When you arrive:Prepare to live in New York City
Now that you have your visa and planned your trip, all international students at NYU must make sure to take care of all these things once you arrive.
We hope you have a fantastic start at NYU!
1 - Complete Your Immigration Requirements
Complete the Arrival Form and submit your immigration information to OGS Online.
To complete the arrival form, make sure you have the following documents scanned:
- Passport
- Student Visa (either F-1 or J-1)
- I-20 or DS-2019
- I-94 record
- Your dependent's documents (if you have a spouse or children here with you as F-2 or J-2 dependents).
For detailed information visit this page.
2 -Add your US address and US Phone number to Albert
Update your US address in Albert . For detailed instructions, go to the Update Your Local US Address page. If you fail to update your US address, you are at risk of losing your lawful status in the US. Even if you are staying in a hotel, enter that address, then update your address again once you move to your new apartment or residence hall.
3 -Add Your US Phone Number to Albert, Accessible Through NYU Albert
For detailed instructions, go to the Update Your US Phone Number page. All international students are required to update their US phone number.
4 -Attend International Student Orientation at NYU GPH
As a new international student, it is mandatory to attend one international student orientation session.
The session you attend should correspond with the school that you are in that in your case is NYU School of Global Public Health (see Orientation activities).
During the session you will learn the basics of keeping legal in the US as an F-1 or J-1 international student, employment in the US, cultural adjustment and coping skills, US classroom culture, safety and security, and more.
5 - Open a Bank Account (If You Don’t Have Easy Access to Your Bank Account Abroad)
It is not advisable to walk around New York with a large amount of cash. You may wish to open a bank account when entering the United States. Check with a bank in your home country about the easiest way to transfer sums of money in U.S. dollars from home. There are several banks in the NYU area.
The items needed for an international student to open a bank account are:
- Passport
- I-20 form [F-1 students] or DS-2019 [J-1 students & scholars]
- I-94 Record
- NYU ID card
- Proof of Enrollment and Proof of US residential address
- NYU enrollment verification
- Stern Graduate, Law, and Dental students should go to their own school's Registrar Office.
➪Please note that a Social Security Number [SSN] is not required to open a bank account.
➪Notify the OGS if you are having problems opening an account.
6 - Get a Driver License or Photo ID Card
You may want to apply for a A) New York State photo ID card or/and B) New York City ID card.
- A) To learn more about applying for a New York driver license or state photo ID card visit the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
- B) To learn more about applying for a New York Photo ID visit IDNYC.
You don’t need a social security number to apply. It is free and it has many benefits such as free one-year membership to NYC’s top museums, zoos, and botanical gardens.
A valid driver license is required to drive a car anywhere in the US. New York State honors all valid foreign licenses.
If living in New Jersey, you should carry an International Driving Permit along with the valid foreign driver license. To learn more about applying for a New Jersey driver license, please visit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or for applying for a New Jersey non-driver identification card, visit here.
7 - Photocopy and Safeguard Your Documents
Photocopy your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, visa page, and I-94 information, AND photocopy all identity and other important documents you brought with you, or obtain while in the US. Store the copies in a separate location from the originals.
8 - Understand Your Health Insurance Requirement
Every international student studying at NYU is required to have health insurance plans.
If you have questions regarding health insurance, contact the Student Health Insurance Services at the NYU Student Health Center at 212-443-1020 or health.insurance@nyu.edu.
9 - Arrival Checklist
Use this Arrival Checklist to make sure you are ready for the semester to start!
