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Information
for New and International Students
Here is some
information to make your transition to the United States, ICAR, and
George Mason University easier. The
students of ICAR welcome you to our community and look forward to broadening
our cultural perspective by getting to know you better.
The intent of
this information is to highlight the most common issues that international
students encounter in adjusting to life in the United States. Sometimes
these issues go pretty smoothly, but sometimes they can become quite
complicated, especially for someone unfamiliar with the rules and customs
of the country. GSCS is happy to answer your questions and to assist
you in any way possible. The tips given below might not cover every
situation, but we hope this information note and our modest assistance
will ease your transition to a new country and a new culture.
If you have
any questions, need assistance to complete an administrative operation,
or have a transportation problem, please feel free to contact your buddies,
GSCS, or the Office of International Programs and Services.
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The Office
of International Programs and Services (OIPS): OIPS has a helpful
checklist for international students who have just arrived in the
U.S. OIPS also has brochures and other information that you may find
useful. If you have not done so yet, we encourage you to stop at their
office (phone: 703 993-2970, location: SUB I Room 310).
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Visa
and Immigration: Students with student visas (F1 and J1) can get
help at OIPS regarding rights and obligations related to their visa
status. Students who have another type of visa or another immigration
status, may have to consult their embassy information.
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Social
Security Number and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number:
The Social Security Number (SSN) is virtually a universal identification
reference that you will be asked to provide on numerous occasions
(for example to open a medical file, for financial operations such
as opening a bank account or requesting a credit card, and in stores
when you pay by check).
SSNs are only issued to nonresidents (individuals who stay for a temporary
period of time in the United States for example for studies) who can
demonstrate that they will receive a salary, wages, or assistantship
money from a U.S. source. If you do not qualify for a SSN, you can
obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number that will serve
the same purpose as the SSN.
Useful numbers and Links:
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Identification
Document (ID), Driver's License, ID for non-driver: You will often
be asked to present an "ID", and usually what you are expected to
show is a driver's license card that has your picture and your social
security number. You may use your student ID card. But, it may ease
your life to get a non-driver ID, or if you plan to drive, to get
a driver's license from the state in which you live. Both Ids are
obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices. The state
of Virginia will not issue a Virginia driver's license on presentation
of an international driving license. You will have to pass the driving
test unless you are from Germany or Canada. The test is not difficult.
It includes a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a short road
test.
Some informative links to obtain IDs in Virginia:
To
apply for a non-driver ID
To
apply for a driver's license
Your
obligations if you have a car
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Funding:
Opportunities for jobs and other types of financial aid are quite
limited. They generally require perseverance and a good deal of networking,
and there are far more for international students than there are for
domestic. Start searches online with www.aicpr.org and www.conflicttransformation.org,
both of which have some links. Run further searches with keywords
relating to conflict resolution, regional interests (relating to the
Middle East, the Balkans, etc.) and/or thematic interests (religion,
terrorism, peace and reconciliation commissions, etc.).
Employment: There are some job openings for students
on the university campus, for which international students are eligible.
To be considered a student employee, one needs to be enrolled in at
least six credit hours at a graduate level. There also are a limited
number of Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) positions. Information
on how to apply is located in the information handbook.
Employment at George Mason
University
If you can work off campus, there are several list serves providing
announcements of jobs and internships related to the field of conflict
resolution. For information on how to subscribe, refer to the orientation
information booklet.
Financial Aid: OIPS
has little information on funding, but it has a few links to web resources
for funding for international students seeking to study in the United
States.
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Taxes:
If you receive an income and have questions about taxes, you can contact
the International Tax Coordinator. The phone number is: (703) 993-2952.
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Banking:
To open a bank account (called a checking account), you will usually
need to make a minimum deposit and maintain a minimum balance to avoid
monthly charges. Some banks charge a fee per check issued after a
certain number checks issued within the month. Some banks offer special
deals for students. For example, at the United Bank, located in the
Johnson Center, you can get a student account with no service charge,
no minimum balance requirement, no minimum opening deposit, and no
monthly maintenance fees. Apple Credit Union has a branch in campus
(Johnson Center) that also is very convenient for students.These banks
may be an easy place to start. Most banks will provide a debit card
that will allow you to pay in certain stores and withdraw cash at
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) from your checking account. ATMs
can be found on the outside of most banks, in grocery stores, gas
stations, shopping malls, 7-Eleven stores, and many other places.
Credit cards (Visa, Master Card, or others) are difficult to obtain
without a credit history in the United States. There is a nascent
credit union relating to us in the conflict resolution field, more
information for which will be put up here as it becomes available.
More information
on the US Banking System
United Bank General
Information
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Getting
a Phone Line: There are two sorts of phone companies to which
one can subscribe: the local phone company (for the basic connection
and local phone calls) and the long distance phone company (for calls
outside the state and outside U.S.). In Virginia, there is only one
local phone company; Bell Atlantic, which recently changed its name
to Verizon (http://www.verizon.com/home.html). There are numerous
companies that provide long distance service and the challenge is
to make a good choice. Usually, long distance companies offer a very
handy feature: a pre-paid card that allows you to call from any phone
outside of your home by dialing a toll-free number along with your
account code.
First step: Acquire a phone set. You can find it for
approximately $15.00 in stores like Best Buy, Staples, or any electronics
stores. and Office Depot.
Second step: Shop around for local and long-distance
carriers. There are several throughout the Northern Virginia/DC area.
These are some companies that offers competitive prices for calling
abroad:
Telegroup: Provides
long distance accounts and prepaid long distance services. Phone:
1-800-338-0225.
Presto Card:
Does not provide long distance, but a prepaid long distance service
that you can use both from home and outside; rates are really advantageous.
Sprint, AT&T, and MCI are the best known, but not the cheapest,
long distance companies. Prices tend to vary widely depending on the
country being called, and most convenience stores and markets will
have several.
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Health:
Student are required to have health insurance and are automatically
signed up in the university health plan upon enrollment at GMU. However,
students can obtain an exemption if they already are covered by health
insurance.
GMU students can see a nurse free of charge at the university clinic
in SUB I Room 232. For more information or to make an appointment,
call (703) 993-2830.
Link to GMU
Health Services
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Housing:
Information on housing at GMU is provided on the GMU
housing website. For off-campus housing, offers are announced
on FOCS's website. Occasionally,
you will find housing announcements through the ICAR Forum. Also check
www.washingtondc.craigslist.org and www.apartments.com.
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English
as a Second Language (ESL): GMU has several services whose goal
is to help international students with English.
The
Writing Center: The center offers the following free services:
one-on-one 45-minute sessions with a writing specialist, online writing
lab, one-on-one sessions with an ESL specialist, workshops on such
topics as documenting sources and grammar and punctuation, writing
handouts on a variety of subjects, and a library of handbooks and
writing manuals. The office is located in Robinson A114, and it is
open Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday 9:30 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. Contact: (703) 993-1200.
The
English Language Institute (ELI): The ELI offers a wide
range of services for non-native English speakers including free individualized
English language instruction to students who are non-native English
speakers. ELI office is located in Krug Hall 202 and is open from
8:30am-5pm. Contact: (703) 993-3660.
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Cultural
Life: The DC area is a cosmopolitan area where you will find quite
a large selection of activities. There two good sources to know what
is happening: - the Week-End section of the Washington Post every
Friday, - the City Paper, a free publication that comes out on Thursdays
and that you can find in many places such as the entrance of restaurants
and bookstores.
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