In order to build additional supports for undocumented and/or AB-540/DACA students at Chabot College, we have developed an Equity Work Group called “The
Dream Team.” This is a collaborative partnership between the Equity Coordinating Council, Financial
Aid Office, Student Services, Hayward Promise
Neighborhood, C.L.E.A. and The Puente Project.
We designed this booklet to provide information and resources for DREAMers on campus. Additionally, we offer the following supports and resources:
• “DREAM Big/Sueña Grande @ Chabot College”
Workshops designed to provide information and support regarding the CA Dream Act, AB-540, DACA, transfer information, scholarships/financial aid and more.
• The Chabot Dreamers Club, a student club designed to provide a safe and supportive space for students on campus. Please contact club leaders at chabotdreamers@gmail.com or club co-advisors Katie
Messina and Pedro Reynoso for more information.
• Visit our Chabot DREAMers website for more information and upcoming events: www.chabotcollege.edu/dreamers
• A number of Chabot College Special Programs are open to undocumented students, including the
Puente Project, EOPS, Daraja, and Hayward Promise
Neighborhood (HPN). For more information visit the Special Programs website at: www.chabotcollege.edu/specialprograms

Students can always visit Counseling, Admissions &
Records, or Financial Aid if they have questions or need further support. Additionally, students can contact members of the “Dream Team” for more information.
Marie Amboy
Hayward Promise Neighborhood Project Manager mdeleon@chabotcollege.edu
Philomena Franco
Financial Aid Advisor pfranco@chabotcollege.edu
Sandra Genera
Puente Project Counselor/Coordinator sgenera@chabotcollege.edu
Yari Gonzalez
Financial Aid Advisor ygonzalez@chabotcollege.edu
Kristin Land
Puente Project English Instructor/Coordinator kland@chabotcollege.edu
Kathy Linzmeyer
Director of Financial Aid klinzmeyer@chabotcollege.edu
Katie Messina
Counselor/Instructor, Dreamers Club Co-Advisor kmessina@chabotcollege.edu
Pedro Reynoso
Librarian, Dreamers Club Co-Advisor preynoso@chabotcollege.edu

• YES! Undocumented students can go to any public college or university in California, if they meet the admissions requirements and are accepted. This applies to freshman and transfer admits.
• Students cannot be denied admission based on their immigration status to any state schools (CCC,
CSU or UC) in California.
• Students can pay in-state tuition at California state schools (CCC, CSU, UC) if they meet the criteria for state law AB-540.
• Many UC and CSU campuses have undocumented student resource centers and programs to help support students. For UC campuses, visit: undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu
For CSU campuses, check individual campus websites.

CA Assembly Bill AB-540 is a California law passed in 2001 which states that undocumented students who meet certain requirements can qualify for in-state tuition at California public colleges and universities
(includes Community Colleges, CSUs and UCs). In
2014, Assembly Bill AB-2000 was passed, expanding the definition to allow additional flexibility for who can meet the requirements. This is very important because otherwise undocumented students would pay international student tuition, which is over three times the cost, putting college out of reach for most students.

In order to qualify for AB-540/AB-2000 status in CA, the student must meet the following requirements:
1. A) attended a high school (public or private) in
California for three or more years,
OR
B) attained credits earned in California from a
California high school equivalent to three or more years of full time high school course work and attended a combination of elementary, middle and/or high schools in California for a total of three or more years, and
2. The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (for example, passing the GED or
California High School Proficiency exam), and
3. The student must file an affidavit with the college or university stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.
The Chabot College Affidavit Form (CA Non-Resident
Tuition Exemption Form – AB-540) can be found on the Chabot College website under “Forms & Apps” online at: www.chabotcollege.edu/formsapps.asp

AB-2000 also expanded the definition to include students who have been granted T or U visa status.
Please note, students who are nonimmigrants, other than those with T or U visa status as noted above, [for example, those who hold F (student) visas, B (visitor) visas, etc.] are NOT eligible for this exemption.
Please note, AB-540 does NOT establish legal residency for immigrant students or for undocumented students who are eligible for AB-540.
It only exempts students from paying non-resident fees. Undocumented students who have questions about their legal residency should consult an immigration attorney.

The information a student shares with a college or university is protected by federal law and CANNOT be shared with anyone, including immigration officials. It is protected by the Federal Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.
The school legally cannot share this information with third parties including U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE).
Also, not all AB-540 students are undocumented.
Many are legal residents. AB-540 forms are worded in a way so as to protect undocumented students from having to declare their status (they are grouped with
US citizens and permanent residents). The affidavit says “IF” they are an “alien without lawful immigration status,” then they will pursue a means to change their immigration status when it becomes available.

