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Life in the U.S. 101: Topics to Cover During International Student Orientation
Note: Many of the tips and suggestions in this blog post pertain to schools that do not currently partner with Cambridge Network to manage their international student program. Included are several activities that you should cover with your newly arrived students. For Cambridge Network partner schools, these are responsibilities of Support Services Coordinators, staff who check in regularly with those partner schools and who are local to international student programs throughout the U.S. If a Support Services Coordinator is facilitating an international student orientation for your school, rest assured that the topics below will be covered and/or taken care of.
When an international student first arrives at your school, it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement of arrival and forget about some important steps that students need to take to settle into their new lives in the United States. Topics below should be covered within the first few days of an international student’s arrival at your school.
Cell Phones
Cambridge Network recommends that residential staff or host families bring students to local cell phone providers, where students can purchase pay-as-you-go plans to avoid entering binding contracts or paying hefty deposits. Cell phone providers can explain complex cell phone plans to students. A pre-paid plan still allows students to own a smart phone, and is the safest and most affordable option for their first time in the U.S. Some major mobile providers currently offer unlimited talk, text, web and international calling plans without contracts, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon.
Cambridge Network’s partner schools, whose students attended In-Country Orientations, may find that students will have arrived with cell phones and Cambridge Network SIM cards already. This is a service offered to Cambridge Network students only. Contact your Support Services Coordinator for more information on our student SIM card program and how to sign your students up for this service.
Banking and Financial Matters
To open a bank account, most banks require students to have one or two valid forms of identification and a local post address to receive mail. A passport and a school ID card are usually sufficient. At least $25 is usually required to open an account, and there will be a monthly service charge for the account unless a “minimum balance requirement” (as much as $500 or higher) is maintained. Students should be educated about the terms and conditions of opening a bank account. Banks often have “hidden” fees, so talk to students about ways to avoid them.
Not all banks require a U.S. Social Security number to open an account. However, bank services may be limited (no online banking, etc.) if students do not have a Social Security number.
Here are some guidelines for you to impart to your students about banking in the U.S:
Bank Account Types: The two main types of bank accounts are 1) checking accounts, which allow checks to be written for purchases and for paying bills, and 2) savings accounts, which offer a place to keep money and earn interest.
Hours: Most banks are open Monday through Friday from morning until mid-afternoon, and some are open also on Saturday mornings. Students may be unaware that banks are typically closed on Sundays.
ATM Fees: Upon opening a bank account, students will be offered a debit card to withdraw money from ATMs. Warn students about maximum withdrawal amounts and potential fees incurred when using a different bank’s ATM.
Bill Payment: Most people pay their bills online or with checks. Cash should never be sent in the mail to pay for a bill or for any other reason.
International Banking: Banks with international banking capabilities sell international money orders and receive deposits from banks outside the U.S. the best way to transfer funds to the United States is by electronic bank-to-bank wire transfer. Other methods of obtaining funds from abroad (e.g. money order, checks, etc.) can take two weeks or longer to process.
F-1 Visa Responsibilities
One session during your school’s international student orientation should be dedicated to a thorough explanation of students’ responsibilities as F-1 visa holders. For example, students must:
- Enter the country no more than thirty days before the program start date, and report to the school by the program start date, usually the first day of class.
- Maintain a full course load or receive prior authorization for a reduction from a designated school official.
- Leave the U.S. on or before the last day they are authorized for a reduction from a designated school official.
- Not engage in any unauthorized employment.
- Depart the United States immediately if expelled from the school that has issued the most current Form I-20.
Failing to maintain good standing could result in serious consequences and may affect students’ ability to remain in or return to the United States. For the most up-to-date information on F-1 visa regulations, please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, and The US Department of Homeland Security’s website for international students.
International Student Immunizations
While students are expected to submit full documentation of required immunizations prior to arrival in the U.S., school staff should be prepared that this will not always be the case. In some cases, it is impossible for students to satisfy a state’s requirements because of the time required in between successive inoculations. In addition, certain immunizations are not readily available in certain countries or regions. Schools should therefore prepare before the students arrive for the possibility of missing immunizations, and they should come up with an action plan for administering shots as needed. During international student orientation, staff may need to arrange for students to visit either an on-site health clinic or a local healthcare provider to administer remaining required immunizations. Please speak to your school nurse and do some research on nearby clinics.
Transportation and Domestic Travel
Students should be oriented to transportation options available to them in the school’s vicinity and cautioned about personal safety. International students are sometimes accustomed to making decisions independently and may have previously traveled long distances unaccompanied. Other students may need more direction and guidance.
Ensure that the students are aware of your school’s current student travel policies, especially if there are chaperone requirements. We recommend that schools use an official document to formalize student expectations about travel. A student’s natural parent’s approval should be obtained before he or she embarks on a trip without adult supervision.
