Hello! im a new member and heres my story

I was 10 years old when my parents decided to move our whole family here in the US. I was so excited because it was my dream to go to the US, but i had no clue that I would be in this situation. Like most of you, it was really hard for me because all my friends were working, driving, and doing things that i couldn't do due to my situation. I was a very frustrated and angry person when i was about 16 but as time passed by and i understood what my parents was trying to do for my family, i learned to be patient and just looked on the bright side from then on. I also have 3 brothers in the same situation and a sister that was born here. I have been living in California for 8 years and i graduated high school last year. I had no idea what i was going to do after high school so i just took a year off and helped my parents with their buisness.

Now I am thinking about attending my local community college, College of the Canyons. I was registering online and it was asking for an SSN and what my status was here in the US. It didnt require me to put an SSN but it was asking me for my status. I need info and help about what i should do and if i will even be able to attend a community college here in california.

btw, ive been reading alot of threads and i think i know the answer to my questions, but i just want to be sure. thanks to everyone who took their time to read my story and i appreciate all the help that i know i will get from this wonderful site.

thank you guys for reading my story and i hope you guys can help me.

Welcome to the forum! What are the options for status? Whatever you do, do not put that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. If there is an "other" option, choose that one. Do they have paper applications? Those are always easier to fill than the online ones.

Hope you stick around!

the options are

US Citizen
Permanent Resident
Temporary Resident/Amnesty
Refugee/Asylee
Student Visa (F1 or M1)
Other

any idea which box i should check? also, it says that if i check anything besides US Citizen.. i have to give them my alien registration number or my visa type.

thx

If you are in CA you fill out the form for AB540
I don't know how it works online, but there is usually a tear-out sheet in the paper copies of the semester course catalogue.

You check the "Other" box and you leave the alien registration number and visa type blank. And then you fill out the AB540 form too.

By the way, does the document actually mention "amnesty"??? Am I the only one who finds that bizarre?

so do i ask them specifically for the AB540 form and i should be okay? because im going to a community college and i dont think ill be needing financial aid.. hopefully. =/

and to answer Rahman, yes that "amnesty" option is actually on it, i also find that very odd.

Can't you download the AB540 form from the school's website or something? or maybe some other California school's website? In any event, you can ask for it at the financial aid office of your college.

If you can afford the out-of-state tuition rates, then I guess you don't need to fill out any financial aid forms. The AB540 form grants you the in-state tuition rates. If you can afford the in-state rates and not the out-of-state rates, then you need to submit the AB540 form.

well i dont live in california, but i had a similiar sanfu when i tried applying online.

it's better to send in a paper application.

good luck =]