Advising Undocumented Students

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Advising Undocumented Students
http//www.calstate.edu/pa/news/2002/AB540.shtml
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The Law

• As of January 2002, AB 540 permits undocumented
  students to pay resident tuition at any
  California Community College, CSU, UC.

http//www.maldef.org/ab540/pdf/AB_540.pdf
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Who is eligible for the AB540 exemption?

• Students that meet both of the following
  criteria's are eligible for the AB 540
  nonresident tuition
• Attended a high school in California for three or
  more years, and
• Graduate form a California high school, received
  a High School Equivalency Certificate issued by
  the California State GED Office, or received a
  Certificate of Proficiency resulting from the
  California high School Proficiency Examination
• In addition, students who meet the criteria
  but do not have legal immigration status must
  certify that they are taking steps to legalize
  their immigration status or will do so as soon as
  they are eligible

http//www.ilrc.org/scholarship.html
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Does the applicants high school enrollment have
to be at the same California school for three
consecutive years?

• No. The three years dont need to be
  consecutive nor completed at a single California
  School. For example, if a student attended ninth
  grade at a California middle school or high
  school, left the state to attend 10th grade and
  returned to a second year qualified California
  high school to complete 11th and 12th grades,
  that student would meet the requirement of three
  years of high school attendance in California.

http//www.maldef.org/ab540/pdf/AB_540.pdf
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Does it matter how long ago a student graduated
from high school?

• No, the date of graduation does not affect a
  students eligibility for the AB 540 resident
  tuition exemption.

http//www.maldef.org/ab540/pdf/AB_540.pdf
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For how long is a student eligible to receive
this exemption?

• There is no cap on the number of years a student
  can receive this exemption. Eligibility
  continues as long as the student meets the
  criteria or until the University no longer offers
  this exemption.

http//www.maldef.org/ab540/pdf/AB_540.pdf
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Do AB 540 students qualify for State or Federal
Aid?

• NO. You are advised to not submit your Free
  Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA) to
  the Department of Education. Students Without a
  legal presence in the U.S are not eligible for
  Federal or State College financial aid.
• If you mail your FAFSA, it could jeopardize your
  stay in this country. The Federal department
  cross references the information contain in FAFSA
  with other federal agencies. The process could
  jeopardize your status in this country.
• Despite the fact that you can not apply for
  financial aid you should be able to apply for
  scholarships
• www.maldef.org/pdf/scholarships.pdf

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Does SJSU have any support groups for AB540
students?

• Yes, as part of our student organizations the
  SAHE (Student Advocates for Higher Education)
  organization came alive. The purpose of SAHE is
  to encourage and increase the number of
  undocumented immigrant students attending and
  graduating from institutions of higher education.
  
• For more information email ab540student_at_yahoo.com
  or also
• Visit the websitehttp//www.geocities.com/ab
  540students

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What forms should students fill out to get
tuition exemption?

• California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Form and
  Final Official transcripts. Turn them in either
  to Patricia Gutierrez or Anna Wisholek
• Please Contact Ms. Patricia Gutierrez for the
  form or visit the web at

http//www.sbcc.cc.ca.us/admissions/files/ab540.pd
f
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If you need more information regarding AB
540 please contact the following
personPatricia GutierrezSan Jose State
UniversityVisitor Relation and Admission
Counseling Admission Counselor/
RecruiterLiaison for AB 540/ EOP408-924-2557mai
ltopatricia.gutierrez_at_sjsu.edu