How to Change Your Nonresident Status to Resident

1. Begin Establishing California Residency

To qualify for California resident classification, you must establish both physical presence and intent to make California your permanent home.

Establish Physical Presence

You must be physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately before the Residence Determination Date (RDD) for the semester in which you are requesting reclassification.

Establish Intent

You must take steps to make California your permanent home by the applicable deadline. This includes:

• Relinquishing your driver's license or state identification card from your previous state of residence.

• Obtaining a California driver's license or California state identification card by the applicable intent deadline.

• Establishing other legal ties to California.

Review the UC Residence Policy and Guidelines for more information about physical presence and intent requirements.

Submit a Statement of Legal Residence (SLR)

You must complete a new Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) for the term in which you are requesting reclassification.

2. Determine your eligibility

• You are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder. You must be in a valid immigration status at least 366 days prior to the RDD.
• You have met the 366-day physical presence requirement immediately before the applicable Residence Determination Date.
• You have established your California ties by the applicable intent deadline.
• You are enrolled at UC Merced for the semester in which you are requesting reclassification.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee resident classification. Your request will be reviewed based on the UC Residence Policy and Guidelines.

3. Choose Your Filing Term and Review Deadlines

Choose the semester in which you plan to submit your Change of Classification petition and supporting documentation.

Filing Periods

Your petition and documentation must be received by the UC Merced Residence Deputy during the applicable deadlines.

Important Information

• Each semester has a specific filing deadline.
• Apply early to allow time for your request to be reviewed.
• All deadlines are final. You will not be able to access the SLR or submit documents after the deadlines listed above. Make sure you complete your SLR and submit your documentation on time. Late submissions will not be accepted.
• You are responsible for paying all fees by the applicable fee payment deadline.
• If your request is denied and you appeal the campus decision, the UC Residency Appeals Office estimates a review period of 8–10 weeks from the date it receives your appeal.

4. Review Residence Determination Dates (RDD) and Grace Period to Acquire Intent

The Residence Determination Date (RDD) is used to evaluate your residency status for tuition purposes. You must meet the physical presence requirement for 366 consecutive days immediately before the RDD for the term in which you are requesting resident classification. You must also establish your intent to make California your permanent home by the applicable deadline.

The RDD and intent deadlines vary by term. Review the UC Residence Policy and Guidelines to understand how the deadlines apply to your circumstances.

5. Request Access to the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR)

To request access to the online Statement of Legal Residence:

1. Send an email requesting access to the online SLR.

2. Include your full name and student ID number in the email.

6. Prepare Your Supporting Documents

You will be asked to submit documents to verify your physical presence and intent for the past year. We recommend preparing your documents in advance. If documents are missing or submitted late, a written explanation may be requested. If you are still claimed as a dependent by your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), residency for tuition purposes may also depend on your parent(s)' or guardian(s)' California residency. In these cases, the Office of the Registrar will request supporting documentation from your parent(s) or guardian(s) to verify California residency and intent. Regardless of dependency status, the student is required to obtain a California Driver's License or California State ID by the applicable intent deadline. Failure to establish this California tie by the intent deadline may affect eligibility for resident classification for tuition purposes.  

California Identification and Legal Ties

• California driver's license or California state identification card. Visit the California DMV website for more information.
• California voter registration, if legally eligible to register. Visit the Merced County website for registration information.
• California vehicle registration and insurance, if applicable.

Financial Documentation

• Bank statements covering the past 12 months from the date you submit your reclassification request, including transaction history.
• Complete copies of your federal and California state tax returns, or W-2 statements if you have not filed your taxes yet.

Tax Documentation Reminder: California state tax returns must be filed using the applicable resident or part-year resident status, effective from the date of declared California residency. You may black out Social Security numbers on tax documents.

Tax returns amended after submission of an SLR, Change of Classification petition, or issuance of a Nonresident Classification will not be accepted for the RDD term being evaluated.

