WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ARRIVAL ON U.S.
CAMPUSES
Listed below are samples of questions students should find answers when preparing to leave for the U.S.
LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS:
- Will I be met by a university representative?
- Do universities have housing for married couples? Do you really have to be married to get such housing?
- Does the school have day care facilities and schools near by for dependents?
- What type of public transportation exists in the city I am going to?
- Do I have to live on campus as a freshman if I am over 21?
- Can I get along with my International Driver's License or should I take out a local state license?
- Where can I live if the dorms close for the major holidays?
- Should I bring my own computer or are computers readily available on campus?
- What kind of safety measures exist on campus?
FINANCES:
- How do I get a social security number?
- What type of banking arrangements exist on campus?
- Can I transfer my tuition directly to the university's bank account?
- Must I pay the entire year's tuition at registration, or can I pay in installments?
- Can I open a U.S. bank account from Israel before I arrive on campus?
- Do I have to pay taxes on income from my grant?
- Do I get my grant immediately upon arrival?
- Can I apply for work during the first year of studies? Is work on campus readily available to international students?
- Can my spouse apply for work? How soon after arrival can a J-2 request a work permit?
- Can a foreign student apply for a loan from a U.S. bank?
- Can I easily obtain a credit card?
- How much will car insurance cost?
HEALTH INSURANCE:
- Should I take out an home country or U.S.long-term health insurance policy?
- Is the University's health insurance program sufficient? Does it cover everything?
- Do you have more information on private U.S. health insurance policies? How much could a student with 1 or 2 dependents expect to pay monthly for health insurance?
- Will the university's health insurance cover me immediately upon arrival?
- If I have a J visa and have taken out health insurance coverage from a company in my country which meets every criteria but is not "ranked" according to the new rules, what will happen to me if I need coverage?
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS:
- If I get financial assistance from the university for the first year, is that automatically renewed each year until I complete my studies?
- Do I have to pass any placement exams once I've been accepted into a program?
- As a transfer student, how long will it take me to complete my BA/BSc or PhD?
- Will the U.S. university/department recognize previous studies in my country and give me credit for courses completed outside the U.S?
- Will this shorten the length of my program in the States?
- Do you choose an adviser for your PhD program or is one assigned to you? What happens if the "match" isn't exactly perfect?
LEGAL CONCERNS:
- How soon after beginning study can I transfer schools?
- I'm finishing my BA/Intensive English/etc program in the States and have an F-1 visa. I'd like to continue for another degree/program. Do I need to leave the USA after completing the first degree in order to get a new visa issued for the second?
- If I enter on a government-sponsored J-1 visa, can I switch to a university sponsored J-1 visa once I am in the States?
- Can an F-2 switch to an F-1 from within the States? Can a J-2 switch to a J-1 in the same way?
- Can someone on a work/diplomatic visa also study? Can they switch from a work to student visa from within the States?
- If my spouse enters on a J-2 visa, can he/she study full time or part-time?
- Can a J-2 study full-time and work part time?
Prepared by: Evelyn Levinson, Director, Educational Information
Service USIEF, Tel Aviv, April 1995
American Higher Education Information Center
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