The law governing residence for tuition purposes at the California State University is California Education Code sections 68000-68090, 68120-68134, and 89705-89707.5, and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 41900-41916. This material can be viewed on the Internet by accessing the California State University’s website at www.calstate.edu/GC/resources.shtml.
Residency status may be re-determined after any absence from the university.
Students incorrectly classified as residents or incorrectly granted an exception from nonresident tuition are subject to reclassification as nonresidents and payment of nonresident tuition in arrears. If incorrect classification results from false or concealed facts, the student is subject to discipline pursuant to Section 41301 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Not all circumstances can be addressed in this brief summary. If you wish to discuss your particular situation, contact the Residency Specialist at the university you plan to attend.
California institutions of higher education are funded by the State of California. Since non-resident students (and their families) generally have not contributed to the source of this funding of public education in California, they are required to pay fees which more closely represent the actual cost of their education.
You should establish residency to take advantage of lower registration fees at California public colleges and universities. California residents pay significantly lower registration fees than non-residents at California's public colleges and universities.
You are eligible for resident status only if you have established and maintained permanent residential ties in California at least one year prior to the following determination dates:
Fall - September 20th Spring - January 25th Summer - June 1st
To be eligible for resident status for tuition purposes, you must, for at least one year prior to the residence determination date, maintain physical presence in California and establish your intent to make California your permanent home. Evidence of intent to remain in California indefinitely can vary based on individual circumstance, but should include items listed below as well as the absence of residential ties to your former state. Keep in mind that physical presence in California for the specific intention of academic study does not constitute intent to make California your permanent home.
If you are not a citizen of the United States, you must also maintain, for one year prior to the residence determination date, an immigration status that allows you to establish California residency.
The following will be considered when your resident status is reviewed:
Note: Any act considered inconsistent with becoming a California resident (such as being registered and/or voting, securing or maintaining a driver’s license or automobile registration in another state or filing taxes as a resident in another state) will result in a non-resident decision.
No. California State University policy states that the residence of applicants who are under age 19 is based on the residence of the parents or guardians. If you will be under age 19 at the time of the residence determination date, be sure to indicate the identity and residence of your parent or guardian on the CSU admission application and any residency questionnaire or residency reclassification form.
No. There will not be any impact. If you are under the age of 19, your residency is based on your parent’s information. If you are over the age of 19, then residency is determined only by what steps you take to establish and maintain your residency.
No.
A non citizen with a visa that prohibits establishing a domicile in California during any portion of the durational period may not be granted resident status (example: F1 status). Other non citizens may qualify for resident status by meeting all requirements for residency outlined previously.
To establish residency a student must be either a U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident, Applicant for Permanent Resident (I-485 Notice of Action), Refugee, Asylee, Applicants for Temporary Protected Status, Temporary Protected Status, United States Nationals (citizens of American Samoa, Guam, Puero Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and United State Virgin Islands, and those holding the following visa A, E, G, H-1, H-1B, H-4 (only if dependent on a H-1 or H-1B), I, K, L, N, O-1, O-3 (only if dependent on a O-1), R, S, T, U, V.
The Admissions Office/Graduate Admission at SJSU will determine each student’s residency status when the completed application for admission is received and processed. The decision is based on the information contained in the application for admission, transcripts, and other documents required for admission. The residency status determined at this time remains in effect until the student submits the “Residence Questionnaire”. Use this form only if it is your first semester and you feel that you were incorrectly classified as a non-resident. Submitting the Residence Questionnaire at the time of application for admission will assist the office with making a residency decision. Failure to submit the form may result in an incorrect decision.
A non-resident student who feels he or she has satisfied the residency requirements may complete the “Residence Reclassification Request Form”. Only submit this form if you have paid non-resident fees as a matriculated student for at least one semester. A change in residency classification is never automatic. It is always the student’s responsibility to initiate the petition. Be sure to include copies of documents that support your claim for residency.
If you are submitting a Residence Questionnaire, submit it directly to the Admissions Office (window A) or to the Office of Graduate Admissions (Graduate Studies Counter) in the Student Services Center.
You may also mail documentation to:
| Office of Admission One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192-0016 |
or | Office of Graduate Admission One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192-0025 |
If you are submitting a Residence Reclassification Request Form, submit it directly to the Office of the Registrar (window R), also located in the Student Services Center. You may also mail documentation to:
Office of the Registrar
Attn: Residency Specialist
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0009
Typically, decision letters for all Reclassification Requests are mailed out approximately 2-3 weeks after submission of forms. At peak times, (January, February, August, September, November and December), and two weeks prior to a tuition bill due date, please allow approximately 4-6 weeks for processing.
A decision for first time students will be made by the Office of Admissions or Graduate Admissions Offices at the time that you have applied for admission. Be sure to check your To Do Checklist to see if any other residency related information is also needed from you before your application for admission can be completed. Follow up with the Admission or Graduate Admission Office directly if you have further questions regarding your residency and if it is your first term at SJSU.
Students classified as non-residents may appeal a final campus decision within 120 days of written notification by the campus. A campus residence classification appeal must be in writing and submitted to the address listed below.
The California State University
Office of General Counsel
401 Golden Shore, 4th Floor
Long Beach, California 90802-4210
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