The following information was taken from the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (Maldef) website. Any questions regarding the California law for undocumented immigrant students should be directed to this organization’s Immigrant Higher Education Outreach Program. Information can be found on their website at www.maldef.org
In the following section, students will fi nd information about a California law, identical to the Texas measure, that allows qualifi ed undocumented students to be eligible to pay in-state tuition fees at California’s colleges and state universities. Undocumented students in Texas, California as well as in Utah, New York, Washington, Illinois, Oklahoma a and Kansas are eligible for this exemption because the law is not based on residency, rather on high school attendance.
Promoting Higher Education for All California Students!
New California Law:
In October 2001, Governor Gray Davis signed AB 540, authored by Marco Antonio Firebaugh (Southeast LA County State Assembly member) that allows students who attended a California high school and graduated from a California high school to be exempt from paying out-of-state tuition.
In order to qualify a student must:
1. Attend a California High School for 3 or more years; - continuation schools, charter high schools, private schools, and adult education programs may be acceptable (ask your counselor). There is no time limit on how far in the past the student might have attained this status.
2. Graduate from a California high school or receive the equivalent (GED);
3. Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited public institution of igher education in California;
4. Sign a statement with the college or university (NOT with INS) stating that he/she will apply for legal residency with the INS as soon as he/she is able to do so.
The new law does not provide fi nancial aid to undocumented students. Students who need fi nancial assistance should ask a school counselor for referrals to scholarships that do not require legal permanent residency or U.S. Citizenship.
* The new law does not establish legal residency for undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition.
LEGAL SERVICES IN THE HOUSTON AREA
The following organizations and representatives are available to immigrants desiring representation, who are fi nancially unable to afford such representation.
CARECEN
(CENTRAL AMERICAN REFUGEE CENTER) 6006 Bellaire Blvd. Suite 100
Houston, TX 77081
Tel. (713) 665-1284 Fax (713) 665-7967
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
(TEXAS CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT LEGAL ASSISTANCE)
2900 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77006 Tel. (713) 526-4611 Fax (713) 874-6792
CATHOLIC CHARITIES, DIOCESE OF BEAUMONT, INC.
1410 North St.
Beaumont, TX 77011 Tel. (409) 832-7994 Fax.(409) 832-0145
HOUSTON COMMUNITY SERVICES 5115 Harrisburg
Houston, TX 77011 Tel. (713) 926-8771 Fax.(713) 926-8771
IMMIGRATION COUNSELING CENTER, INC.
5959 Westheimer, Suite 207 Houston, TX 77057
Tel. (713) 953-0047 Fax.(713) 953-1605
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES OF THE YMCA-GREATER HOUSTON AREA PRO BONO ASYLUM PROGRAM
6300 Westpark, Suite 600 Houston, TX 77057
Tel. (713) 339-9015
ESTUDIANTES INMIGRANTES PUEDEN IR A LA UNIVERSIDAD
Si usted es un estudiante inmigrante, o sabe de alguien que lo es, puede ir a la universidad estatal o al colegio comunitario sin importar su estado inmigratorio. A partir del otoño del 2001, la ley “HB 1403” en conjunción con la ley SB 1528 del 2005, permite a los estudiantes inmigrantes, entre ellos los indocumentados, califi car para el pago de la matrícula o la colegiatura como residentes del estado. Para califi car necesita:
(1) Haberse graduado de una escuela pública o privada, o haber recibido un GED
(2) Haber residido en Texas por lo menos 3 años antes de que se haya graduado o haya recibido su GED
(3) Proporcionar a la universidad una declaración jurada al efecto de que usted solicitará la residencia permanente tan pronto como reúna los requisitos. Este procedimiento es independiente de cualquier trámite migratorio.
Los estudiantes inmigrantes que no reúnan los requisitos indicados arriba pero que hayan empezado trámites migratorios y a quienes se les haya aprobado la solicitud I-130 (petición familiar) o I-140 (petición laboral) también podrán pagar la matrícula como residente si han estado en el estado por lo menos 12 meses.
Las personas que tengan visas de trabajo (H1-B) y quienes dependan de ellos (H-4) también pueden pagar la matrícula como residente. La misma regla aplica para los favorecidos de NACARA o TPS, entre otros.
