Initial Classification

A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University campus as a first-time freshman, transfer, or as a post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status (LEGAL CAPACITY) to establish residency, meet PHYSICAL PRESENCE, and demonstrate INTENT to indefinitely remain in the State of California, ALL for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD).  If the student is under the age of 19 (with limited exceptions) on the Residence Determination Date, the student’s residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian.

Term and Residence Determination Date (RDD)

Term for which you are seeking resident classification

Residence Determination Date (RDD)

FALL

September 20th

*Student must meet residency requirements on or before September 19th of the prior calendar year

SPRING

January 25th

*Student must meet residency requirements on or before January 24th of the prior calendar year

 

SUMMER

June 1st

*Student must meet residency requirements on or before May 31st of the prior calendar year

LEGAL CAPACITY

Students must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency. Therefore, the student must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or hold an eligible visa status.  The Immigration and Nationality Act allows individuals in certain nonimmigrant statuses to establish permanent residency in the United States. Therefore, they are entitled to establish California residency for tuition purposes.

For a complete list of eligible visas and other eligible categories, click herePDF File .  Students must hold the eligible immigration status for over one year before the Residence Determination Date to be eligible to establish California residency for tuition purposes.

Students in the category of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are eligible to establish residency for tuition purposes. Students who are adjusting their immigration status, such as asylum, may qualify for residency depending on where they are in the application process.  

Most nonimmigrant visa holders, such as an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, are not eligible to establish California residency for tuition purposes.  Students with a visa or without an immigration status should contact the CSUF Office of Admissions – Residency.

PHYSICAL PRESENCE

The student or parent/guardian (if applicable) must be physically present in California for more than one year (a minimum of one year plus one day) immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated. For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 2022 academic term and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2022, then the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2021.

 

INTENT 

California law stipulates the burden of proof rests with the student, and merely living in California for over one year does not support a claim for residency for tuition purposes. The student, or in some cases a parent or legal guardian, must provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent to remain indefinitely in California was established more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD), and all residential ties with the former state or country of residence have been severed.

Documents must include the student's name, California address, and a date at least one year plus one day before the RDD for the term. For students under the age of 19, documents must be in the parent or legal guardian's name unless an exception applies. A parent or legal guardian's immigration status does not preclude a student from establishing residency; therefore, the parent or legal guardian is not required to provide any immigration documents to demonstrate intent.

Documents Required:

A minimum of three documents of different types is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.

Options to meet the requirement: 

  • Option 1: One document from list A and two documents from List B
  • Option 2: Two documents from list A and one document from List B
  • Option 3: All three documents from list A (for example, CA driver's license, CA vehicle registration, and CA Voter Registration card)

 
Please note: The campus residency specialist may require additional documents in addition to the documents listed in List A and B to determine the residence status.

List A:

  1. California State Income Tax Return
  2. Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
  3. Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
  4. Obtaining a California Driver's License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
  5. Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
  6. Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
  7. Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
  8. Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
  9. Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year

List B:

  • Federal Income Tax Return with a California address
  • Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility ​bill will be accepted)
  • Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher's union) (must meet RDD)
  • Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
  • Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
  • Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
  • Selective Service Registration with a California address
  • Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)

Steps to submit request for Initial Classification

  1. Complete the CSU Residence Questionnaire.
    1. Attach supporting documents from List A/B as evidence of your Physical Presence and Intent, dated over one year before the RDD.
      • For students 19 years of age or over on the RDD, documents must contain the student’s name.
      • For students under the age of 19 on the RDD, documents must contain the parent or legal guardian's name unless an exception applies.
    2. If you are a citizen of another country, attach documentation of an eligible immigration statusPDF File to demonstrate your Legal Capacity.
  2. Review that you have answered all questions and attached all necessary documentation then click “submit” to send us your request packet.
  3. Allow 3-4 weeks review and processing time. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted at your CSUF student email address.