Physical Presence and Housing Documentation

• Housing contracts, monthly rental agreements, leases, proof of property ownership, or written verification from your property owner for the past year.
• Documentation showing your belongings were moved to California, such as moving van bills of lading or U-Haul receipts.
• Proof of utilities in your name, such as phone, gas, electric, television, cable, internet, or water bills. Submit the first and most recent statements only.
• Proof of credit and memberships with California businesses or organizations, such as stores, supermarkets, fitness clubs, public libraries, or other memberships.

Additional Documentation for Fall Reclassification

For fall reclassification requests, you may be asked to provide documentation verifying your physical presence in California during the summer immediately before your request.

Examples include:

• Summer pay stubs.
• Employment verification.
• Documentation of physical presence in California during the summer.
• Airline tickets or documentation of an out-of-state research appointment, if applicable.
• Other documentation showing your physical presence during the summer.

Important Information About Summer and Travel

• Your actions throughout the entire year, including the summer, may affect the determination of your residency status for tuition purposes.
• A student who is in California solely for educational purposes is not eligible for California resident classification for tuition purposes, regardless of the length of their stay.
• If you return to your former residence outside California, you may be presumed to be in California solely for educational purposes. Strong evidence to the contrary may be required.
• If you accept employment or conduct research outside California while seeking to establish California residency, you may be asked about your efforts to find employment or research opportunities within California.
• Certain temporary absences may not prevent resident classification. Review the Temporary Absence section of the UC Residence Policy and Guidelines for more information.

7. Submit Your Documents

You may upload your supporting documents through the SLR when requested.

• Drop off: Students First Center
• Email: slr@ucmerced.edu

After submitting your documentation, wait for an email response from the Residency Deputy within 7-10 business days.

Residency Appeals

The student is responsible for submitting all relevant information, requested documentation, written explanations, and clarifications to support an in-state residency request by the deadline. All relevant information, requested documentation, written explanations, and clarifications that you have not submitted prior to the deadline will not be considered or reviewed by the legal analysts if you choose to appeal the final determination. Any student, following a denied change of classification, may appeal to the UC Residence Analyst within 30 calendar days of campus notification of the residence deputy's decision. All appeals are handled by the UC Residency Appeals Office, not by the UC Merced campus. 

Residency Appeal Eligibility Requirements 

Enrolled students who have received a nonresident determination may appeal a campus determination only if at least one of the below provisions applies. Students with a Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) Exempt classification are not eligible to appeal.

1. The Nonresident determination is based on a significant error of fact, procedure, or incorrect application of UC
policy by the campus, or

2. Significant new information which existed but was not previously known or available to the student, became
available after the campus decision and based on the new information, the Nonresident Classification is
incorrect. New information resulting from actions taken after issuance of a Nonresident decision is not eligible
for appeal.

Appeal Application

To file an appeal of your nonresident determination:

• You must be enrolled at a UC campus to submit an appeal. If you are a recently admitted student who received a nonresident determination through the Systemwide Statement of Legal Residence (SSLR), you must first complete the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) at a UC campus before submitting an appeal application.
• You must be classified as nonresident and assessed nonresident tuition. Students with an NRST Exempt Classification are ineligible for appeal.
• You must file your own appeal application within 30 days of your respective SIR deadline OR the
• date of the campus Nonresident Determination.
• You must provide requested documents by the specified deadline. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of the appeal. In such cases, the campus nonresident determination will be upheld.

Appeal applicants should refer to the online application portal (https://residency-for-tuition.universityofcalifornia.edu/) for all information related to their appeal application however, they may contact residency.appeal@ucop.edu if there are any questions. The estimated waiting period for appeal application review is currently 8-10 weeks.

Circumstances In Which Appeals Should Not Be Filed

The UC Residency Policy and Guidelines are publicly available, and applicants and students are expected to review them before applying to the UC. Failure to follow policy requirements or meet established deadlines does not constitute valid grounds for an appeal of a nonresident determination. Appeals submitted based on the following justifications will result in the nonresident determination being upheld:

• Failure to meet internal campus document or SLR submission deadlines
• Failure to meet posted deadlines within the UC Residency Policy & Guidelines
• Requests for retroactive reimbursement of payment of nonresident supplemental tuition for prior term will be redirected to the campus level for consideration