US Entry Checklist (After Acceptance)

**1. Documents

⑴ Admission Letter** (I-20; international F-1)

① Admission letter sent by the accepted school

② An I-20 is required to apply for the F-1 non-immigrant student visa, which is typically used by international students

③ The school usually includes the admission approval letter when sending the I-20

④ This document contains information about the school, program details, duration of study, school contact information, and signatures

⑤ The I-20 is usually sent to you by mail by the school

⑥ The SEVIS ID is printed on the left side of the received I-20

⑦ You need this SEVIS ID, starting with ‘N’, to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee on your visa interview day

⑧ Be sure to print the SEVIS I-901 payment confirmation for the visa interview

⑵ Visa and Green Card

⑶ Other Documents

2. Finances

⑴ Types of banks and opening an account

⑵ SWIFT Bank Identification Code (BIC) (swift code)

① The SWIFT Bank Identification Code (BIC) is a unique identification code assigned to a transaction bank’s intermediary bank or branch. It must be either 8 or 11 characters long.

② The structure of a SWIFT code: If you are unsure about the branch or head office code, you can omit it or attach ‘XXX’ when sending.

③ Kookmin Bank (ref)

○ English name of bank: KOOKMIN BANK

○ Address of bank headquarters: #26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeoungdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea

○ Bank SWIFT code (B.I.C.): CZNBKRSE or CZNBKRSEXXX

④ Industrial Bank (ref)

○ English name of bank: INDUSTRIAL BANK OF KOREA

○ Address of bank headquarters: IBK FINANCE TOWER FLOOR 16 JUNG-GU82 EULJI-RO

○ Bank SWIFT code (B.I.C.): IBKOKRSE or IBKOKRSEXXX

⑶ International Bank Account Number (IBAN, International Bank Account Number)

① Kookmin Bank (ref)

⑷ SSN (Social Security Number)

① Even international students can be issued an SSN.

② If you are on a fellowship, you cannot receive an SSN.

③ The process to obtain an SSN is complex and requires contacting the department office.

④ An SSN is required to obtain a credit card or loan.

⑤ One person cannot have more than one SSN.

⑸ ITIN

① Issued to foreigners who find it difficult to obtain an SSN, it’s a taxpayer identification number.

② Recommended to be obtained for tax processing in the U.S. for non-students as well, such as for Google AdSense.

③ Issuance methods:

○ By mail

○ Requesting through a U.S. accountant

○ In-person visit: You will be turned away if you don’t schedule an appointment in advance (ref)

⑹ Bank balance certification document

① Must be written in English

② The required amount for the financial certification can usually be found on the school’s website under “tuition and fee” or similar pages

③ You must have sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses

④ It must be in English, so it’s advisable to open a US dollar account

⑤ Types of financial certification: personal, government support, company support, school support (scholarships, RA/TA)

⑺ School finances

① Tuition fee: Many schools consider students by calculating and paying stipends after deducting tuition fees themselves.

② Stipend: In areas with a high cost of living (e.g., New York), stipends are relatively higher.

③ You can secure funds for self-funding your study abroad through internships, research positions, and job postings

④ The school requires students to enroll in mandatory insurance. If you have other insurance, you can apply for a waiver.

⑻ Tax filing

① Tax Reporting for Student Status (F-1)

② There are up to four tax filing periods in a year: many schools only file once on April 15th.

③ Must be done regardless of income status: A 14% reduction in ordinary taxes.

④ Schools usually provide free codes for tax services like Sprintax or other agencies

⑤ F-1, J-1 visa holders are eligible for FICA tax exemption and refunds

⑥ State tax refunds may also be possible in some cases

⑦ 2023 tax return (@ 2024 May)

⑧ Useful websites for graduate students regarding tax filing: https://pfforphds.community/4o7jihwn

⑼ Overseas Money Transfer Agent Registration

3. Lifestyle

⑴ Housing

① Housing contract is typical processed via online.

② Type 1. On-campus housing: It can be challenging for new students.

③ Type 2. Off-campus housing: It can be easily found by searching online.

○ Websites: Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, rent.com, Trulia, Apartments.com, RentCafe, RentLinx, Movoto

○ Must meet one of the following conditions.

○ Condition 1: US Phone Number

○ You can obtain a U.S. phone number only after arriving in the U.S., so you may need to borrow one from an acquaintance.

○ If you borrow someone’s number, the homeowner should be understanding, and you will be able to change the phone number after registering.

○ Often, a phone number is only needed for account registration, but there are times when direct communication is necessary.

○ International calls can also be made using WeChat, WhatsApp, Free International Call app, Text Plus app, Dingtone, etc.

○ Condition 2: SSN/ITIN Number

○ Unlike SSN, ITIN can be obtained even if you’re not in the US, but it can be time-consuming (e.g. hiring an accountant)

○ It’s possible to proceed without SSN/ITIN: just input any value and move on

○ Condition 3: VISA Card or Travel Wallet

○ Typically, a reservation fee or deposit is required

③ Class 1. Dormitory

○ Most graduate schools offer dormitory support for about 2 years

○ Schools like WashU do not provide dormitory support

○ Some schools like Stanford and Weill Cornell offer dormitory support for the entire duration

④ Class 2. Personal housing

○ Many students opt for shared housing, typically with 3 people in 1 room

○ Roommates are often found through social media platforms like Facebook

⑤ Class 3. Sublease and Takeover

○ Offers related to this are usually available through Korean associations and cohort e-mails.

○ Subleasing is common when you are away for an extended period, such as for long trips or CPT.

○ There could be legal issues: Subleasing without the landlord’s consent is generally illegal.

⑥ Effect of contract

○ Unauthorized subletting or bringing in others without permission can result in the lease being terminated by the landlord.

