PRACTICAL MATTERS

Presented by International Student & Scholar

ServicesOffice of International Education

WHAT Practical Matters ?

Open a Bank Account Start a Mobile Phone Line Print out Important Documents from

MyUAlbany Public Transportations around Albany Get a NYS Driver’s License; Buy a Car Grocery and Other Shopping Entertainment

OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

Step 1. Choose a Bank SEFCU (Bank & ATM right here on main campus!)

KEY BANK (just outside of campus)

HSBC (on Western Ave., near campus)

CITIZENS BANK (same as HSBC)

BANK OF AMERICA (not very close to campus)

ATMs on Campus:Uptown: SEFCU, HSBC & KEY BankDowntown: KEY BankEast: M&T Bank

Step 2. You Will Need…

Passport, I-94, and I-20 or DS-2019

UA Student ID Card Proof of Local Address

(MyUAlbany Demographic Data Addresses)

Proof of Enrollment (MyUAlbany Academics My Class Schedule & Enrollment Verification)

Initial Deposit $1 - $50 (varies)

Step 3. Account Differences Checking Account• lower minimum monthly balance• Commonly use for regular money

transactions (withdrawals, deposits through ATM & checks) and bill payments

Saving Account• Usually higher minimums and avg.

balances• Maintain regular savings for a longer term• More secure without ATM/check accesses

Please Note:

You Do Not Need a Social Security Number (SSN) to Open a Bank Account.

If Later You Obtain a SSN, You Need to Update to Your Bank(s).

Start a Mobile Phone Line in the U.S.

1. Choose a Company & Plan AT&T Sprint T-Mobile Verizon

Contract – 1 or 2 years Family Plan with friends Prepaid, No-contract Phone

TIP: Learn about Early Termination Fee ($150↑) before you sign any contract.

2. Choose a Phone

Choose the phone at the company in which you want to start the line. Basic phone is usually free when you open a new line.

If you want to use your own cell phone from home and just switch the SIM card, check for compatibility first.

3. You Will Usually Need…

Your Passport, I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019 UA Student ID Card Proof of Local Address Security Deposit of $150 ~ $500

(returned after one year of good payment records.)

TIP: At the beginning of semesters, AT&T usually charges no security deposit for int’l students without a SSN.

4. Calling Home (outside of the U.S.)

SKYPE http://www.skype.com/• Free Skype-to-Skype calls & webcam • Unlimited landlines and/or mobiles; rates vary

by destination countries. MSN or Yahoo! Instant Messenger Other International Call Options:• http://www.zaptel.com/ • http://evaphone.com/• http://www.phonecardscentral.com/

Learn How to Print Directly from MyUAlbany:Proof of Address Class Schedule Enrollment Verification

TIP: Printers are available in libraries and GSO (for grad students only)

Log on to “MYUALBANY”

Use your NetID and password.

Click on “Demographic Data”

Edit & Print Your “Addresses”

Your local address in/near Albany.

Your permanent

address must be in your

home country.

“Academics” & “My Class Schedule”

Print “My Class Schedule”

Click “Enrollment Verification”

Find this at the bottom of the “Academics” page.

Print Out the Official “Enrollment Verification”

Rapid Copy Center http://www.albany.edu/rapidcopy/

Location: BA B26A (in the basement of the Business Building)

Provide Copies to Students. Fax Service:

0.50 per page (Domestic)1.00 per page (International)

Public Transportations in/around Albany

UA School Shuttle Buses http://www.albany.edu/pmts/bus_schedules.html

East Campus via Madison Avenue Patroon Creek Shuttle (to Health

Center) Shopping Shuttle (to Price Chopper &

Wal-mart) Western Avenue Shuttle Freedom-Uptown Campus

Shuttle Weekend Freedom Apartment

Shuttle

City Buses -- CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority)

FREE with UA Student Card, otherwise $1.50 Per Ride.

http://cdta.org/ #12 – on Washington Ave. #11 – on Western Ave. (Science

Library Stop)

#10 – on Western Ave. Wal-Mart Shuttle: Crossgates

Wal-Mart #90 – Collins Circle Central

Ave. (Target and Colonie Center)

#1, #55 – on Central Ave. (to Schenectady)

Going Outside of Albany

↓New York City (158mi, 2.5hr)

→ Boston, MA (172mi, 3hr)

← Buffalo, NY (287mi, 4.5hr)

↑Montreal, QC (228mi, 4hr)

FYI – 1 Mile = 1.609344 Kilometers

TRAVEL BY BUSGreyhound http://www.greyhound.com/ Student Discounted Bus Tickets Available at

Student Association at Campus Center 116.Mega Bus http://www.megabus.com/us/• Yah!- May Get as Low as $1 to NYC (Avg. $25)• Nah!- Bus Stop at Rensselaer NY.AA Bus (Double Happiness)

http://www.aabus.com/ $20 One-way or $35 Roundtrip to NYC Two Bus Stops: 128 Central Ave. & 1245

Central Ave.

TRAVEL BY TRAIN

Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com

Student Advantage Card –• Buy the card for $20 and enjoy 1 year of 15% off.• http://www.studentadvantage.com/discountcard/

International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Card –

• 15 % off lowest available fare.• http://www.isic.org/

TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE

You may buy or bid your flight ticket at:

PRICELINE .COMhttp://www.priceline.com/

ORBITZhttp://www.orbitz.com/

TIP 1 - When you bid online, there is NO refund or change. Be sure to read through policies first.TIP 2 - If you’re traveling outside of the U.S., be sure to get a Travel Signature from ISSS on your I-20/DS-2019 at least one week before departure.

