Life in the U.S.

To open a bank account, you will need the following documents:

• Passport with visa stamp
• Form I-20

After opening your account, there may be a short waiting period before you can access your funds; you should keep some cash on hand to use until your other funds are available.

What is a Social Security Number?

In order to be paid for any form of employment either on or off campus, it is necessary to have a Social Security number, which is a primary form of identification in the U.S. You should be aware that a Social Security number does NOT authorize you to accept employment off-campus. If you are a student on an F-1 or J-1, accepting unauthorized off-campus employment is a violation of your immigration status.

How do I apply for a Social Security number?

You must have employment to obtain a Social Security number. As an F-1 or J-1 student, if you are working on-campus, you do not need an updated I-20/DS-2019 to apply; if you are doing CPT or OPT as an F-1 student, you must receive an updated I-20 before you apply. If you are a new student or scholar working at Stevens, please also check with the ISSS to make sure you are registered in SEVIS before you go to the SS office to apply. You will then visit a Social Security office and complete an application. When you apply, you will receive a receipt from the Social Security office. You should retain this receipt; in the event that you begin working before receiving your Social Security card, you must present the receipt to your employer. It will take approximately two weeks to receive your card in the mail. If your Social Security card does not arrive within the two-week period, you should take the receipt back to the SS office to inquire about your card.

F-1/J-1 Students must present the following at the SS office:

• A completed Social Security application form. (You will receive this form from the receptionist at the Social Security office. Social Security application forms are also available online at http://www.ssa.gov/.)
• Your passport (Your passport must have an issue date earlier than one year from the date you applied for your social security card. If not, you will need to bring picture ID of some sort [like a driver’s license from your home country] issued at least one year earlier. A picture ID in a language other than English is permitted. The Social Security Administration will translate your ID, but expect processing delays.)
• Your original stamped I-20 or DS-2019 and all subsequent I-20s/DS-2019s issued to you
• Your I-94 card (Generally stapled inside your passport)
• Your visa (Located inside your passport and issued not less than 30 days before the date you go to the SS office)
• A letter of employment (The letter of employment must be written on company letterhead and state your position, hours, start date, and end date.) If you are a student doing on-campus work, our SS letter for your Stevens employer to fill it out is located here.

All documents must be originals; the Social Security office cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

The following are documents summarizing the aforementioned information and a form letter to give to your employer if you receive an on-campus job:

• Social Security Information
• Social Security Letter for On-Campus Employment

J-1 Scholars and H-1B visa holders must present the following at the SS office:

• A completed Social Security application form- Social Security application forms are available at the Social Security office or online at http://www.ssa.gov/.
• Passport (The passport must have an issue date earlier than one year from the date you apply for your Social Security card. If not, you will need to bring picture ID of some sort [like a driver’s license from your home country] issued at least one year earlier. A picture ID in a language other than English is permitted. The Social Security Administration will translate your ID, but expect processing delays.)
• A DS-2019 (J-1 visa holder) or Form I-797 (H-1 visa holder) issued to you
• Your I-94 card (Generally stapled inside your passport)
• Your visa (Located inside your passport and issued not less than 30 days before the date you go to the SS office)
• A letter of employment (The letter of employment must be written on company letterhead and state your position, hours, start date, and end date.)

All documents must be originals; the Social Security office cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.  Also, please keep in mind that these requirements may change slightly by jurisdiction, and that some Social Security offices are stricter than others with respect to documents required.

What should I take to the MVC to get my driver’s license?

You should have the following documents with you when applying for a New Jersey driver’s license, driver’s permit, or state ID card:

• If you have one, a valid international driver’s license. You will not be required to take the driving portion of the test (only the written portion) if you have an international driver’s license.
• Valid passport
• Valid I-94 (white card)
• Valid visa document to correspond with non-immigrant status:
  • F-1/F-2: valid I-20, J-1/J2: valid DS-2019, H1-H4: valid I-797
• Proof of address (bills, checkbook, bank statement, or university letter)
• Student ID and proof of enrollment (recent acceptance letter or official transcript)
• Social Security Card (if you have one). If you are not eligible for a Social Security card, you must get a letter from the Social Security office stating your ineligibility.

For more information, you can call the Department of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-486-3339, or visit their website: http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/. If you live in NY and are attending/working at Stevens, you may not be eligible to recieve a driver’s license in either NY or NJ.

A driver’s license is commonly used as a form of identification in the United States. If you will not be driving but want an American form of identification, ask for a state ID card instead of a driver’s license; your passport also serves as official identification.

The following document summarizes the aforementioned information:

• Driver’s License Information

If someone claiming to be a Department of Homeland Security (or other government agency) official contacts you by phone, by e-mail, by mail, in person, or otherwise, you should ask for the person's full name, government agency, reporting office, and for a government telephone number to call the person back. Next, contact the ISSS office, and we will provide you with the phone number of the office to which the officer reports. You will then be able to call the agency office to verify the information the person gave you, and to verify that the officer who contacted you needs the information requested. To our knowledge, the Department of Homeland Security will never demand money from you, so if a person tries to intimidate you into given him/her money, this should be an immediate red flag.

You should also be aware that in the U.S., you have rights by U.S. law whenever you are confronted by a federal, state or local law enforcement official. Please follow this link to review information about those rights so that you are prepared for any encounter you may have with a law enforcement official: http://www.aclu.org/national-security/know-your-rights-when-encountering-law-enforcement.

As a nonimmigrant, you should file a federal tax form for every year you are in the U.S., even if you did not receive any income. The two main forms that apply to international students are the Form 8843 (for all students, filed by June 15) and the Form 1040 NR/NR-EZ (filed by April 15); IRS forms are filed once a year. For forms and more information on tax preparation and free tax filing, go to http://www.irs.gov/. IRS.gov has various types of free brand-name software that can assist you with the preparation and e-filing of your federal tax returns. Additional tax information regarding foreign students and scholars can be found at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Foreign-Students-and-Scholars.