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realtalk-princeton · 8 years

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International Student FAQ

Updated 7/7/18

additions: updated MAVNI to reflect ongoing challenges from Trump administration

The information provided in this FAQ was the most accurate I could find at the time of the last update. Some of it is based on my own experiences; much of it is based on research that I’ve done either for myself or other internationals. Recommendations, when I make them, are based on personal experience, and never commission or any other kind of monetary compensation. I just wouldn’t recommend a product or service I hadn’t personally tried and determined to be worth using.

I have made my best effort to ensure that the information contained in this FAQ is correct; however, there will naturally be errors and/or out-of-date information, so I encourage you to make an effort to verify any specifics either using the links provided, or Google. If you notice anything that seems wrong, please submit to let me know! I’ll be sure to amend it, and give you credit if you leave your name.

–Evan

Important Contact Information

Country code (if calling from outside the US) is +1. Area code for all phone numbers (3-digit number to put before the 7 digits) is 609. All email addresses should be followed by @princeton.edu.

Davis IC 📧 puvisa Mariyah Salem, Davis IC Director 📞 258-5006 📧 msalem Justine Levine, Rocky DoS 📞 258-7245 📧 justinel Amy Ham Johnson, Rocky DSL 📞 258-2652 📧 amyham Cecily Swanson, Mathey DoS 📞 258-7223 📧 cecilys Darleny Cepin, Mathey DSL 📞 258-8845 📧 dcepin Matthew Lazen, Butler DoS 📞 258-7140 📧 mlazen Deshawn Cook, Butler DSL 📞 258-1664 📧 deshawnc Jack Axcelson, Wilson DoS 📞 258-1929 📧 axcelson Garrett Meggs, Wilson DSL 📞 258-3281 📧 gmeggs Jaclyn Schwalm, Whitman DoS 📞 258-8093 📧 jschwalm Momo Wolapaye, Whitman DSL 📞 258-8145 📧 momo Rashidah Andrews, Forbes DoS 📞 258-7193 📧 rashidah Olivia Weiner, Forbes DSL 📞 258-4825 📧 oweiner

Other useful contacts:

National Visa Center, US Dept. of State (for visa questions) 📞 (603) 334-0888 (Mon-Fri, 7am-midnight EST) List of US Consulates and Embassies (for visa applications, information) 💻 usembassy.gov

Contents (use Cmd+F/Ctrl+F to locate)

Visas

Applying

Common pitfalls

Travel

Moving in/shopping

Finances

Bank Account

Transferring Money Internationally

Credit Card

Communication

Cell phones

Staying in contact with home

Mail

Employment and Visas

On campus job

SSN

ITIN

Taxes

Breaks

Reading Period

Intersession

Internships and Other Pre-Professional Activities

Paid

Unpaid

Health care

Health insurance

Routine physical health

Mental health

Prescription drugs

Vision and dental

Special financial need

Medical emergency

Public Transport and Driver’s License

Getting to New York

Getting to Philadelphia

Getting to Boston/Washington DC

Getting to Quaker Bridge Mall, Walmart

Getting your NJ driver’s license if you already have one from home

Getting your driver’s license for the first time

Parking and driving options

Where is the nearest…?

Family emergencies

International student life

Options after graduation

OPT

Grad school

H-1B

Marriage

Special visa classes

Visas

Applying: F-1/Canadians

The application process begins in mid-May when you receive your I-20. After you committed to Princeton, Davis IC should have contacted you to ask for the personal information they need to process your I-20. By mid-June, you should have received your I-20 by Fedex.

The next step is to pay the SEVIS fee, which you can do at fmjfee.com/i901fee. This allows you to be registered in the Department of State’s database for foreign students. The cost for F-1 students is $200, and you will be reimbursed for this by the University around August. Print proof of payment.

If you’re Canadian, that’s all you have to do – you just need to present your I-20 at the border and you’ll be admitted. If you’re from any other country, you will need to apply for a student visa.

The next step is to complete form DS-160, which you can do at ceac.state.gov/genniv. You MUST choose the correct Embassy/Consulate in your application form, as this cannot be changed after the fact. If you decide to complete part of the form and then want to come back to it later, remember to write down your reference so that you can relocate it when you return. For form DS-160, you will need a recent 2” x 2” photograph (to upload).

Once you’ve completed the DS-160, print it and proceed to your local US Consulate or Embassy website to complete the application for a visa interview. Here you will have to pay another fee – $160, which is nonrefundable even if you get refused a visa (you won’t). You may also have to pay for secure courier to ship your passport back to your home address after your visa is issued, but you do not need to print proof of payment for this. Schedule your interview, print the receipt for payment of the visa fee, and get ready for your interview.

At this point, if you haven’t done so already, you should find somewhere that takes/prints 2” x 2” standard US passport photos, and have them taken, as you will need two for your visa interview.

To your interview, you should bring the following: ¬ Your passport ¬ Form DS-160 ¬ Proof of payment of SEVIS fee ($200) ¬ Proof of payment of visa fee ($160) ¬ Two 2” x 2” photographs taken in the last six months ¬ Your I-20

You may also wish to bring: ¬ Proof of financial resources to attend Princeton (bank statements, financial aid award) ¬ TOEFL exam score if English is not your native language They may not request these things, but it is worth having them just in case.

By the time you get to interview, the visa issuance process should be a formality. They will ask you a few questions at most. Note, however, that they will keep your passport while the visa is being processed, and processing can take up to two weeks, so if you have other travel plans be sure to factor your visa appointment into those. You don’t need to worry about how you’re dressed when visiting the US Consulate, but note that family members/companions won’t be allowed to accompany you inside, so if you’re going with other people make sure they have somewhere to go while you’re being interviewed.

Depending on where you are from, you may have to pay one final fee to be issued your visa. This only applies to countries which levy a similar fee on US citizens who apply for visas to study there. The full list of such countries, and the applicable fees, is here -> travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html (click your country on the left sidebar, and navigate to F-1).

Common pitfalls and emergencies

¬ BEFORE YOU TRAVEL TO ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY (EVEN YOUR HOME COUNTRY), YOU WILL NEED A TRAVEL SIGNATURE. Bring your I-20 to the Davis IC and someone will sign it within 5 minutes. The signature is valid for one year, and allows you to travel outside the United States. ¬ You will need to have your I-20 every time you wish to enter the US. ¬ If you leave the US on break and forget your I-20, depending on how soon you’re traveling back to the US, Davis IC can have one overnighted to your address while abroad. Contact Mariyah Salem immediately on the number provided above. ¬ If you lose your I-20 but you’re still on campus and won’t be traveling in the next two days, send an email to puvisa (above) requesting a new I-20. It will be available for pickup at Davis IC within one business day. ¬ If you lose your I-20 and you’re traveling in the next business day, proceed immediately to Davis IC (Louis A. Simpson building) and inform them of the situation. If it’s after hours, call Mariyah Salem. ¬ If you go to the airport (traveling TO THE US same day) and you realize you forgot your I-20, you may be issued an I-515 on entry to the United States by the immigration official. This is valid for 30 days, so it requires further action on your part. Once you get back to campus, go immediately to Davis IC with your I-515 for next steps (you’ll need to submit it, along with a new I-20 and some other documents, to Customs & Border Protection). Please do this immediately – if you wait too long, you run the risk of losing status and being in the US illegally. Also, US immigration officials are under no obligation to grant you an I-515 at the border. You could just be denied entry because you don’t have the proper forms, although you should always try and convince the officer to give you an I-515 first. If you are denied entry, call Mariyah Salem immediately. ¬ If your passport is expiring soon, you will need to renew it at least 6 months before the expiry date. Davis IC may warn you about this beforehand. Also, once you get your new passport, please note that on future travel to and from the US you will need to carry both the expired passport with your visa in it, and your new passport. Some countries require you to submit your old passport in order to get a new one – make sure you specifically request to have your (canceled) old passport back, otherwise you’ll need to apply for a whole new visa.