Obtain a NYS Driver’s License & Buy a Car

F.Y.I.“A Valid Driver License from

Another Country is Also Valid in NYS. You Do Not Need to Apply for a NYS Driver License unless You Become a Resident* of NYS.” * More than 90 days of stay in NYS and you are considered a resident.

Be Sure that Your Driver License from your Home Country is in English.

The Minimum Driving Age in NYS is 16.

1. NYS Learner’s Permit No SSN ? Get a letter from ISSS and another

from Social Security Administration before you go to DMV.

Provide 6 Points of “Proofs of Identity”Example: Passport & I20/DS2019 (3p) US Health Insurance Card (1p) US Bank Statement (1p) Utility Bill (1p)

Pay Application Fee Get a Mug Shot - Smile! Pass the Vision Test & Written Test (20 MC

Qs)Online Driver's Manual & Study Guide: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMANUAL/DEFAULT.HTML

2. Not-eligible-for-SSN Letter

1) Visit ISSS and Request a Status Letter - “Not Eligible for SSN”

2) Once you receive the letter from ISSS, bring it to Social Security Administration (Bus #12 or #10 to Clinton Sq. in Downtown Albany) and get another letter there.

3) Take the letter from SSA and be ready for DMV!

2. NYS Driver’s LicenseAfter Receiving the Learner’s Permit…

Take the 5hr. Pre-licensing Course.Drive with a Supervising Driver

Who Holds a Valid Driver License and is Aged 21 or Older.

Schedule & Pass the Road Test.

TIP: Take another 6hr. Defensive Driving Course and receive auto insurance discount.

3. Driving Schools

Right Way Driving Center http://www.rightwaydrivingcenter.com/ Gateway Driving School http://www.gatewaydrivingcenter.com/

Knowledge Network Inc http://www.knowledgenetwork.org/

4. Buy A CarBe sure to follow legal procedures!

Buy a Used Car Kelley Blue Book http://www.kbb.com/ Edmunds http://www.edmunds.com/ Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.com/

Check Vehicle History Reports (VIN): Carfax http://www.carfax.com/ Autocheck http://www.autocheck.com/

Buy a New Car Check Consumer Reports for review Check the dealer’s inventory and check a

review of dealer itself.

Shopping

Grocery ShoppingAmerican Supermarkets

Price Chopper (Get a Free AdvantEdge Card)

HannafordWal-Mart Supercenter

TIP: Check School Shopping Shuttle to Wal-Mart and Price Chopper, Mon - Fri.

Grocery ShoppingSpecialty Stores.. Taste from home!

Asian Supermarket (1245 Central Ave.)

Asian Food Market (91 Colvin Ave.)

Dnipro (Russian & East Europe. 1533 Central Ave.)

Honest Weight Food Co-Op (organic, 484 Central)

Kashmir Bazaar (Indian, 1531 Central Ave.)

Kim's Oriental Shoppe (Korean. 1649 Central Ave.)

Mitsuwa (Japanese. 595 River Rd., Edgewater, NJ)

Textbook Shopping Used books sell fast!

UA Bookstore http://albany.bncollege.com/

Mary Jane http://www.maryjanebooks.com/ (215 Western Ave. Bus #10, #11 & school shuttle)

Go Online – Compare Prices first: http://www.addall.com/ or http://www.dealoz.com/

TIP: Many low-priced books are ‘International Edition’ and may not be eligible for buyback.

Online ShoppingPayPal https://www.paypal.com/ • One for all shopping sites.• Shop without sharing your bank

info.Make sure the website is

reliable.Do NOT use Western Union or

Money Gram for online shopping!

EntertainmentMovie, Music, Performances,

Shopping, Sports

On-campus Exhibition, Performance and Events

University Performing Arts Center (PAC)

• Schedule of Events http://www.albany.edu/pac/ University Art Museum UAlbany Fountain Day• April 2011 http://www.albany.edu/fountainday/ • A Celebration of School Spirit• Say Goodbye to Winter (at least symbolically)

Shopping Malls & Outlets

Crossgates Mall (Bus #12, #10)Colonie Center (Bus #90)Lee Prime Outlets (1hr drive to Lee, MA)

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets(2hrs drive to Central Valley, NY)

Movie Theaters Regal Cinemas at Crossgates Mall Regal Cinemas at Colonie Center Madison Theatre at 1040 Madison

Ave.(Near downtown campus, next to Muddy Cup café)

Spectrum 8 Theatres at 290 Delaware Ave. (locally owned, independent movie theater.. Join ISSS events to win buy-one-get-one-free ticket discount!)

Other Must-Visit/SeeNew York State MuseumThe Egg - Performing Arts CenterTimes Union Center – Concerts, Sports,

Family

Palace Theater – Films, Drama, MusicProctor's Theatre at SchenectadySaratoga Performing Arts CenterTroy Savings Bank Music Hall

(renowned for its acoustics)

Welcome to E-mail ISSS at ISSS@albany.edu to request

this PowerPoint file.

Thank You!