The California Dream Act is the name for two Assembly Bills passed by the California legislature in 2011, which allows undocumented students to apply for and receive state based financial aid and institutional scholarships. These laws increase financial aid opportunities for AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 students, including U Visa Holders and TPS Recipients.
AB 130 (Effective January 1, 2012): Allows eligible AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 students to apply for and receive scholarships at California public colleges and universities that are derived from non-state funds.
AB 131 (Effective January 1, 2013): Allows eligible AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 students to apply for and receive financial aid at California public colleges and universities that are partially derived from state funds.
Content Breakdown
How do I complete my CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)?
- Create your User ID and Password. If you are creating this log-in information for the first time, make sure to save them this same credentials on future CADAAs you complete.
- Entering your ITIN, SSN, or SSID is optional. You are not required to enter your Individual Tax Identification Number, your Social Security Number, or your Statewide Student Identification Number.
- List your Citizenship Status as “No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen.” You should select “not a citizen or eligible noncitizen” even if you have a SSN through DACA or a U-Visa.
- Tax return filers who have not yet filed, must indicate “Will file.” Since the application is using information from two years prior, taxes have most likely been filed. If you or your Parent(s) are a late filer, please get in contact with your tax provider. Tax return non-filers must indicate “Not going to file.” If you did work, but are not required to file taxes, please make sure to list any earnings and untaxed income.
- Correctly add SF State school to your CADAA. Our school code is 001154 You can also search by name (SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY) under College Search.
- If you cannot answer “Yes” to any of the Dependency Questions, you must provide Parent information. Your parent must be ready to provide the requested tax and income information.
- Household size does not mean everyone who lives with you or your Parent if you are a dependent student. Household size is anyone in the immediate family who receives more than 50% support from a dependent student’s parents or an independent student.
- Make sure to electronically sign your application and review your confirmation page for errors. If required, your Parent will need to sign using the Parent PIN. They will need to save this PIN in order to reuse it on future applications. Any errors, such as a missing Parent PIN, will be highlighted in red, and you must correct them in order for your CADAA to be processed successfully.
Who qualifies to complete a CADAA?
As mentioned above, the CADAA was primarily passed by the CA Legislature to financially support Dream (Undocumented) students in California with their academic journey. For this reason, applicants must have AB 540/SB 68 eligibility in order to qualify to apply. Dream students outside of California who complete the CADAA are not guaranteed eligibility unless they are meeting an AB 540 criteria. For more information regarding AB 540, please click on the link provided right below.
Is there a deadline to submit the application?
Dream students who do not meet the yearly priority deadline are not guaranteed to receive any aid even if they qualify for it.
Yes, there is a yearly priority deadline that CADAA applicants must meet in order for them to be considered for California aid. For more information regarding that deadline, please click on the link provided right below.