Travel

The cost of travel to Princeton obviously depends on your place of origin. In my experience, the cheapest international airline tickets can be found on momondo.com. Kayak and Skyscanner are also fine, but they tend not to search as many airlines and travel websites as Momondo. If you have a specific airline you like flying with, you can also book directly with them.

If arriving by air, the most conveniently located airports with international air service are Newark (EWR) >>>> JFK > Philly (PHL).

Newark Airport’s major international airline is United (united.com). A number of foreign airlines also fly directly to Newark – a full list of airlines which fly to Newark, and the cities they fly from, is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Liberty_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations. To get to campus from Newark, take the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor (signed as AirTrain in the terminal) to Princeton Junction, then the Dinky to Princeton Station (beside the Lewis Center for the Arts and Forbes College). Easiest way to book is with a credit/debit card on the NJ Transit app, which also allows you to use a digital ticket – book your ticket to Princeton, NOT Princeton Junction! Cost is $19. Travel time about 1 hour.

JFK (New York City) Airport’s major international airlines are American Airlines (aa.com), Delta (delta.com) and Norwegian Air Shuttle (norwegian.com). Most major foreign airlines also have service to JFK. A full list of airlines and destinations is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations. To get to campus from JFK, take the AirTrain (signed from the airport terminal) to Jamaica Station, then take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Penn Station – tickets for this segment can be bought at the stations. Once at Penn Station, take the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor to Princeton Junction, and finally the Dinky to Princeton (book this segment on the NJ Transit app). Total cost 17 + 15 = $32. Travel time about 2.5 hours.

Philly Airport’s major international airline is American Airlines (aa.com). A small number of foreign airlines also fly to Philly – full list at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations. To get to campus from Philly, take the SEPTA Airport Line from the airport to 30th Street Station. At 30th Street, switch to the SEPTA Trenton Line (light pink) and get off at Trenton – DO NOT take the train to West Trenton, wrong place! Finally, take the NJTransit Northeast Corridor from Trenton to Princeton Junction, and at Princeton Jct switch to the Dinky which takes you directly to campus. SEPTA tickets can be bought at Philly airport; NJTransit tickets are best bought through the app. Total cost $15-16. Travel time 3+ hours.

Before breaks, students will often mail their res college listservs asking other students to split an Uber/Lyft to the airport (usually Philly or Newark). If other students happen to be traveling at the same time as you, this may be a relatively cheap and more convenient option. If you plan to travel to the airport by car, Newark and Philly are both about 45-50 minutes’ drive away (Philly slightly further). Uber/Lyft costs approximately $50-60 to both.

Moving in/shopping

As an international student, you won’t be able to bring many things with you (apart from stuff like electronics and clothes). If you have roommates who live close to campus, you might want to coordinate with them over the summer to buy furniture/TV/refrigerator etc. for your room, since they might be better able to transport these things to your dorm on move in.

You can buy things online and have them shipped to your Frist address ahead of time! Frist Campus Center is open all summer, so order what you need from Amazon a few days before you arrive for IO and it will be available for pickup when you get there.

Moreover, on IO you will have the chance to visit Nassau Park Blvd – which has a Walmart, Target and Best Buy – to buy some of the things you need and bring them back to campus.

To simplify things, I just made a shopping list of all the things you absolutely need to buy, along with a few optional things you might want to buy: ¬ Sheet set (preferably two) [Amazon] – look for ‘bed in a bag’ which includes sheets, comforter, pillow cases ¬ Mattress topper (optional, but worth buying; mattresses aren’t super comfy) [Amazon] ¬ Shower caddy [Amazon] ¬ Shower shoes [Amazon/Walmart] ¬ Towels [Amazon/Walmart] ¬ Laundry detergent (Tide), fabric softener (Downy) and dryer sheets (Bounce) [Walmart] ¬ Laundry basket [Amazon] ¬ Fan (if your room isn’t air-conditioned) [Amazon] ¬ Extension cords/surge protectors (two is good) [Amazon/Walmart] ¬ Water filter (e.g. Brita, optional but useful for storing water in your room) [Amazon] ¬ Hairdryer (if you need one) [Amazon] ¬ Bathroom essentials – shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, shaving foam and razors [Walmart/U Store] ¬ Book bag [Amazon]

For school supplies, see my/Sulpicia’s answer at realtalk-princeton.tumblr.com/post/175012344424/hi-prefrosh-here-very-overwhelmed-with-the-idea.

Finances

Bank Account

During International Orientation (IO), a number of major banks will have information desks at which you can sign up for a US bank account. You are strongly encouraged to do so, as this makes managing your finances in the US much easier, with no foreign transaction fees and a branch close to campus. You will also get a debit card (Visa or Mastercard) which you can use at ATMs, in stores and for online purchases.

The four major banks in Princeton are PNC Bank, Bank of America, Chase and TD Bank. Usually PNC and BoA are the two banks which market heavily to internationals, but you can open an account with any of these four banks without a social security number, simply by walking into a branch with your passport and PUID (prox).

All four banks have branches on Nassau Street. PNC is on Palmer Square, Bank of America is opposite FitzRandolph Gates/Witherspoon St, and Chase Bank is a little further down Nassau, opposite University Place (but still within walking distance). TD Bank, which just recently opened, is the furthest from campus, located beside the 7-Eleven/Post Office near the end of Nassau. However, if you are Canadian, you should consider using TD as they charge no fees for wire transfers from Canada. Also, TD has the most flexible opening hours, being the only bank that opens till 6pm on weekdays, and the only bank open on Sundays.

Unlike in other countries, customers of US banks are often charged fees: a) For actually having an open account, and b) For using an ATM that is not owned by their bank. Usually, the account fee will be waived because you’re a student. However, you will need to be careful with which ATMs you use in order to avoid those fees (for example, Bank of America charges $5 per withdrawal if you withdraw money from a non-Bank of America ATM). Therefore, the location of ATMs relative to your res college may influence your choice of bank: • Bank of America has an ATM at its branch on Nassau (close to Rocky), and in the basement of Frist (mid campus, close to Wilson and Butler). • PNC Bank has an ATM at its Nassau St branch (close to Rocky), one outside the U-store (up campus, close to Mathey and Whitman), and one inside Wawa (down campus, close to Forbes). • Chase and TD both have one ATM at their branches on Nassau (Chase is close to Blair and Joline Halls in Mathey).