$ Los estudiantes clasifi cados por la nueva ley como residentes también pueden recibir ayuda fi nanciera estatal. Si han cumplido el programa de estudios recomendados pueden recibir el subsidio conocido como Texas Grant. Para solicitar esta ayuda, deben llenar la forma FAFSA o la nueva forma estatal de ayuda fi nanciera aunque no tengan un número de seguro social y tramitarla directamente con la ofi cina de ayuda fi nanciera de la universidad o colegio comunitario a donde asistirán.
) Por último, todas las universidades estatales en Texas ofrecen becas académicas que los estudiantes inmigrantes, sin importar su estado inmigratorio, pueden solicitar. Si un estudiante inmigrante gana una de estas becas, también gana el derecho a pagar la matrícula como residente. Un ejemplo de estas becas son las ofrecidas por Prairie View A&M University.
) Si usted está en el 10% de los mejores estudiantes de su grado, en algunas universidades califi ca para dinero adicional como en la Universidad Estatal de Stephen F. Austin en la ciudad de Nacogdoches.
Para más información puede contactar a Alejandra Rincón enviándole un correo a
IMMIGRANT STUDENTS CAN GO TO COLLEGE
If you are an immigrant student, or know someone who is, you can go to college regardless of your immigration status. A new set of laws (HB 1403 from 2001 in addition to SB 1528 from 2005) enable immigrant students, including undocumented, to qualify as residents and receive in-state tuition. To qualify a student must meet the following four provisions:
(1) Have graduated from a public or private high school or received a GED in TX
(2) Have resided in TX for at least 3 years before the person graduated from high school or received GED
(3) Provide the institution an affi davit stating that he/she will fi le an application to become a permanent resident as soon as he/she is eligible to do so.
Immigrant students who do not meet the 3-year requirement but who have started a process with the INS whose I-130 (family petition) or I-140 (work petition) applications have been approved are also eligible to receive in-state tuition if they have been here for at least 12 months.
People holding work visas (H1-B) and their dependents (H-4) can now also receive in-state tuition at state universities. The same rule applies for NACARA and TPS applicants among others.
$ Students who are classifi ed as residents under the new law, also qualify for state fi nancial aid.
If they have completed the recommended high school program (Texas Scholar) they can receive the Texas Grant. To apply they need to fi ll out the FAFSA or the new Texas Application for State Financial Aid even if they do not have a social security number.
) Lastly, all universities in Texas offer academic scholarships under which immigrant students, regardless of their immigration status, can apply. If you are awarded one these scholarships you will be charged in-state tuition. An example is those scholarships offered by Prairie View A&M University.
) If you are in the top 10% of your graduating class, in some universities you automatically qualify for extra funds. At Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, you can receive up to $2,000.
For more information please contact Alejandra Rincón by e-mail at [email protected]
LAST WORDS OF ADVICE
Your Email Account
(The Lubricant that Oils the Gear!)
You may not have a computer at home and worse your high school may not have a very good computer lab for you to use. But, still the College Process is more and more dependent now on students having a “working” email address. Below are some tips on email accounts.
Tip#1: While ([email protected]) or ([email protected]) might sound really cool to your best friend, they do nothing to impress a college representative or a scholarship committee. Going to college is your fi rst step in moving into a professional world. If you just have to have an email account that expresses your “wild” or “sexy” side then you create a second email account that presents yourself in a more professional way.
Suggestions on how to create quick & easy to remember email accounts:
You can ask YAHOO to give you examples of combinations of your fi rst, middle,
& last names that haven’t already been used. Often I will create for my students an email account with their last name and birth date. We then use their fi rst name and zip code for the pass word. This is great for students who often forget their user name and password.
User Name: Garcia072284
Password: Juan77081
Tip #2: We suggest using Yahoo.com over hotmail accounts. See process below.
Tip #3: Write down your email address, password, security question & answer.
It’s not uncommon for a senior to have a user name for her email, her SAT account, her college admission account, & her FAFSA. Each of these accounts will have their OWN passwords. The only way to retrieve a forgotten password or user name is generally through an email account. Write down on a handout all of the account names, passwords, & security answers. Here is a partial list of accounts you might have.
Email Account College Board Account Texas Common Application
Email address ________________ User Name ______________ User Name ______________
User name ________________ Password ______________ Password ______________
Password ________________ Security Security
Security Answer ______________ Answer ______________
Answer ________________
For U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents who do their Financial Aid Applications online (FAFSA)
PIN # ____________ FAFSA Password: ________________
A YAHOO Email Account
(Only if you do not have an email account)
Log onto (www.yahoo.com)
Step #1: Click on “mail”.
