College Center » CA Dream Act: Undocumented -AB540- DACA

CA Dream Act: Undocumented -AB540- DACA

 

CALIFORNIA DREAM ACT

Students who do not have Social Security Numbers or have a DACA number can still apply for financial aid in the State of California. They will apply through the California Dream Application: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/ . 
 
Students might be eligible for money from the state of California and the universities/colleges they apply too.
 
Application DEADLINE for all Dreamers is March 2nd. 
Application Link: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
 

WHAT IS AB540? 

AB540 exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid.
 

STUDENTS MUST HAVE:

Satisfaction of either of the following: 
  1.  High School attendance in California for three or more years
    • Attainment of credits earned in California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those school
  1. Graduated or will graduate from a California High School or obtained a Certificate or General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC). 
  2. Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California College or University.
  3. If applicable, complete(d) an affidavit to legalize immigration status as soon as you are eligible.
  4. Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa
 
Your college is responsible for verifying your AB 540 eligibility. Check with your Admissions Office early in the summer before the Fall Term starts. 
 

WHAT IS DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA)?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a federal process that defers removal action of an individual by USCIS for a specified number of years.
  • It is NOT the same as financial aid
  • It does NOT grant lawful immigration status
  • It does NOT allow individuals to apply for an SSN and work authorization
 
CA Dreamers should still file a CA Dream Act Application instead of a FAFSA and submit a Non-SSN GPA. If you or your school submits your certified GPA using your DACA SSN, make sure you include that DACA SSN on question #8 of your CA Dream Act Application.
 

WHAT FINANCIAL AID CAN A DREAMER APPLY FOR?

  • Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, Middle Class Scholarship
  • UC Grants, State University Grants
  • California Community College BOG Fee Waiver
  • EOP/EOPS
  • Some University Scholarships
  • Some Private scholarships administered by campuses
 

IMMIGRATION LAW RESOURCES

  1. National Immigration Law Center -- www.nilc.org
  2. MALDEF: Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund --- www.maldef.org
  3. Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights of Los Angeles --- www.chirla.org
 

MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE LAW AB540

  1. AB540.com -- A great resource: check it out!!
  2. Another great AB 540 site, this one maintained by the Association of Raza Educators. Be sure to check out their scholarship list!See the file below, "Pomona AB 540 Resource Guide." It is packed with useful information!
  3. Educators for Fair Consideration
  4. UCLA’s Dream Resource Center

RESOURCES