Transferring Money Internationally

It’s possible to transfer money directly from a foreign bank account into your US bank account using your routing number and account number. However, most foreign banks charge a fee for this on their end, and almost all US banks also charge a fee for receiving an international wire transfer, usually between $20 and $35 (rip).

Although it’s a little slower, the cheapest and best way to transfer money internationally is using Transferwise (transferwise.com). You will get close to the market exchange rate, and fees are minimal (about 1%, which amounts to a few cents on a small transaction or a few $ on a large one). You can link your home country bank account (or your parents’) to your Transferwise account, as well as your US bank account, and electronically transfer funds from one to the other. The processing time is rarely more than 2 days – often you will have your money in your US account by the same day.

Transferwise is an extremely safe and legit service, but obviously treat it like you would online banking, and don’t use public wifi (campus wifi is fine) to manage transactions.

Credit card

You will notice that most of your American fellow students don’t carry cash, but use cards instead. Using cash is fine, and you can also use your bank-issued debit card in the U store/Wawa and at most other major stores in the area (except Nassau mom-and-pop places, like Small World Coffee and Bent Spoon). But if you want to learn to use credit responsibly, or plan to stay in the US and want to build a credit history, you should also consider applying for a credit card!

For international students, I recommend the Deserve Mastercard (deserve.com). You don’t need a social security number to apply – just scans of your passport, visa, I-20 and a US bank statement/screenshot of your bank balance. Pretty much everyone who applies and has money in their bank account gets approved, although initially your credit limit will be set extremely low (mine was $300). With responsible use, Deserve gradually increases your limit (mine is now $1500). Other benefits of the card are that it has no foreign transaction fees (so you can use it at home or while traveling), and they’ll soon be releasing chip technology which will mean it’s more widely accepted abroad. Plus, you get free Amazon Prime just for having the card (when you use the card to pay for your membership, they delete the charge from your statement, so it’s free).

As mentioned earlier, using credit responsibly is an important life skill, but this recommendation comes with a few major caveats. If you don’t think you’re a responsible spender, I would advise against getting a credit card, because it’s super easy to get carried away if you don’t pay close attention to your spending. Also, spending close to the limit (e.g. spending $290 on a limit of $300) actually hurts your credit score because it makes you look risky to lenders, so go easy when your limit is low. Never, ever spend more than you can afford to pay off at the end of the month, and always pay the full balance on your bill at the end of each month.

Communication

Cell phones

There are four major cell phone carriers in the US: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint (in order of largest to smallest). All four have towers in Princeton and will work across town, but some are better than others. Verizon and AT&T are usually considered the best networks in New Jersey (I have Verizon), and across the US in general. However, be prepared to pay more for your phone in the US than you ever did at home – US networks are some of the most expensive in the world.

The two biggest carriers will have desks at IO encouraging you to sign up for a phone plan. While you should definitely get a US plan eventually, I would encourage you to wait and shop around for a few reasons: • If you plan on bringing your own phone from abroad, not all of the networks will work with your phone (AT&T and T-Mobile work on almost all foreign phones, but Verizon and Sprint only work on certain ones). • Buying directly from the network instead of a reseller is usually more expensive. • These networks will try to sell you contract plans, which are basically loans, and usually require significant down-payments (between $200 and $300). For internationals, prepaid is much better.

First of all, if you’re bringing your phone from abroad, make sure it’s unlocked from your home carrier and works in the US. To verify if your phone works on the carrier you’re considering, visit willmyphonework.net and type in your model number and the network name/country (note that for iPhones, you will need the exact model number, which you can find etched on the back of your phone underneath “iPhone” – should say “Model AXXXXX”).

If you plan to buy a new phone in the US, IMO the best option is to buy it unlocked and directly from the manufacturer/Amazon/Best Buy. That way, you can also it use with your local carrier when you go home on breaks. Again, verify that the phone you are considering works on your US network of choice using the method above.

Now for the actual plans. For internationals, I recommend the following: • UNLIMITED DATA, BEST COVERAGE: If you have a Verizon-compatible iPhone, Visible (visible.com) is a great option. Costs $40/month for unlimited minutes, texts and 4G LTE data (up to 5mbps speed). Runs on Verizon network, so you will get the same great coverage as Verizon for $40 less than their unlimited plan. The unlimited data is also a great fallback for Princeton’s shitty wifi. You need an invite code to join – use 0EEDE.

• LOT OF DATA, WORKS ON ALL PHONES, GOOD FOR CANADIANS/MEX: AT&T Prepaid (att.com/prepaid/plans.html) is another good option – the AT&T network is great – and they have three plan choices. All plans include unlimited minutes and texts, and unlimited international text to over 100 countries. For $30 you get 1GB 4G LTE data, for $40 8GB, and for $55 unlimited data. If you’re Mexican or Canadian, you can use your plan allowances at home just as you would in the US, and text/call your Canadian or Mexican family and friends at no extra cost, so this is a great option for you.

• CUSTOMIZABLE, WORKS ON ALL PHONES: US Mobile (usmobile.com) was originally set up specifically for international students bringing their phones to the US. It runs on the Verizon (“Super LTE”) and T-Mobile networks, and you can choose which one you prefer; Verizon has slightly better coverage, but T-Mobile works on more phones. Plans cost anywhere from $10 to $75, depending on how much data/minutes/texts you want – it’s extremely customizable, so check the website. Customer support is excellent.

• CHEAPEST UNLIMITED TALK/TEXT, UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL CALLS, WORKS ON ALL PHONES: Running on the AT&T network, which has great coverage in Princeton and works on any unlocked 3G or 4G phone, H2O Wireless (h2owirelessnow.com/mainControl.php?page=planMonth) is a great option if all you want is unlimited minutes and text. All of their plans also include unlimited international text and unlimited talk to landlines in 50 countries (incl. Mexico, Canada, China, most of the EU and the UK). The cheapest is $20 a month for unlimited minutes/text, 1GB 4G LTE data, and unlimited international call/text.

• SUPER LOW COST, CHEAP INTERNATIONAL CALLS, WORKS ON ALL PHONES: If you don’t plan on using much data and want to keep costs down by relying on wifi, Ting (ting.com/shop/sim) is your best option. Their pricing model is similar to US Mobile; they charge a $6 base rate, and then you pay for what you use. So for example, if you only use 60 minutes and send 10 texts, you’ll pay total $12 that month. Big advantage: Ting does not charge extra to call and text more than 60 countries, including Mexico, Canada, China, India and the UK. Can be configured to use either T-Mobile or Sprint network; I strongly recommend choosing T-Mobile (“GSM network”) for both coverage and compatibility.

All of the above carriers sell sim cards which can be mailed to your Frist mailbox, inserted into a compatible phone and activated. You can normally pay your monthly bill using a US credit or debit card.

Staying in contact with home

Wifi is available across campus, so staying in touch via Facebook/Snapchat/Facetime/Skype etc. is super easy these days.

In order to make a phone call from any US phone to a foreign country, the dialing formula is:

011 + country code + local area code + local phone number.

