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PRACTICAL MATTERS

PRACTICAL MATTERS. Presented by International Student & Scholar Services Office 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

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PRACTICAL MATTERS

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  1. PRACTICAL MATTERS Presented by International Student & Scholar Services Office of International Education

  2. 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

  3. OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

  4. 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 Bank Downtown: KEY Bank East: M&T Bank

  5. 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)

  6. 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

  7. 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).

  8. Start a Mobile Phone Line in the U.S.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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/

  13. 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)

  14. Log on to “MYUALBANY” Use your NetID and password.

  15. Click on “Demographic Data”

  16. Edit & Print Your “Addresses” Your local address in/near Albany. Your permanent address must be in your home country.

  17. “Academics” & “My Class Schedule”

  18. Print “My Class Schedule”

  19. Click “Enrollment Verification” Find this at the bottom of the “Academics” page.

  20. Print Out the Official “Enrollment Verification”

  21. Rapid Copy Centerhttp://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)

  22. Public Transportations in/around Albany

  23. 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

  24. 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)

  25. 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

  26. TRAVEL BY BUS • Greyhoundhttp://www.greyhound.com/ • Student Discounted Bus Tickets Available at Student Association at Campus Center 116. • Mega Bushttp://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.

  27. TRAVEL BY TRAIN Amtrakhttp://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/

  28. TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE You may buy or bid your flight ticket at: • PRICELINE .COM http://www.priceline.com/ • ORBITZ http://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.

  29. Obtain a NYS Driver’s License & Buy a Car

  30. 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.

  31. 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

  32. 2. Not-eligible-for-SSN Letter • Visit ISSS and Request a Status Letter - “Not Eligible for SSN” • 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. • Take the letter from SSA and be ready for DMV!

  33. 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.

  34. 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/

  35. 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): • Carfaxhttp://www.carfax.com/ • Autocheckhttp://www.autocheck.com/ Buy a New Car • Check Consumer Reports for review • Check the dealer’s inventory and check a review of dealer itself.

  36. Shopping

  37. Grocery ShoppingAmerican Supermarkets • Price Chopper (Get a Free AdvantEdge Card) • Hannaford • Wal-Mart Supercenter TIP: Check School Shopping Shuttle to Wal-Mart and Price Chopper, Mon - Fri.

  38. 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)

  39. Textbook ShoppingUsed 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/ orhttp://www.dealoz.com/ TIP: Many low-priced books are ‘International Edition’ and may not be eligible for buyback.

  40. Online Shopping • PayPalhttps://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!

  41. Entertainment Movie, Music, Performances, Shopping, Sports

  42. 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)

  43. 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)

  44. 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!)

  45. Other Must-Visit/See • New York State Museum • The Egg - Performing Arts Center • Times Union Center – Concerts, Sports, Family • Palace Theater – Films, Drama, Music • Proctor's Theatre at Schenectady • Saratoga Performing Arts Center • Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (renowned for its acoustics)

  46. Welcome to E-mail ISSS at ISSS@albany.edu to request this PowerPoint file. Thank You!

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