Preparing for College | Community College Bound Students

AB 540 Information for Community College Bound Students

Students applying for a community college can use the attached Affidavit to apply for exemption from the payment of non-resident tuition if they think they qualify for AB 540. This exemption will allow approved students to pay the lower resident tuition. The form is submitted to the college after the student receives an admission letter and before he or she pays their registration fees.

Students do not need to reapply for the exemption as long as they maintain continuous enrollment. If a student “stops out”, the student should ask for a leave of absence and return within the approved leave of absence. Failure to do so will require the student to reapply for admission and to resubmit the request for exemption from payment of non-resident tuition.

Students that complete their general education requirements in order to transfer to a public four-year California university will need to submit a new request for exemption to their new college or university after they are admitted. The university will require the applying transfer student to submit official high school transcripts showing that the student attended three years and graduated from a California public high school.

Private and out-of-state institutions do not offer the same exemption from the payment of nonresident tuition. Most of these institutions will require full tuition, but it is prudent to check with the college to see if they will offer tuition assistance.

Under NO circumstances should a student use a social security card or number for which they are not entitled. This is grounds for deportation once the student is ready to regularize their immigration status. On any form that the college requires, leave the social security number blank.