Immigration and Customs

New immigration regulations permit entry into the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the reporting date on your I-20 form. Be sure to carry your travel documents, including your I-20 or DS-2019 form, with you. Do not put them into your checked baggage. While traveling to the United States, you will be provided with a Customs form and an I-94 form for immigration. Be pre-pared to present to the officer your I-94 forms. Sometimes you may be asked for your financial documentation as well. The immigration officer should stamp your I-94 card, pass-port, and your I-20 or DS-2019 on page 1. It is important that this be done correctly, so please check your documents after leaving the inspection station—if any stamps or documents are missing, contact an immigration supervisor right away. If you discover something is missing after leaving the customs area, contact an airline representative to get in touch with Immigration before leaving the airport.

Social Security Number

As a student, you will not be issued a U.S. Social Security Number until you show that you are eligible for employment either on or off campus. To receive a Social Security Number, obtain a prescribed letter from the hiring department and have it signed also by the Office of International Student and ScholarServices confirming your F-1 status. New international students are generally not eligible to work off campus during their first academic year.

Tax ID Number

You will temporarily be given a number that begins with 999-. This is an identification number that Stevens uses for internal records. It looks similar to a Social Security Number, but is not the same. Do not use your Stevens ID number anywhere off campus. If you are not immediately eligible to receive a Social Security Number, you may request a Tax ID number, which is issued by the U.S. government agency called the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The Tax ID number is not the same as a Social Security Number.

Taxes and Arrival in the United States

U.S. tax laws often grant special time-limited exemptions to F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars. These exemptions vary depending on tax treaties signed between the U.S. and various countries. More information is available online on the IRS web site at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p901.pdf. It is generally advisable that students entering Stevens in the Spring semester arrive on or after January 1, to avoid losing a year of exemption.