○ Leases can be automatically renewed.

○ Good apartments offer access control, a pool, a gym, parking spaces, laundry facilities, air conditioning, and a refrigerator.

⑦ Address

○ The U.S. primarily uses street addresses.

○ In the case of Korea, refer to the internet post office when investigating the English postal code.

○ In the case of New York, addresses are assigned starting with E (East) or W (West) centered around Central Park.

⑵ Grocery Shopping

① Large Grocery Stores: Groceries are quite affordable in the U.S.

○ CVS Pharmacy

○ Kroger: The Kroger app offers discounts on the prices of items to be purchased.

○ Meijer: The Meijer app allows you to accumulate rewards that can be used for discounts later.

○ Fresh Thyme

② Asian Markets

③ Korean Markets

○ Hyundai HMM: Rice, kimchi, frozen foods, ramen, snacks, and beverages can be purchased.

○ trader joe’s: You can find items like pancakes, hotteok, japchae, tteokbokki, kimchi fried rice, and bulgogi frozen food

○ safeway: You can find kimchi, Shin Ramyun, Neoguri, and Yukgaejang

○ vons: You can find kimchi, Shin Ramyun, Neoguri, and Yukgaejang

○ Walmart: You can find kimchi, Shin Ramyun, Neoguri, and Yukgaejang

⑶ Purchasing clothing

① Buying Used Clothing: Salvation Army, Good Will, and More

⑷ Purchasing Appliances/Furniture

① Furniture: IKEA, Amazon, Wayfair

② Appliances: Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Target

③ Secondhand Transactions: Facebook Marketplace, Habitat for Humanity

④ Transportation: Transport items yourself or pay an additional fee for delivery.

⑸ Barber Shop or Hair Salon

① Disadvantages of American hair salons: They are expensive, and the hairstyling techniques are not well-suited for the straight hair typical of Koreans.

② It is common to grow your hair out or purchase a clipper and manage it yourself.

⑹ Telecom Providers

① Types of Telecom Providers:

○ Verizon

○ T-Mobile

○ AT&T: Quite expensive

○ Mint: Affordable but with limited data usage

○ Sprint

② Telecom Plans:

○ It is usually cheaper if you sign up with friends.

○ Family plan: Get unlimited internet at a lower cost by bundling multiple lines.

○ If you have an unlocked phone, considering an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) can also be economical.

③ Internet

○ Xfinity is cheaper than AT&T.

○ The cost for using the internet is around $40–45 per month (after applying a $10 discount with automatic payment).

○ Xfinity offers a free modem rental for one year: After the first year, you can be introduced to another free modem.

⑺ Hospital

① Even without insurance, you can be charged around 300,000 KRW just for imaging tests; hospitals are so expensive that even drinking water can incur a fee.

② Even for pain relief, it’s common for hospitals to prescribe psychotropic medications.

③ If you find the billed amount excessive, you can negotiate with the hospital.

⑻ Korean community

⑼ Previous criminal record residence status

4. Military Service

⑴ If you go abroad for study without completing military service, you may need to return to fulfill your military obligations later

⑵ When fulfilling military service obligations while studying abroad

① You must report to both your department and the international center.

② Your F-1/J-1 SEVIS record will be terminated, and upon returning, you will need to obtain a new SEVIS record and I-20/DS-2019.

③ Returning students must spend at least one year before they can apply for CPT or OPT.

⑶ Military reserve

① Training that was scheduled before departure: postponed to the following year

② If you stay overseas for more than 1 year, training within 1 year before departure and after departure is exempt

③ If you stay overseas for less than 1 year

○ If you stayed in the country continuously for 14 days excluding the return and departure dates: training for that year is considered completed. Continuous overseas stay is acknowledged

○ If you stayed in the country continuously for 15 days or more excluding the return and departure dates: training for that year is considered incomplete and is postponed to the following year

○ Example: “USA → Korea for 14 days → Brief stay in the USA → Korea for 14 days → USA” - Training for that year is considered completed

5. Traffic

⑴ Driver’s license

① Serves as an official identification card in the United States.

② Secretary of State (SOS): It is recommended to make an appointment for your visit.

③ Required documents: Korean driver’s license, international driver’s permit, proof of address, passport, I-20, SSN or ineligibility letter.

④ On-site photo will be taken.

⑤ International Driver’s License: Valid for one year. Available for online issuance. To facilitate smooth operations, the number of licenses issued per day is limited to 350. A photo is required. Delivered by mail.

⑥ Unlike in California, if you already have a Korean driver’s license, you can obtain a U.S. driver’s license without taking an additional test.

⑵ Vehicle Purchase

① Used Cars are Commonly Purchased: In Texas, owning a vehicle is essential. However, in major cities like New York, where public transportation is well-developed, owning a car is not necessary.

② Many People Either Repair Their Vehicles Themselves or Opt Not to Repair Them at All.

③ When Purchasing a Used Car, It Typically Costs Around 6 Million Won, with an Additional Maintenance Cost of Half That Amount.

○ Maintenance Costs: Insurance (700,000-800,000 Won for 6 months), Property Tax (1 million Won per year), fuel costs, antifreeze, repair costs, and parking fees (rare).

⑶ Traffic Regulations

① They are generally quite similar to those in South Korea.

② Pedestrians have priority over vehicles, so vehicles must always stop for pedestrians.

6. Election

⑴ Subjective Requirements

① Overseas nationals eligible to participate in the election are categorized as follows into overseas voters and overseas absentees.

② Recently, restrictions on voting rights for permanent residents abroad have been discussed

⑵ Temporal Requirements:

① Overseas Voter Registration Deadline: Up to 60 days before each election day.

② Overseas Absentee Reporting Period: From 150 days to 60 days before each election day.

Input: 2023.02.24 08:18

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