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(1.13) Does the Regional Center have any residency requirements?

(1.13) Does the Regional Center have any residency requirements?

Your immigration status does not matter for regional center eligibility. But the Lanterman Act says you have to be a California resident.((California Government Code section 244 lists rules to consider in determining where your residence is located.)) In general, you are a California resident if you live in California and plan to stay. You can only live in one place at a time. It is okay if you leave California for a short time, as long as you plan to return. For an unmarried child under 18, the residence is normally the same as his or her parents’ home.

If you are in California on a temporary visa, it is hard to prove you are a California resident. The temporary visa says you are in the country temporarily and not permanently. The regional centers may believe you if you say you plan to stay here with a temporary visa. Talk to an immigration attorney before you do this. It could affect your immigration status.