E.g., to dial my old cell phone number in Brazil, it would be:

011 55 71 988027048

If you prefer making regular phone calls (I found this helpful with older relatives who don’t know how to use the internet), I recommend Rebtel (rebtel.com; download on App Store/Play Store). For $5-$10 a month (depending on the country), you can nominate one country – they have over 100 available, including all the major countries for international students except Nigeria – and get unlimited minutes to call any phone number in that country. You don’t need wifi! Rebtel will work through the app as long as you have a cell phone signal, and just uses your US network’s regular minutes.

Mail

All students are assigned a mailbox at Frist Campus Center, located roughly in the middle of campus. Around August, you will be able to retrieve your mailbox number and combination (to unlock) at princeton.edu/printing/mbcombo.html.

As an international student, this is basically your US address, so while many of your American friends might only check their Frist mailbox once or twice, you will likely have to do so more often. The formatting of your address is:

(Mailbox Number, e.g. 1111) Frist Campus Center Princeton, NJ 08544 USA (don’t need to include USA unless you are mailing from abroad)

As mentioned in “Moving in”, you can ship larger items to your Frist address, and pick them up at the package window located around the corner from the mailboxes. The package center is open 9am-9pm on weekdays, and 9am-2pm on Saturdays. Not open on Sundays, and hours during breaks vary, so call ahead (📞 258-1352).

For standard US mail, you can buy stamps at a number of places, including the U Store, CVS on Nassau, and the Post Office on Nassau next to 7-Eleven. Usually they’re sold in books of 20 for a cost of about $13 per book. To mail packages domestically, go to the Post Office. Address formatting in the US is:

[building/house number] [street name] [city], [state] [zip code]

To mail things internationally, you can use either standard US Mail (USPS) or one of the courier companies (Fedex, UPS). The USPS office is located on Nassau Street, about a 15-minute walk turning right out of FitzRandolph gates, and in the same building as the 7-Eleven. There are USPS mailboxes (blue boxes with rounded tops) at various locations across campus. The UPS Store is located on Nassau St, but if you want to ship things using a courier, the U store is usually cheaper.

Employment & Taxes

On-campus job

The F-1 visa entitles you to work for 20 hours/week on campus only, or 40 hours/week on breaks. You can work anywhere on campus; common first jobs for freshmen include the dining hall and the libraries, but explore the student employment website to find other available positions (princeton.edu/se). Please note that international students are ineligible for positions listed as Federal Work Study.

You are not allowed to work off campus. Tutoring area kids, being a college applications mentor, or working in any other capacity off campus is against the conditions of your visa and therefore illegal. Be careful, because the student employment website also lists off campus job opportunities; to avoid confusion, you can filter those out using the tools on the left hand side.

You can get paid for your on-campus job in one of two ways: by check (lol) or direct deposit to your US bank account. You can set up direct deposit through Tigerhub, using your bank account number. Then, when you get paid every two weeks, your paycheck goes straight into your account.

Social security number (SSN)

Anyone who works in the US, even at an on-campus job, requires a Social Security Number (SSN). Davis IC usually provides some support in applying for these, but depending on your schedule you may find that you have to go to the office by yourself (I did).

1) Go to the Student Employment Office in Morrison Hall to request an Evidence of Employment letter for your on-campus job. You will also have to have this letter signed by someone at Davis IC (Louis A. Simpson building, beside Woody Woo). 2) Download, print and fill out form SS-5 (ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf). The form also includes instructions on how to fill out each section, so read these carefully. 3) Gather documents, and also make copies of each (can be done at Firestone): a. Passport (for the copies, just xerox biographical page and visa page) b. SS-5, completed c. A print out of your I-94 (download from cbp.gov/i94) d. Evidence of employment letter e. I-20 4) Go to the SSA office in Trenton (635 S Clinton Ave; Uber ~$15 each way, check hours online), take a number, wait forever, then go to the window and submit your documents. 5) You should receive your Social Security card with your SSN within about two weeks.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

US tax lawyer: It is easier to get an SSN than an ITIN. Consider working for a semester to make you eligible for an SSN. Once you have it, even if you stop working it will remain valid.

ITINs function similar to SSNs, but are designed for foreigners who don’t have jobs but do have some other form of taxable income (your financial aid award, if it covers anything other than tuition, counts as taxable income). The best time to apply for one is during tax season, along with your tax return. You can print the application form from Glacier Tax Prep (explained below). The list of forms, and instructions for applying, can be found at tinyurl.com/yc8h9jjv.

Taxes

Word from a US tax lawyer (former intl at Princeton!): for the most up-to-date tax filing information, they recommend two IRS guides – the IRS webpage "Foreign Students & Scholars" and IRS Publication 4011. Also, complete your Glacier record carefully, to watch out for whether you are tax exempt (thanks to a tax treaty between the US and your home country) or owe no tax as you do not receive enough financial aid.

The only thing certain in life other than death!!! The annual tax deadline in the US is April 15, and if you have any kind of job or receive financial aid that exceeds tuition, expenses incidental to your education (books) – basically, if you have an aid award that includes housing – you will usually be required to pay taxes on those. However, a tax treaty between your home country and the US may exempt you from taxes; Glacier (the online tax filing system) will tell you whether or not this is the case when you input your country of residence.

Almost everyone will still have to file taxes, even if they don’t owe anything, and all international students must use Glacier to verify which forms they must submit.

If you receive financial aid for anything other than tuition and incidental expenses, you will be taxed on this each semester (the amount depends on how much aid you receive). Your tax bill for fall financial aid will be generated in January, and for spring financial aid comes out in May. You need to pay this bill up front, but you may qualify to have this tax refunded by the IRS when you file a tax return. If you are of limited economic means, the Office of Financial Aid offers loans to help cover the cost of this tax bill until you are able to pay it off. Contact them at 📧 faoffice.

Nonresident Tax Compliance and Reporting (NTCR) will email you around the first week of school asking you to sign up for Glacier Tax Prep (online-tax.net). Just answer all the questions truthfully and, when asked, you should say that you receive a “scholarship” (financial aid is considered a scholarship). You should also mention that you are employed, if you have an on-campus job.

If you have an on-campus job, around March NTCR will mail you your W-2, which is a little stub paper form that you should keep safe until tax season. If you get taxable financial aid, you will also be mailed a Form 1042-S, which you should also keep safe until tax filing time. If you lose your 1042-S, you can print a new one through Tigerhub.

Then, you can forget about Glacier and the forms until tax season comes around. Around mid-March, NTCR will contact you again asking you to file your tax return with Glacier. For this, it will be useful to have both Tigerhub (to see your on-campus job paychecks) and Tigerpay (to see your university bills) open. Log into online-tax.net using the same credentials you set up in September, and proceed through the steps – it’s very straightforward, and explains exactly what you need to do and where to find the required information. If you don’t have a job but receive taxable financial aid, Glacier will also print you a form W-7 to apply for your ITIN (see above). Remember that you must file a tax return even if you have no income (financial aid/on-campus job).

If Glacier states that you are eligible for a refund on your taxes, you can set up direct deposit inside the application at the time of filing. Carefully type in your bank account number and other personal information, because the IRS will only try once to deposit your tax refund to your bank account, and if the information is wrong then it is your responsibility to follow up with them.

