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Quick Guide for Undocumented Immigrant Students

The Quick Guide is intended to help AB540-eligible, undocumented California students. Recent changes in state and federal policy and law have expanded opportunities for AB540 students to pursue higher education. In the Quick Guide, you will nd basic information about three laws and policies that benet undocumented students in California, and where you can go for additional information and assistance. If you are an undocumented student, you CAN go to college and we will show you how.

In this Guide, you will learn how to:

Access in-state tuition at Californias public 55 colleges and universities under Assembly Bill 540 (AB540) and state nancial aid through the California Dream Act (Assembly Bills 130 & 131)

Access Cal Grants and other sources of private 55

Apply for immigration relief under the federal 55

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

The Quick Guide was adapted from information provided by The AB540 College Access Network, the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) at the University of Southern California, the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF), Maria Lucia Chavez, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).

AB540 California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request

Assembly Bill 540 was signed into law in October 2001. The bill authorizes any student (including undocumented students) who meets specic criteria to pay in-state tuition fees at Californias public colleges and universities. 1 This non-resident tuition exemption applies at all California Community Colleges, California State Universities (CSUs) and University of California (UC) campuses. To qualify: You must have attended a California high school for three or more years 55 You must have graduated from a California high school or attained the 55 equivalent of a high school diploma You must have registered or currently be enrolled at an accredited 55 institution of higher education in California You must have led or will le an affidavit as required by individual 55

institutions, stating that you will apply for legal residency as soon as possible

You may not be a non-immigrant holding a valid lettered non-immigrant visa 55 If you meet these criteria, you must le an AB540 Affidavit with the college or university that you will be attending. The affidavit affirms that you meet the criteria established under AB540, and that you have led, or will le, an application to legalize your immigration status as soon as you are eligible to do so. Contact your institutions admissions or registrars office to nd out when and how to submit the form. A sample affidavit can be found at ab540.org. If you are an undocumented student, you cannot be denied admission to a California college or university based on your immigration status, and you are not required to show a state issued ID or social security card to apply for admission. In addition to qualifying for in-state tuition under AB540, undocumented students may also qualify for private scholarships.2 For further information on AB540, and AB540 scholarships, you can contact the following organizations: Los Angeles Cash for College
lacashforcollege.org/resources.html

College Board Repository of Resources for Undocumented Students

professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Repository-Resources-UndocumentedStudents_2012.pdf

Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)

maldef.org/education/public_policy/ab540/index.html

Scholarship Guide
maldef.org/assets/pdf/MALDEF_Scholarship_Resource_Guide.pdf
1 Non-resident students (those coming from out of state, or undocumented students who do not qualify under AB540) otherwise have to pay out-of-state tuition fees which are higher than the fees charged to resident students. 2 AB540 does not grant eligibility for state and federal sources of nancial aid. (See next page for information on the California Dream Act).

AB 130 & AB 131 The California Dream Act


 ssembly Bills 130 and 131, collectively known as the California Dream Act were signed into law in A 2011. These bills allow students who meet AB540 criteria to apply for and receive non-state funded scholarships for public colleges and universities, state-funded nancial aid such as institutional grants, community college fee waivers, Cal Grants and Chafee Grants. These grants can provide eligible students with a signicant amount of nancial aid (for example, a qualifying student attending a University of California campus may be eligible for over $12,000 in aid through Cal Grant A).3

AB130

Effective Jan. 1, 2012 - Authorizes AB540 students to apply for privately funded scholarships given out by a California public college/university. Requirements: Be classied as AB540 55 Scholarship requirements will be 55 implemented by each campus.

AB131

Effective Jan. 1, 2013 - Authorizes AB540 students to apply for state aid including Community Colleges Board of Governors Fee Waivers and Cal Grants Requirements: Be classied as AB540 55 GPA and Income requirements as 55 decided by the California Student Aid Commission

The California Student Aid Commission has established the following timeline and process for students to apply for state aid under the California Dream Act: Jan. 1 March 2 Students must complete the California Dream Act Application 55 (caldreamact.org) or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (fafsa. ed.gov) in order to establish nancial need.

Jan. 1 March 2 GPA Verication form needs to be submitted to establish 55

eligibility for merit-based grants. The form must be submitted by the students school electronically to the CA Student Aid Commission, or the student can mail a Cal Grant Verication Form (which will be available on the California Dream Act Application).

*The Commission may also contact students who meet Transfer Entitlement and Cal Grant C requirements for additional information

In addition, eligible students may also be eligible for: Private scholarships administered by a college/university under AB130 (see your intended institution for applications and deadlines) Institutional grants like the UC University Grant or the CSU State University Grant (see your intended college or university for applications and deadlines) California Community Colleges Board of Governors fee waiver (BOG fee waiver) (see your local community college for application) Other State-administered nancial aid including the Chafee Grant (see csac.ca.gov/doc. asp?id=33 for detailed eligibility requirements) For more information and the latest on the California Dream Act, visit the California Student Aid Commission at caldreamact.org.
3 Eligibility criteria for Cal Grants is as follows: a) be a California resident or meet AB540 requirements, b) be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen or meet AB540 requirements, c) meet Selective Service requirements, d) attend an eligible California School, e) not be in default on a Federal student loan, f) not have earned a BA/BS degree, g) maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, h) not be incarcerated, i) be enrolled at least half-time, j) GPA requirements also apply

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA)

On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that young immigrants who entered the country without authorization before the age of 16 can qualify for an immigration relief benet known as Deferred Action . An applicant who is granted deferred action will not be deported and qualies for a work permit renewable every two years.4 To be eligible, you must show that: You came to the United States before 55 reaching your 16th birthday You have continuously resided in the 55 your general educational development (GED) certicate, or you are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States You have not been convicted of a 55 felony, signicant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS (Source: whitehouse.gov)

United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time 15, 2012

You were under the age of 31 as of June 55 You entered without inspection before 55

June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012 graduated or obtained your certicate of completion from high school, obtained

You were physically present in the United 55

You are currently in school, have 55

In order to apply, students must: Collect documents as evidence you meet 55 the guidelines Complete USCIS Forms I-821D, I-765 and 55 I-765 Worksheet Mail USCIS the forms and fees (total 55 $465, accompanying Form I-765) Visit your local USCIS Application 55 Support Center for a scheduled biometrics services appointment

For more information, visit uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals. The following community-based organizations are providing application processing services (as of October 2012) (fees may apply): Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) 213.353.1333 - free orientations, feefor-service consultations and application assistance

Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) - 213.385.7800 fee-for-service application processing Asian Pacic American Legal Center (APALC) 888.349.9695 Free orientations in English/Tagalog/
Spanish (by appointment only)

Immigrant Center for Women and Children 213.614.1165 fee-for-service consultations and application
processing

Public Counsel Law Center - 213.385.2977 ext. 404 - fee-for-service consultations and application processing
by appointment

Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) - 213.485.1873 - fee-for-service consultations and application
processing

Additional Resources: US Citizenship and Immigration Services - uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals White House - whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/08/15/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-who-can-be-considered CHIRLA Deferred Action Information Packet - chirla.org/sites/default/les/Deferred%20Action%20
Packet%20CHIRLA.pdf

LAUSD Deferred Action Form Request - dacarequest.lausd.net

4 This process does not provide lawful status or a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship