Purpose
This web page is intended to provide information to faculty and staff seeking to advise AB 540 Students and for undocumented nonresident high school and college students seeking information about their eligibility for AB 540 and resources.
State Law
On October 12, 2001, Governor Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 540 (Stats. 2001, ch. 814) that added a new section 68130.5 to the California Education Code. Section 68130.5 created a new exemption from the payment of nonresident tuition for certain nonresident students who have attended high school in California and received a high school diploma or its equivalent. [Education Code section 68130.5]
Admission
The process for applying to Cal State Los Angeles is no different for any student with the exception of completing the residency section of the application:
- When completing the application please leave the section requesting your Social Security Number blank.
- Under the residency section, select option A if you qualify for AB 540 status.
- Please complete the entire application.
- Upon completion and submission of the application you will receive a letter from Cal State Los Angeles confirming the receipt of your application. The letter will also provide you with a Campus Identification Number often referred to as CIN.
- Please complete the California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request form and obtain a copy of your high school transcripts and a copy of your high school diploma. Send the Exemption Request Form, your high school transcripts, and a copy of your high school diploma to the Admissions Office.
California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Application Form 
and General Information.
Living in the United States, A Guide for Immigrant Youth
Published by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center 
, the guide offers information about the ways that immigration status can impact a youth's ability to get a job, go to college, or remain in the United States.
Paying for College
The 2013-14 California Dream Act Application became available for AB 131 Institutional grants and community college fee waivers payable starting January 2013.
California Dream Act Application Apply Now!
http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp
Dream Act Application Instructions:
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/2013-14_california_dream_application_instructions.pdf
Dream Act Application PDF:
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/2013-14_paper_dream_application.pdf
Students must meet all Cal Grant Requirements to be eligible.
Cal Grant requirements: http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=1177
Cal Grant Non-SSN GPA Q&A: http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/non_ssn_gpa_q&a.pdf
Students should seek assistance from their college or universities’ Office of Financial Aid.
Cal Grants will not be given to continuing AB540 students due to the regulations in effect for all students. Cal Grants are only for new entering freshmen and transfers. Continuing AB540 students will be eligible for state institutional grants, including EOP and Chaffee grants (foster youth).
CALSTATELA has a number of scholarships available to students. The following links are also recommended.
- Latino College Dollars
- Scholarships/ Lista de BECAS for All Students Regardless of Immigration Status.
- The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid provides a link to the AB 540 legislation.
- The College an d Financial Aid Guide for AB 540 Undocumented Immigrant Students
- Life After College Guide for Undocumented Students
- California Student Aid Commission
Student Support Group
AB 540 students and friends meet on a regular basis during the school year. The group advisors,Luz Borjon and Frank Cornelio, can be reached respectively at 323-343-4367 and 323-343-3127. You can get additional information by visiting Students United to Reach Goals in Education Project, also knows as SURGE
The Future
Advising Training Material
(Courtesy of CSU, Long Beach) AB 540 Advisor Training Presentation