At the end of the process, Glacier will spit out the forms you need to print, and you should print all of them and sign them where necessary. If you’re completing an ITIN application as well, you will need second copies of all these forms – don’t sign these second copies anywhere. Remember that you don’t need an ITIN if you already have a social security number; once you type your SSN into Glacier, it will know not to print you an ITIN application.

Take all the required signed forms, put them in an envelope addressed to the IRS in Texas (Glacier provides the address) and mail the forms. If you need help mailing the letter (buying stamps, formatting the address), see “Mail” under “Communication”.

If you were eligible for a refund, you should expect to receive it deposited to your bank account within 6-8 weeks. If your refund appears to be taking an unusually long time (more than 8 weeks), check irs.gov/refunds. Sometimes direct deposit doesn’t work, so they mail you a check instead – if this happens, you will be able to find out at the Refund website.

If you have an on campus job, since January 2018 you should be aware that the IRS requires you to complete a Form W-4, otherwise you will be taxed at the maximum rate of about 30%. You can generate your W-4 through Glacier; under ‘Relationship and Income’, select ‘Undergraduate Student (Wages) – Wages/Compensation’, and the system will spit out a W-4 that you should print, sign and return to 701 Carnegie Center, Suite 441B (Princeton, NJ).

Breaks

The major break periods at Princeton are fall break (a week in late October, early November), Thanksgiving (fourth Sunday in November; 5 days), winter break (mid-December to early January; 1 week), intersession (week between fall and spring semesters, late January/early February) and spring break (halfway through spring semester, week in mid-March).

If you decide to stay on campus during breaks, you are free to do so, and one designated dining hall remains open for students on campus on a rotating basis (for example, during last spring break it was Forbes).

Reading period

There are also two week-long periods a year – one each in fall and spring semesters – during which there are no classes, and students are able to work on Dean’s Date assignments (final assignments) and study for finals. The fall reading period is immediately after winter break, and some students choose to stay off campus for all or part of this week instead.

A small number of classes meet during reading period, and a similarly small number have exams or other required activities that take place during reading period. Thus, while it might be tempting to stay home and have an extra week of winter break, you shouldn’t make any travel plans until you’re sure what specifically each of your classes does during reading period. Also, keep in mind that it is easier to get help with Dean’s Date assignments if you’re on campus during reading period, so I would advise against staying off campus for all of reading week.

Intersession

Intersession is a week-long period between the last day of fall semester finals, and the first day of classes in the spring semester. A lot of students travel off campus during this time, but if you choose to remain, you can take one of several small student-led seminars (called Wintersession). Information about these are emailed to listservs around finals period.

Internships

Unpaid

If you are completing an unpaid internship during the summer in the United States, you do not need to obtain specific authorization from the Department of State for your activities, as you are not being compensated for them. However, receiving compensation of any kind from the organization at which you are completing the internship – such as a living expenses stipend, a travel stipend, or other funds – may be looked upon as gainful employment, and would be a violation of your visa. You will not be subject to these restrictions if you receive your living expenses stipend from Princeton (e.g. through SAFE). For this reason, you are advised to obtain a letter from your summer internship company explicitly stating that you did not receive any money for your services. Also, you are required to have the internship approved by your academic advisor, and it must be related to your major field of study. Make an appointment to do so as soon as possible.

None of these restrictions apply to internships completed outside the United States, both paid and unpaid (in such cases, the immigration laws of the host country apply). So international students are especially encouraged to pursue IIPs, HGC internships, etc. which take place abroad. You may even wish to look for opportunities in your home country.

Paid

The restrictions on paid internships are considerable, but it is still possible. Again, these specific restrictions only apply to paid internships in the United States. First off, because Princeton does not require an internship in order to graduate, curricular practical training (CPT) is not offered to undergraduates. You may hear of fellow international students at other schools using CPT; unfortunately, this is not an option for us.

You will therefore have to use some of your OPT to complete a paid summer internship in the US. Depending on whether you’re a STEM or non-STEM major, you may wish to consider whether it is worth using up your (limited) OPT during the summer or saving it for a job after graduation. You don’t need an internship offer to apply for OPT; therefore, if you think you’ll get a paid internship in the US for the summer, you should apply for OPT as early as possible. More information on OPT is available under “Options after graduation” -> “OPT”.

Whatever you decide, if you choose to take a paid internship, you will need to take the following steps: ¬ First, make sure your internship begins after the last spring examination, and ends before the first day of classes in the fall. This should be fairly easy, since you won’t want to miss finals or classes for an internship. ¬ You may apply no earlier than 90 days before the first day of employment/“OPT start date”. You may bring your forms to Davis IC no earlier than 95 days before the start of employment. ¬ Visit davisic.princeton.edu/immigration/current-students/optional-practical-training; proceed to section 16. Gather together the necessary forms listed there, including the required recommendation from your academic advisor. Follow all instructions about completing the forms carefully; mistakes WILL delay the process. ¬ Once you have all your paperwork, follow the steps in section 15 of the same page. ¬ Once your OPT is approved, go to Davis IC and collect your EAD (employment authorization) card. You will need this to begin work.

Deciding whether to use your OPT for internships or save it for post-completion can be difficult; you should therefore consult with both Career Services and Davis IC to talk about your options, preferably before internship applications are due (around mid-November onwards), so that you can make the right decision for your plans.

Health Care

Health insurance

The vast majority of international students sign up for the Student Health Plan (SHP), which is the University’s private health insurance. The cost of the insurance is $1,800 per year, billed at $900 a semester.

Most international students will probably qualify to have this fee refunded. However, you have to specifically request a refund – it won’t be applied to your student account automatically. You must download, print and fill out the SHP Financial Aid Request form (finaid.princeton.edu/policies-procedures/student-health-plan). You should then mail it to the address on the bottom of the form, or email a scan to 📧 faoffice.

Navigating health insurance in the United States can be daunting for a foreigner, even if the healthcare system is private in their home country. The first thing you should do when you arrive on campus is download and print your Aetna Health ID card (Aetna is the insurance company that provides the Student Health Plan). You can do this at aetnastudenthealth.com/en/school/686131/members/print-id-card.html, using your PUID number (printed on your prox) and your birthday. Keep a note of the membership number printed on the card (should begin with a W) – you will need this number and your card any time you interact with the health system.

The next thing you should do is sign up for an Aetna Navigator account (Google Aetna Navigator), so that you can manage your insurance claims online.

The full list of things your insurance covers is available at uhs.princeton.edu/sites/uhs/files/SHP-Summary-Guide.pdf. The basic model of the Student Health Plan is that you pay 20% of the final cost of whatever your healthcare procedure was, with a few exceptions. Some routine procedures and services (discussed below) are 100% covered, and some are 100% covered after you pay a copay.