Step #2: Click on “Sign up for Yahoo”.
TIPS
• You might have to try a few usernames until you fi nd one that has not been used before.
• Use easy to remember numbers in username and password, such as your date of birth (DOB), zip code, street number, or year you will graduate.
• Sometimes a password too similar to your last name will not work. If this is the case, use your fi rst or middle name for your password
You do not need to supply an alternative email address.
Step #2: Keep username simple: a last name followed by your birth date (day/month).
Keep password simple: fi rst name and year you will graduate.
Step #3: You must type in the exact number/letter combination. This is a protection against automatic span accounts being created using yahoo’s free service.
Step #4: Write down your email account. Remember to
include @yahoo.com at the end of your email address
([email protected]) . Also write down your
security question and answer.
A BANK ACCOUNT
(Not necessary, but extremely helpful)
Many seniors, especially those who have immigrated to the United States, do not know they can easily get a free bank account. You do not have to have a social security number or even a process with immigration. Anyone can open up a bank account.
Once you have a bank account, you will get a debit (ATM) card. Make sure the bank you use has a debit card that has a VISA or Master Card logo on it. This logo does not make your debit card a credit card, but you can use it anytime an application or registration allows you to pay by credit card.
For example, a BANK of AMERICA debit card has a VISA logo on it. You can use this debit card to pay for SAT registrations, college applications, and cheap text books from AMAZON.COM.
CAUTION: never use your DEBIT Card where other people can watch you. If you have to use a computer at school, make sure to clean the CACHE so that your information is not stored on the computer.
REASON #1: While you mostly likely will receive a free fee waiver for your SAT and ACT, you will still need to pay to send scores out to colleges. If you have a pressing application deadline, and the college says we HAVE to an “offi cial score report” from the SAT, you can handle this without any problems if you have a debit card. Just log onto your SAT account and order up a rush deliver of your scores.
REASON #2: While some students will receive enough free money (grants &
scholarships) to cover both their classes and their books, many students will have to pay for their text books. Never buy your books directly from the bookstore. One of the cheapest places to buy books is online at (amazon.com), (ebay), or on the Barns & Nobles online store. I will go more into this later on the section called “Paying for College.”
REASON #3: You and your parents should be trying to put a little money aside. Ten
or twenty-fi ve dollars a week. With a banking account, you can set up a
SAVING’S ACCOUNT. If a family was to save ten dollars a week when
their child started ninth grade, they would have over $2,000 in savings by
the time the child graduates. That’s more than enough to pay for two years
of a community college!
Starting in the spring of 2001, the Coalition of Higher Education has been fortunate to have immigrant students, parents and teachers volunteering for our projects. If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact us at 713-787-1715 in the Houston area.
Special thanks to the volunteers who researched and compiled the information on scholarships for immigrant students and assisted us throughout these years:
Alejandra Alvarado, Prairie View A&M University Eric Cabrera, Texas A&M University
Cynthia García, University of Houston-Downtown Paola Garzón, University of Houston-Downtown Teresa Hernandez, parent (madre de familia) Dulce Ibarra, University of Houston-Downtown Gabriel Lopez, Texas Southern University
Natshla Maldonado, University of Texas at Austin Claudia Muñoz, Prairie View A&M University Constanza Medina, parent (madre de familia) Wilson Navarrete, Tinsley Elementary
Cecilia Ortiz, parent (madre de familia)
Cecilia Sanchez, Prairie View A&M University Alice Salazar, parent (madre de familia)
Claudia Villanueva, University of Houston
Are you an immigrant student who wants to get involved with an organization?
Please contact: Jóvenes Inmigrantes por un Futuro Mejor (JIFM) Houston Area – [email protected]
Texas A&M University – http://jifm.tamu.edu/
University of Houston-Central – http://www.uhjifm.org/index.html
If you are not in any of these areas and want to form your own group, please contact us for help.
For immigrant students in the Austin area who want to go to college, please call:
Vangie Orozco
Immigrant Students College Coordinator
Bilingual/ESL Education Department – Austin Independent School District (512) 414-7690
[email protected]
In document
Book
(Page 98-106)