SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING the CA DREAM APPLICATION Nancy Jodaitis & Rose Carmona-Arbulú Financial Aid Counselors AB 540 Advisors Dream Application Coordinators San Francisco State University

CA DREAM APPLICATION OVERVIEW WHO Can APPLY WHEN & HOW to Apply OVERVIEW of the Application WHO Should Fill Out Application Dependent VS Independent Students Highlighting SPECIFIC Concerns Successfully SUBMITTING Dream App RESOURCES Available WHO will you train?

CA Dream Act of 2011 Overview Allows certain categories of non- resident students to pay in-state fees AB 540 – 2001 Scholarships administered by public institutions available AB 130 – Jan 2012 State funded grants including Cal Grants and institutional grants AB 131 – Jan

AB 540 Students Requirements Must have attended a CA High School at least 3 Years Graduated from a CA High School or Complete GED/CA HS Proficiency Exam Register or be currently enrolled in accredited public institution in CA File a non-resident tuition exemption affidavit If without lawful immigration status, indicate that he/she will apply for legal residency as soon as possible Receive confirmation from school that they have been classified/approved as an AB 540 student

Dream Act Aid is not Deferred Action (DACA) CA Dream Act aid is completely separate from Federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) DACA does not confer a new citizenship status for students, only an Employment Authorization Card & stay of deportation. DACA does NOT make student eligible for FAFSA. For more info on DACA – visit uscis.gov, nilc.org, maldef.org, e4fc.org/dacaguide 5

MARCH 2 ND !*!*! REALLY !

On-Line Application AVAILABLE January 6, 2014 to March 2, 2014 (Priority filing period) Paper application is also available, online recommended.

Online Application is MUCH FASTER!

14-15 Application ASKS about DACA

New App Seeks to Identify Eligibility Criteria Checks up front whether DREAM or FAFSA should be used. Reiterates Need to qualify for AB 540 criteria to meet DREAM eligibility.

ANY Information MAILED to CSAC POSTMARKED by deadline date California Student Aid Commission P.O. Box Rancho Cordova, Calfornia Be Sure to get a CERTIFICATE of MAILING from U.S. Post Office to prove you mailed information by deadline date. Cost: $1.15

Overview of CA Dream Application Instructions: Dream Application or FAFSA? A. Student Questions B. Dependency Determination C. Parent Questions & Income (If required) D. Signature E. Confirmation Page F. CalSAR (Cal Student Aid Report)

13 MIRROR APPLICATIONS FAFSADREAM

Documents Needed to Complete CA Dream Application W-2 forms and other 2013 records of income 2013 Income Tax Return (s) (if student or parents have one) Records of child support paid (if applicable) Records of student scholarships included in student or parents’ taxes (if applicable) Current investment records Current business and farm records (if over 100 employees) Current bank statements (if applicable)

Who Can Fill out Dream App? ONLY AB 540 Students & U-Visa Holders should fill out the Dream Application

Citizens & Legal Perm Residents= FAFSA

Eligible Non-Citizens & T Visa = FAFSA

Citizenship Status for Dream App To Use Dream App, You MUST CHOOSE: Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen

Parental Information & Signature Required UNLESS Student Is: Born Before 1/1/91 Married Has dependent children OR dependents (other than spouse) for whom they provide more than 50% of their support Attending Graduate School Active in Armed Forces or Veteran Court Certified Minor by State of CA (Legal Guardianship, Foster Care, etc.)

Must be Verified by Court in US Foster Care or Ward of Court Emancipated Minor Legal Guardianship Unaccompanied Youth who was Homeless ◦ (emergency & shelter homeless or transitional housing)

Parents Living in Other Countries Fill out application on-line if they have access to the internet Work with student to complete on-line application via phone or mail Indicate foreign taxes & convert to $$ Submit with P.I.N. if possible. If not, student can send signature page to parent and have them return to CSAC PRIOR to March 2 nd

Household Income All household Income MUST be reported on Dream Application whether or not individuals file taxes. Student must report income and any cash support given by relatives except food & housing If student is under 24 years old, their parents must also report their income and any cash support given by relatives except food & housing (Unless student is married, has children, graduate student, etc.)