There are some important insurance terms you should be familiar with while in the US: ¬ A copay is a flat fee that you pay every time you use a particular healthcare service. For example, if you have a regular doctor’s office visit, the copay is $10, which means you pay $10 at the office. ¬ A coinsurance is like a copay, but instead of a flat fee, a coinsurance is a percentage of the cost of your treatment. So for example, if you get a CT scan, the coinsurance is 20%, which means you pay 20% of the cost of the CT scan. You can also pay a coinsurance on prescription medications, every time you get your prescription filled. Typically this is no more than a few dollars. ¬ A deductible is how much you pay before the insurance pays. On the Student Health Plan, there are two deductibles. o The medical deductible is $200 (per year), which means that before you see any kind of doctor, you have to pay $200. In some cases, usually for routine non-emergency services, the deductible is waived, which means you only pay the copay. o The prescription drug deductible is $100 (per year), so if your doctor prescribes you e.g. an antibiotic that isn’t free at the pharmacy, you will pay $100 if the drug costs more than that. Otherwise, you’ll pay out of pocket. You only pay your deductible for each service once per year. So if you see six doctors in a year for different things, you will still only pay $200 + copays. If you get three prescriptions in a year, the cost is still $100 + copays. ¬ An out-of-pocket maximum is the maximum amount the insurance will allow you to pay in a year. Above this, all remaining medical debt is written off. The SHP out-of-pocket maximum is $5,000, which means that no matter what happens – even if you have a major operation, need care for a chronic condition, get in a car accident – the most you will pay for health care in a year is $5,000.

When you arrive at any healthcare facility, as mentioned earlier, you should have your Health Care ID card with you. In an emergency, if you have your student ID or have a social security number and know it from memory, the hospital will be able to look up your health insurance for you. Then, all medical services rendered will be reported to your insurance.

Routine physical health

McCosh/UHS (beside Frist) provides a lot of services free of charge, including many shots, STI tests and doctor’s office visits. However, some immunizations provided at McCosh are not free, and you will need to get reimbursed for them by your insurance. The cost of the shot can be paid for by credit card or using your student account, and at the time of payment you will be given a form and a return envelope to mail your reimbursement to the Aetna claims office in Texas. Mail as soon as possible, and you will receive a reimbursement check within 3-4 weeks.

To see any kind of doctor off campus (except in an emergency), you will need a referral from McCosh. Make an appointment to see a provider at UHS, and discuss your health concern with them. If it’s a mental health concern, you will need to specifically see a Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) provider – more info under “Mental Health”. Once you’ve received your referral, bring your printed health insurance card and your payment method (most doctor’s offices take card) to the doctor’s office.

Mental Health

Mental health services are coordinated by CPS. In order to see a counselor, therapist or psychiatrist on the student health plan, you will first need to have a CPS intake meeting (book online), during which you can talk about what has been bothering you. Based on your answers to their questions, the counselor will explain whether you would be best suited to seeing a CPS counselor every two weeks, or a private therapist (covered by insurance) in the Princeton area.

If you are referred to the CPS counselor, you don’t need to worry about insurance. If you are referred to a private therapist or psychiatrist, you will have a meeting with a CPS insurance coordinator, who will walk you through the steps to connecting with a private therapist and/or psychiatrist through your insurance (SHP). You will be encouraged to use an “in-network” provider – this just means someone who has a special agreement with the insurance company. For example, in-network therapists have a $20 copay, and the deductible is waived. In-network psychiatrists have a $10 copay, but the deductible is not waived.

Prescription drugs

If you have existing prescriptions from home, bring evidence of those (including the pill/medication packaging if possible) with you to the US. Make an appointment to see a McCosh doctor as soon as possible, and they will walk you through getting the prescription duplicated (where possible) in the US.

As mentioned above, the prescription drug deductible on the SHP is $100. This means that for your first prescription drug fill of the year, if the drug costs more than $100, you must pay a flat $100 fee – be prepared to pay it there and then in the drug store! Otherwise, you pay out of pocket – e.g. for a generic drug costing $5, you will pay the $5 instead of the $100. Plus, this $5 will count toward the deducible, so it will now be $95. Once you’ve paid the $100 deductible, you will not pay this fee again the rest of the year. Each time you fill a prescription, you may also pay a coinsurance, which can range from $1 right up to $20 (rarely more). So you should always bring cash or a card with you to the pharmacy.

Most Princeton students get their prescriptions filled either at the U Store or CVS on Nassau. There is no meaningful difference between them; your doctor will ask where to send the prescription, so just choose the one more convenient for you. Some older doctors just give you the prescription pad tear-out, which you need to bring with you to the pharmacy of your choice for a fill.

Vision and dental

The University also provides optional vision and dental insurance. The vision plan is provided by VSP and costs $74. The dental plan is provided by Cigna Health and costs $76. At the time of signing up, you will be asked to choose a dentist/optometrist in the Princeton area to be your provider – Google “optometrist Princeton” or “dentist Princeton” to find one with good reviews. The cost of both insurances is billed to your student account. Full details of what both plans cover can be found by googling “Princeton dental plan” or “Princeton vision plan”.

Special financial need

A number of funds are made available to students who, even while insured, have difficulty meeting the supplemental costs of their health care. Of these, the most accessible is the Special Needs Fund, which covers health related expenses up to $300 per year, depending on your level of financial need. To request support from the Special Needs Fund, email Anne-Marie Feury at 📧 snfund.

There are also a variety of other funds available to cover specific health care issues, or to help with costs in an emergency. The best-known example is the Deans Emergency Fund (📞 258-3054). For other resources, contact McCosh (📞 258-3141).

Medical emergency

In a medical emergency, call 911. If you are the person experiencing the emergency, you will be taken to the appropriate urgent care facility for triage and treatment. Under these circumstances, you may not have access to your health insurance card – a social security number, or your PUID usually suffices.

If you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to notify your next of kin, your Director of Student Life will do so for you.

Emergency care in the US can be expensive, especially the ER, but this should not dissuade you from calling for help if you need it. There are always resources available to help students of limited financial means cover their health care costs.

Public Transport and Driver’s Licenses

Getting to New York City

NJ Transit is the best way to get to New York City. You can buy tickets from Princeton to New York (Penn Station) on the NJ Transit app with a credit/debit card, or with cash at the Dinky station beside Forbes. Penn Station is located below Madison Square Garden on W 34th Street. There is a subway station for intra-city transit. Cost is $17 one way.

Megabus (megabus.com) is an alternative, providing bus services from Princeton (Palmer Square) to the Port Authority Bus Terminal between 40th and 42nd Streets, next to Times Square. If you travel outside peak time, the bus tickets cost as little as $1, but travel time depends on traffic and is often slower than the train.

Getting to Philadelphia

The cheapest and most convenient way to get to Philadelphia is by taking the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor to Trenton, and then connecting to the SEPTA Trenton Line which can take you to 30th Street/Suburban/Jefferson Stations in Center City (get off at the one closest to your final destination). The travel time is usually 1.5-2 hours, and the trip costs $7.

Getting to Boston/Washington DC

To get to Boston, take the train or bus to New York City (see above), then take a separate bus to Boston. A number of providers offer buses from New York to Boston, including Peter Pan, Go Bus, Megabus, Bolt Bus and Greyhound. Use Wanderu (wanderu.com) to find the lowest fare.

To get to Washington DC, you have two options. You can take the train to Philadelphia and connect to a bus from there (check Wanderu for prices), or you can take the OurBus (ourbus.com) directly from Hamilton Township, which is a 17-minute drive from Princeton (use Uber/Lyft). The cost of the bus from Hamilton is usually about $20.