YES! In 2011, the CA Dream Act (AB130/AB131) was passed, granting eligible undocumented AB-
540 students access to private and CA state-funded financial aid such as institutional grants, community college Board of Governor’s (BOG) fee waiver,
Cal Grant and Chafee Grant. At Chabot College, undocumented AB-540 students are also now eligible for state funded special programs like Puente and
EOPS. Under CA Senate Bill 1210, the UC and CSU systems are in the process of creating a DREAM loan program for qualifying students starting in the 2015-
2016 academic year.
Undocumented AB-540 students fill out the CA Dream
Act Application to apply for financial aid. AB-540 students still DO NOT qualify for federal financial aid
(including Federal Student & Parent Loans, Pell Grants and Work Study) and therefore DO NOT fill out the
FAFSA. U Visa holders also fill out the CA Dream Act
Application instead of the FAFSA.
AB-540 students can apply online for financial aid through the CA Dream Act Application at: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
The Chabot College Financial Aid website is also a good resource for AB-540 students filling out the CA Dream
Act Application. On the Chabot College website, go to
“Financial Aid” and select “Dream Act” or go to: www.chabotcollege.edu/FinAid/dreamact.asp

YES! There are many scholarships available that do not require you to be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident, and do not ask for a social security number.
Check www.e4fc.org
and www.maldef.org for lists of available scholarships.
Students can also apply for Chabot scholarships – check the “Chabot Student Life” website every spring: www.chabotcollege.edu/studentlife/awards/index.htm

Do not confuse the CA Dream Act (which provides state financial aid to eligible undocumented AB-
540 students) with the proposed Federal Dream
Act. The Federal DREAM (Development, Relief and
Education, for Alien Minors) Act is a federal proposal that if passed would provide many undocumented students with a legal path to citizenship. However, it has not yet passed in Congress. Because of this proposed act, many undocumented students refer to themselves as “DREAMers.”
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DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a
2012 Obama administration policy shift. DACA allows qualifying AB-540 students to apply for a temporary
(2-year) work permit, temporary Social Security number (valid for work authorization only), and protection from deportation. Students can reapply every two years. DACA does not grant permanent legal status or provide a path to citizenship. It only is a temporary measure.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

The main eligibility criteria for DACA are:
• You must be 15-30 years old to apply
• Under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012 (the date of the President’s announcement)
• You must have arrived in the U.S. before you turned 16
• In order to apply, you must be continuously present in the U.S. for a minimum of 5 years
• You must have been present in the U.S. on
June 15, 2012
• You are currently in high school, have earned a GED or high school diploma, or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces
• You must have a clear criminal record
For more specific details about DACA qualifications, how to apply for DACA, what documents are needed, and legal assistance with applications, please refer to the E4FC website: www.e4fc.org
or see their list of Frequently Asked Questions about DACA at: www.e4fc.org/dacafaqs.html

On November 20th, 2014, President Obama announced two important expansions of the DACA Program which could potentially help an additional 4.4 million people. The two main points are:
1) Expansion of Deferred Action (DACA) – expands the age range of eligible applicants
2) Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) – expands Deferred Action to parents of U.S. Citizens
However, please note that a Federal District Court in Texas has issued an order that BLOCKS this from moving forward. This expansion is currently ON
HOLD until the United States Supreme Court hears the case and makes a ruling. People cannot yet apply. For more information, see: www.nilc.org/dapa&daca.html

In addition to the Chabot College resources and supports listed at the beginning of this booklet, the following websites are an excellent source for up-to-date information:
• www.chabotcollege.edu/dreamers
Visit our Chabot DREAMers website for more information and upcoming events
• www.e4fc.org
Excellent local organization, provides info, workshops, legal consult
• www.e4fc.org/resources/scholarshiplists.html
List of scholarships that don’t require a SSN
• www.nilc.org/about_us.html
National Immigration Law Center, great legal info, resources
• dream.csac.ca.gov
CSAC Website to apply for the CA Dream
Act Application
• www.chabotcollege.edu/FinAid/dreamact.asp
Chabot website link for CA Dream Act Info
• www.weownthedream.org/legalhelp list of local low-cost immigration clinics and lawyers
• undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu
University of California resources for DREAMers

Marie Amboy
Hayward Promise Neighborhood Project Manager mdeleon@chabotcollege.edu
Philomena Franco
Financial Aid Advisor pfranco@chabotcollege.edu
Sandra Genera
Puente Project Counselor/Coordinator sgenera@chabotcollege.edu
Yari Gonzalez
Financial Aid Advisor ygonzalez@chabotcollege.edu
Kristin Land
Puente Project English Instructor/Coordinator kland@chabotcollege.edu
Kathy Linzmeyer
Director of Financial Aid klinzmeyer@chabotcollege.edu
Katie Messina
Counselor/Instructor, Dreamers Club Co-Advisor kmessina@chabotcollege.edu
Pedro Reynoso
Librarian, Dreamers Club Co-Advisor preynoso@chabotcollege.edu

Please note, the information in this booklet is general in nature and serves as a guide. Information may be subject to change without notice. Please consult the resources provided at the end of this booklet for more information. Immigration laws are complex and subject to change. Please consult with an immigration attorney regarding questions pertaining to immigration and legal status.

First, complete all general new student steps listed here: www.chabotcollege.edu/futurestudents.asp
Then, if you identify as an undocumented student, complete the following additional steps:
ü When completing the Chabot online application for admission, under the citizenship section, check “other” and select “no documents.”
ü If you meet the criteria, submit the AB-540 affidavit to the Office of Admissions & Records along with a high school transcript.
ü Apply for financial aid by submitting the
CA Dream Act Application online
ü Meet with a counselor if you have further questions
ü Visit our Chabot DREAMers website for more information and upcoming events: www.chabotcollege.edu/dreamers
ü Check out Chabot resources including the
Chabot Dreamers Club, “DREAM Big/Sueña
Grande @ Chabot College” Workshops, and
Chabot Special Programs

25555 Hesperian Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94545 www.chabotcollege.edu