If you are an international student or an international moving to US for the first time, moving to a new country could be very stressful. Even if you know the language, connecting to a new community and adapting to an unfamiliar culture could be a daunting task.
Sheala Vast-Binder is the author of 10 Things You Need to Know: A Practical Guide for Internationals Moving to the U.S.
We have interviewed Sheala and she has answered few common questions frequently asked by international students moving to US for the first time.
Hi Sheala
It is a pleasure to have you on Studyn.us. Our viewers are prospective International students who might come to the U.S. for their education, and I am sure they will benefit from your book. I have gone through your book and enjoyed it. I would like to discuss some topics with you.
Study in US : You talked about weather in your book. Prospective students coming for the first time have no clue how severe the winters can be. What is your advice for them?
Sheala: One of the comments that I repeatedly hear from my International friends is that winter in the U.S. is far worse than they expected (and Saint Louis–which is in the middle of the country–is the farthest north that I’ve lived)! Because of this, I want to emphasize the importance of preparing for winter here, particularly if you are moving from a tropical climate to the Midwest, Northeast, or North. PLEASE don’t underestimate how harsh winter can be in these areas. Be prepared!
To help you, I have prepared a couple of worksheets on my website (www.shealavastbinder.info) so you can evaluate the climate where you will live and know what purchases you should make. Additionally, if you are moving to a northern state, plan to buy your winter garments early! In some parts of the country,snow can fall in late September! You do not want to be caught wearing flip flops and lightweight clothes in the snow!
Study in US: Most of the students who are in the U.S. don’t have a social security card or a credit history. How do rental laws affect them?
A: First, you don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to build a credit history in the U.S., although you do need to have a social security card or identification number (TIN). If a student plans to be in the U.S. for a lengthy period (more than a year or two), I would recommend applying for a social security card AND building a credit history. A good credit history will allow them to buy a car at a reasonable rate, get a lower price on their car insurance, and rent a nicer place to live, just to name a couple benefits. This article does a good job explaining how newcomers can develop a good credit history.
But, to get back to your question regarding rental laws, a student doesn’t need a social security card or credit history to be held liable to our rental laws, including rental contracts. If a student breaks a legal rental contract, s/he can be sued! If the judge votes in the landlord’s favor, then the student’s wages can be garnished (taken to pay back a debt) or his/her bank accounts and personal property, including a car, can be seized to repay the debt. That’s why I emphasize in my book that Internationals MUST read and understand the contracts that they sign. Pick the property where you’ll live with great care because you will not be able to easily get out of the lease. If an emergency happens and you must break the lease, talk to the landlord before leaving to see if s/he will write (yes, get it in writing) a rental termination agreement that you both sign. You may still owe money for breaking the lease, but the landlord may lower the amount because of your honesty, you’ll know ahead of time how much you’ll owe, and you won’t be sued for breaking the lease!
Study in US: Should International students who earn money through part-time gigs, and get paid through PayPal, file their taxes?
Sheala: This is such a difficult question to answer because of the personal implications. I know many International students struggle financially while they are here, and their visas can be quite limiting. However, I can tell you that I would always err on the side of caution when it comes to filing taxes. Failing to file taxes in the U.S. is a criminal offense and carries severe penalties, including heavy fines and imprisonment. In a student’s case, it could mean deportment.
According to the IRS guidelines, “There is no minimum dollar amount of income which triggers a filing requirement for a nonresident alien, including foreign students or foreign scholars. The dollar limit thresholds which trigger a filing requirement for a U.S. citizen or a resident alien do not apply to nonresident aliens. However, Notice 2005-77 provides that a nonresident alien whose only U.S. source income is wages is not required to file a U.S. federal income tax return unless his U.S. source wages exceed the personal exemption amount.” [emphasis mine] In 2013, the personal exemption amount for a single individual was $10,000 gross income.
For information on what money must be claimed as gross income, go HERE. If you still need help, contact your school’s International office or the IRS directly. The IRS’s website is pretty thorough but if you need to talk to a person, I have found the people to be friendly and helpful. (I know that I was nervous the first time that I called but, in fact, the conversation was confidential. The woman didn’t ask for any personal information.)
Study in US.: You have not talked much about health insurance. International students who come for the first time might not realize how complicated health care is in the U.S. What is your advice for them? What if they get sick and need a treatment which could be costly ?
Sheala: Even American-born students sometimes face this problem. Although many are able to stay on their parents’ insurance as students, some are not. And, as you can imagine, purchasing individual health insurance can be expensive!
Thankfully, many universities offer health insurance policies. These are typically mandatory, meaning the student must be enrolled with the school plan or have an approved plan for which they can get a waiver. Since this varies from campus to campus, it’s essential to learn what your campus requires.
When buying insurance that isn’t campus-based, ask these key questions: 1) Which doctors and hospitals are covered? 2) What exclusions and limitations does the plan have? and 3) Will the plan cover accidents and illnesses? Also, make sure that you understand the terminology used in our medical system, like deductibles, copayments, and maximum coverage. A list of these terms can be found HERE.
Medical care in the U.S. is both extensive and expensive! Make sure you understand the costs and benefits of your health plan before you arrive. Find out if your university has an on-campus medical clinic or a list of recommended doctors that might treat you at a lower cost (universities often do). You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you owe a lot of money for care that you desperately needed.
We will continue the discussion in 2nd part of this interview