Getting to Quaker Bridge Mall, Walmart

The University runs a Weekend Shopper to Walmart. It’s free for students, and goes to both Nassau Park Blvd (which has a Walmart, Wegmans, Target, Best Buy, Dollar Tree etc.) and Trader Joe’s. Schedule is available at transportation.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/S-Weekend_Shopper.pdf.

To get to Quaker Bridge Mall, or Nassau Park Blvd on a weekday, the best option is the 605/610 NJ Transit bus line. The bus picks up passengers at the intersection of Witherspoon and Paul Robeson Place (about 2 minutes’ walk out of FitzRandolph Gates) and also opposite Wawa/Forbes. It stops at both Nassau Park Blvd (Walmart) and Quaker Bridge Mall. The cost is $1.65 one way (bring exact change, because they don’t give change) and the schedule is available at njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0605.pdf.

Getting your NJ driver’s license if you already have one from home

If you already have a driver’s license from your home country, you may be able to convert this to a New Jersey Driver’s License depending on your country of origin. If the country/territory which issued your driver’s license is a member of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic (list at treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/MTDSG/Volume%20I/Chapter%20XI/XI-B-1.en.pdf), your license will be considered proof of driving experience, and can be used to obtain a New Jersey Driver’s License, as long as you also pass the knowledge and vision tests (see Google for practice/sample questions). Please note that if your license is not in English, it will need to be translated by a DMV-approved translator.

Follow the instructions at state.nj.us/mvc/drivertopics/noncitizens.htm to obtain your license. To apply for a license at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), you will need to meet their 6-point ID requirements. This just means you need to bring multiple forms of identification with you to the office. You can use the MVC’s online tool to help you select the appropriate forms of ID to bring with you -> state.nj.us/mvc/license/docselector/index.htm.

The nearest MVC to Princeton is located in Trenton at 120 S. Stockton & Front St. It is open Mon-Fri from 8:00am-5:30pm (except Wednesdays, when it opens until 7:30pm), and on Saturdays from 8:00am-1:00pm.

Getting your driver’s license for the first time

New Jersey allows noncitizens on student visas to learn to drive in the state, and obtain their license. The instructions are located at state.nj.us/mvc/license/initiallicense.htm, and the basic process for students aged between 18-21 is: ¬ Get an examination permit at the MVC (address above); to receive one, you will need to pass a knowledge and vision test, and pay $10. Practice questions for the knowledge test, and the full New Jersey Driver’s Manual, are available online. ¬ Practice supervised driving for 6 months (the full list of rules for this is available at the above link) ¬ Take the road test. New Jersey’s road test is actually one of the trickier ones in the US, so don’t expect it to be super easy. ¬ Practice unsupervised driving for another year. ¬ Receive your full unrestricted driver’s license after paying $20. If you are over 21, you only need to practice for 3 months before you take the road test.

Parking and driving options

Parking on campus is extremely restricted, and unless you have a compelling need (e.g. medical condition), you will not be able to park your car on campus. It is also very difficult and expensive to find parking elsewhere in Princeton.

Luckily, there are car share services available on campus. Enterprise Car Share is one option, and has vehicles across campus. The sign-up fee is $20, the annual membership fee is $40, and the pricing per hour of use is competitive. More at enterprisecarshare.com/us/en/programs/university/princeton.html.

Where is the nearest…

(All Uber/Lyft prices are one-way)

…Social Security Administration? Trenton, 635 S Clinton Ave (Uber $15-20). ...Motor Vehicle Commission (DMV)? Trenton, 120 S. Stockton & Front (Uber $15-20). …Walmart? Nassau Park Blvd (NJ Transit 605/610 bus, $1.65. Uber $10. Tiger Transit Saturday Shopper, free – Sat/Sun only). …Emergency Room? Penn Med–Princeton Medical Center (Tiger Transit Forrestal Line, free. Emergency call 911). …mall? Quaker Bridge Mall (NJ Transit 605/610 bus, $1.65. Uber $15-20) – or Marketfair, which is smaller (605/610 bus. Uber $10). …post office? 259 Nassau St (walking distance from campus). …fresh food market? McCaffrey’s, 301 N Harrison St (Uber $7-8; walking distance but far). …pharmacy? U Store or CVS, 172 Nassau St (both walking distance) ...USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services) field office? Newark, 970 Broad St (NJ Transit ~$15) …barber/hair salon? Mike’s, Nassau Barbers and Princeton Barbers are all on Nassau. Nassau Barbers is good for Asian hair – ask for Tommy (Wed–Sat). Theo’s (Nassau St) an option for women – Jade is supposedly good with natural black/African hair. …major movie theater? AMC Marketfair (605/610 bus, $1.65. Uber $10). …consulate for my country? Newark by NJ Transit train – Ecuador (400 Market St), Colombia (550 Broad St), Portugal (1 Riverfront Plaza). Elizabeth by NJ Transit train – El Salvador (400 Parker Rd). New York City by NJ Transit or Megabus – all other countries (full list at embassypages.com/city/newyork).

Family emergencies

Having a family emergency as an international student can be scary, especially because you’re so far from home and busy with responsibilities on campus. In the event that you need to travel home, whether you will be missing exams, classes or both, you should immediately contact both your DoS and your DSL (email addresses and phone numbers are listed at the top of this FAQ). Depending on the nature of the emergency, they may be able to arrange alternate dates for missed classes, make up work, or make up exams.

Make sure to support yourself using all of Princeton’s resources before, during and after an emergency. Consult with CPS, your DSL and your RCA for advice.

International Student Life

A little over 10% of the student body at Princeton is international, so you’re in good company! There are a lot of organizations which cater to different ethnicities and nationalities on Princeton’s campus, so be on the lookout for such organizations during the extra-curricular fair, and at odusapps.princeton.edu/StudentOrg/new/directory.php (filter by cultural). Among these are Princeton Latinos y Amigos (PLA), Canadian Club, a variety of societies for students from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, societies for almost all major East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, the African Students Association, Tigers for Israel, Arab Society of Princeton, the South Asian Students Association, societies for most Western European countries, and more. Also, Davis IC holds a number of events for international students throughout the year, and information sessions on a wide variety of topics relevant to the international experience. Be sure to join their listserv!

Options after graduation

The bad news here is that remaining in the United States is difficult for anyone, even Princeton graduates. The good news is that you still have options. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, nor does it purport to be any kind of legal advice. As an international student on an F-1 visa, you technically agree to leave the United States after your visa expires, and immigrant intent is officially not permissible. If you are serious about staying in the US after graduation/OPT, please consult an attorney.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

**Davis IC holds several information sessions specifically covering OPT. You are encouraged to attend if this is something you are considering.

If you have not used all of your OPT on summer internships, you are eligible to remain (working) in the United States for a period of time after graduation. However, you must apply for this. Before you do so, you should be aware of a few things:

¬ You do not need to have a job offer in order to apply for OPT, however you may not be unemployed on OPT for more than 90 days, otherwise your status automatically expires and you will have to leave the US. ¬ The position you take while on OPT must be directly related to your field of undergraduate study. ¬ Non-STEM majors are allowed 12 months’ OPT before they have to leave the US. STEM majors are eligible for a 24-month extension, and therefore may remain in the US for up to 36 months after graduation. However, you must apply for this extension separately. For a list of majors considered STEM by USCIS, visit ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2016/stem-list.pdf.

