US Tips For International Students

Embarking on a journey as an international student in the US can be daunting and yet thrilling to seek educational enrichment and rich cultural experiences. Below are some tips and considerations to help you as your international journey to the US:

·      Make a Budget: Living costs can vary widely across US states. Generally, living in urban areas is more expensive than living in the suburbs or in smaller towns. Factors to consider are renting on or off campus, meal plans/groceries/eating out, traveling by public transport or car, and other personal spending. A few resources to help estimate your living costs can be Livingcost.org, Numbeo, Expatistan, and NerdWallet.

·      Develop Your Language Skills: There are many English-language resources to help improve your English-speaking skills such as online tutorials, podcasts, TV shows, and movies. These include English-language classes offered at institutions, downloading English-language apps such as Duolingo or Busuu, listening to English-language podcasts like the British Council’s LearnEnglish podcasts, watching English-speaking TV shows/movies, changing your computer’s default language to English, making friends with American students, reading an English version of a well-known book you know, and/or carrying a pocket dictionary.

·      Join a Society or Club: Universities offer many clubs and organizations to join, ranging from interests in sports to professional development. The benefits of clubs/organizations include meeting new people, finding friends to help adjust, explore your interests, learn new things outside class, discover new hobbies, networking, building your resume, and improving your English.

·      Immersing in Culture: Learning about and adjusting to American culture can be challenging for most international students, such as dealing with culture shock. There are several ways to help you prepare for such immersion. These include researching on US social norms to make friends easier and avoid cultural misunderstandings, having an open mindset to embrace diversity and learn from those diverse perspectives, visiting restaurants/other local attractions such as trying out new food or visiting a national park.

·      Build a Strong Network of Support: Admissions office or international student offices at your institution and taking part in orientation at the start of your program are great places of support. Other forms of support include new friends, academic advisors, and/or counselors. Many schools have counselors and therapists, trained to work with international students. And getting involved socially on-campus life, which can include joining organizations/clubs.

·      Familiarize Yourself with Local Laws: Any kind of infraction with the law can affect your legal status in the US. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the laws of your desired city and avoid future problems. These include following your visa conditions as there are several conditions to be followed (depending on your student visa category) to maintain your student status, such as academic requirements, how many hours per week you can work, etc. These also include knowing your rights as a non-immigrant visa holders (including F, J, H-1B, and O-1 visas) have certain constitutional rights in the US when confronted by authorities and complying with local regulations such as driving the speed limits and other regional considerations.

·      Make Copies of Your Passport & Documents: In case of loss or damage, it is wise to have backup copies of all your documents. These can include passport, flight documents, student visa, Form I-20, admissions letter, health insurance, medical records, prescriptions, academic documents, list of emergency contacts 

·      Have Insured Healthcare: Many US universities require you to have active health insurance coverage while you are enrolled. Health insurance policies and costs can vary widely depending on the type of insurances and living destination, which some universities may also offer plans to students. You can get student health insurance before or after arriving in the US. Please note that before purchasing any health insurance, it is important to look up your university’s requirements to verify it is an approved form of coverage.