request including a signed affidavit with the college that indicates the student has met all applicable conditions described above. Student information obtained in this process is strictly confidential unless disclosure is required under law.
• Students eligible for this exemption who are transferring to another California public college or university must submit a new request (and documentation if required) to each college under consideration.
• Non-resident students meeting the criteria will be exempted from the payment of nonresident tuition, but they will not be classified as California residents. They continue to be "non-resident".
• AB540 does not provide student financial aid eligibility for undocumented alien students. These students remain ineligible for state and federal financial aid.

Download and print the Non-resident Waiver Form.