For graduating seniors, you should apply for OPT no earlier than 90 days before commencement, and no later than 60 days after. However, it is recommended that you apply as early as possible, as it can take USCIS some time to process your application.

Instructions for applying are available at the Davis IC website (davisic.princeton.edu/immigration/current-students/optional-practical-training). Follow the five steps under section 15. This checklist of forms required for application – davisic.princeton.edu/sites/davisic/files/opt_checklist.pdf – also explains the steps to application, and may be easier to follow. Details about each form listed are as follows: ¬ OPT Advisor Recommendation Form is a form recommending post-graduation employment which must be completed by your Academic Advisor or Director of Studies. You can download/print the form at davisic.princeton.edu/sites/davisic/files/opt_advisor_recommendation_form.pdf. ¬ OPT Student Certification Form is a form requesting OPT which you personally must complete and submit to Davis IC along with your other documents. It can be downloaded and printed from davisic.princeton.edu/sites/davisic/files/opt_student_certification_form.pdf. ¬ Form I-765 is the general application form for employment authorization in the United States. The form, along with instructions for its completion, is at uscis.gov/i-765.

If you wish to apply for the STEM extension, you must apply no earlier than 90 days before the end of your first 12 months, and no later than 30 days before the end. The instructions for application are clearly listed at davisic.princeton.edu/immigration/current-students/24-month-stem-opt, under section 5.

Grad school

Depending on your post-graduation plans, grad school/professional school may also be an option for you. The first organization to consult about this would be Career Services, but beyond that, powerscore.com/gre/help/international.cfm has a pretty comprehensive guide to the application process for international students. You should also contact your Director of Studies, and your Academic Advisor.

For professional schools, such as law, medical or business school, while options are limited, they do exist. In particular, MD-PhD programs often welcome students from all over the world, offering fully-funded positions (however, you should not pursue an MD-PhD program just because of the funding opportunities). For medical school, a number of top institutions also offer scholarship opportunities open to internationals – including UCLA’s Geffen Scholarship, and Stanford’s Knight-Hennessey Scholarship (the Knight-Hennessey Scholarship provides funds for any postgraduate course of study, including business and law school!).

As a grad student, you will have to renew your F-1 status with your new school.

H-1B

By far the most common visa class granted to international graduates of US colleges and universities is the H-1B. It has been under considerable attack by the Trump administration, demonized as a back door for lower-cost foreign tech workers (particularly Indians) to replace their US counterparts. But it is the visa class on which most industries rely to employ skilled foreign workers. Please note that H-1B is a temporary visa, and does not offer a path to permanent residency or citizenship.

H-1B requires a job offer, so you will need to have begun your employment search while at Princeton, or be working for a US employer under OPT who is willing to sponsor you for a H-1B. H-1B visas are issued on a lottery basis, with a maximum of 68,000 being granted to people with Bachelor’s degrees each year. Your employer should support you with the application process, but there is no guarantee that you will win the visa lottery even if you are qualified. Your employer is also required to pay you the ‘prevailing wage’ for your position, which means they are not legally allowed to pay you less than what they would pay a comparable US employee doing your same job (which is why Trump’s complaints about the program are mostly bogus).

The informational guide at immi-usa.com/h1b-visa-process-top-filing-tips-for-approval/ is a useful introduction to the H-1B.

Marriage

This feels like a silly addition to an international student FAQ, but marriage is by far the easiest way to remain in the United States after graduation. As long as they have no disqualifying characteristics, such as a criminal record (which, as an international student, you shouldn’t), almost all spouses of US citizens are eligible to apply for green cards to remain in the US, and can apply for citizenship after just three years’ continuous residence.

If you have an American s/o who you plan to stay with after graduation, while marrying out of college is obviously pretty early and a big decision, it is definitely something you should discuss. But if you’re considering a marriage of convenience (otherwise known as a green card marriage, or one in which the primary purpose of the relationship is to secure permanent residence for the noncitizen spouse), take a look at this description of the penalties for marriage fraud linkedin.com/pulse/immigration-marriage-fraud-laws-penalties-ilona-bray-jd-cheryl-king. Don’t do it!!!

Special visa classes

There are a number of unusual, but nonetheless valid, classes of visa issued by the United States CIS, which you may which to consider if you are eligible.

¬ Diversity (Green Card) Lottery: people born in certain countries are eligible to apply for an annual lottery in which they may be selected for a green card. The application period is around October/November, and results come out in May. The application is free. If you are eligible, you should definitely try it because you have nothing to lose. Remember that eligibility is determined by the country where you were born – your citizenship/nationality doesn’t matter. (So if you’re British but were born in Togo, they consider you Toglose!). Application information at dvlottery.state.gov

¬ TN for Canadians and Mexicans: established by NAFTA, allows you to work in the United States on a prearranged basis for US or foreign employers. TN’s can theoretically be renewed indefinitely. You must be a member of one of several professions to be eligible. Moreover, the eligibility requirements for Canadians differ from those for Mexicans. More at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/visas-canadian-mexican-nafta-professional-workers.html.

¬ EB-2 NIW for doctors: if you manage to go to med school in the US, or go elsewhere in the world and then obtain your ECFMG (certification of a foreign medical graduate), after your residency (which you typically must complete on a H-1B), you can apply for a special class of green card which, after 5 years, allows you to become a citizen. However, you must agree to work as a health care professional in a medically underserved area, usually for a period of 5 years. More at uscis.gov/greencard/physician-NIW.

¬ H-1B for Chileans and Singaporeans: if you are from Chile or Singapore, you have a special allocation of H-1B visas which, thanks to the small populations of both Chile and Singapore, means you will almost always be granted an H-1B if your employer applies for one (even with the lottery). Lucky you!

¬ H-1B for health care workers: if you have a job offer in a health care industry, you are exempt from playing the H-1B lottery – the number of visas the USCIS will issue is unlimited for health care workers.

¬ E-3 for Australians: the US and Australia have a bilateral agreement which makes the movement of immigrants between the two countries much easier. If you are an Australian national, and you have a job offer in a specialty occupation, you can apply for an E-3 which, while temporary, can theoretically be extended an unlimited number of times. It’s basically an Australian TN. More at uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/e-3-certain-specialty-occupation-professionals-australia.

¬ MAVNI for doctors and language/cultural specialists: (7/7/2018: President Trump is making efforts to obstruct and potentially gut this program, so be aware before applying). If you are prepared to serve in one of the US Military’s branches, and have a clean bill of health, you should consider the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program. The program is open both to doctors with specialties desperately needed by the military, and to those with special language skills who can work as translators and cultural intermediaries. You must commit to serve for a period of time in one of the branches (varies), but you will be granted citizenship within months of enlistment. More information is available at citizenpath.com/mavni-program.

¬ O-1 for the extraordinarily talented: if you have a documented special talent that may entitle you to stay in the United States, you could be eligible for the O-1 visa. This is the visa usually issued to foreign artists, musicians, actors, famous academics etc. If you qualify for this, however, you probably have a team of lawyers who have already told you!

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