Verification of Household Income Some students may have to verify household income. If student or parent meet income guidelines, they might be required to present an IRS tax return transcript and/or W2 or 1099 Forms. Student & Parent can file taxes using ITIN or SSN at ww.irs.gov

Don’t Wait ~ ESTIMATE!! If taxes aren’t filed in January or February, MEET THE MARCH 2 ND DEADLINE by answering: □ Will File Taxes □ Already Filed Taxes □ Not Required to File Taxes After taxes are filed, go to caldreamact.org and update from ‘Will File’ to ‘Already Filed’ Input actual numbers from the tax forms

Applying for Cal Grant Submit California Dream Application AND Non-SSN Cal Grant GPA Verification Form BY MARCH 2, 2014

Districts may use this methodMust be submitted by batch process onlyContact School Support Branch for file layout School Support (888) Non-SSN GPA Submission 27

College Student Undergraduate AB 131 CA State Financial Aid Programs California State GRANTS: Financial aid that does not have to be repaid. University Grants (UC, CSU, CCC) Varies by school but usually covers state fees ACADEMIC YEAR Cal Grant A$5,472- $12,192 Cal Grant B$6,945- $13,665 Cal Grant CVocational programs only EOP Grant$100 - $1,000

Other AID Besides Grants SCHOLARSHIPS Through AB 131 ScholarshipsUniversity Scholarships Available~ Criteria Varies by Campus Loans & Work-Study Financial aid that has to be earned or repaid CSU & CCCs NOT AVAILABLE because FEDERAL FUNDS UCsA limited number of campuses offer University Loans & Work Study, if approved for DACA

Selective Service Registration Male between the ages of 18 to 25 years MUST register with selective service to meet eligibility requirements. Students should register via mailing in a selective service registration postcard (available on caldreamact.org or U.S. Post Office) Over 26 must document inability to register, get more info at

CA Dream Application Notifies Males of Need to REGISTER

BOGG Fee Waiver at CCCs Standard BOGG Fee Waiver Application for AB 540 students Per Each CCC, Use as Stand Alone or In Conjunction with CSAC Dream Application

Common Problems with Dream App Student Name Doesn’t Match Missed Deadline Parent Signature MISSING Legal Guardianship not recognized in CA Students not classified as AB 540 at college Student fills out FAFSA & Dream App

Successfully Submitting Application STUDENT chooses their User ID and password to sign the application. PARENT chooses “Add Parent Signature”, and has student sign into their account. Must use parent name, birthdate and wages to create PARENT PIN & sign application. Use confirmation page to verify signatures or identify actions required

STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE TO CHECK APPLICATION STATUS with CSAC & their Financial Aid Office CHECK Confirmation Page of Dream App to Make Sure It is Complete CHECK Financial Aid at Your School Is Financial Aid Office waiting for any documents from YOU?? Check & you used for app Visit or Call the Office with Questions~ BE PROACTIVE!

Where To Get INFO/HELP with CA Dream Application?? CA Student Aid Commission or CA Dream Application University/College Financial Aid Office ◦ Website, By Phone, , In-Person SF State AB 540 Website

For CAL GRANTS: Create an account at WebGrants4Students For CAL GRANTS: Create an account at WebGrants4Students

Check your CAL Grant status and Make SURE the Proper School is Listed

RESOURCES AVAILABLE for Dream App CA Dream Act Instructions ww.caldreamact.org Guidelines for Dream Application ~finaid/ab540

AB 540 WEBSITE at SF STATE

UC Berkeley undocu.berkeley.edu

Educators for Fair Consideration Dream Act Info Financial Aid Guide Scholarship Lists DACA Information Legal Remedies Life After College Guide All free and downloadable

AB 540 Educator Conference Saturday January 25 th UC Berkeley Full Day Conference Workshops Powerful Presentations $45 pre-registration $55 regular registration $70 day of registration WORTH every penny

SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED!*! PLEASE make a commitment to train at LEAST one other person…. *** BETTER YET, set up a training or application drive at your college, non- profit, local high school, community college, university or neighborhood center

WHO WILL YOU TRAIN?? High School & College Counselors Your Co-workers Teachers Fellow Students Someone from the Financial Aid Office Your Friends

Best Way You Can Help Don’t Make Assumptions Know Relevant Policies & Legislation Help Breakdown Institutional Roadblocks Refer Students to Support Services Instill Agency

Make A Friend In Financial AID You Already Have TWO!*! Nancy Jodaitis & Rose Arbulú San Francisco State University & &