What To Do After Arriving in the USA As an International Student  

Your first few weeks as an international student in the United States will probably be a bit overwhelming. 

You’ll have to check in with your international student advisors, attend orientation, go through a placement test before fully enrolling in classes, and go through the mandatory health screening for new students. 

On top of these processes are several other essential things you should do to adjust to the new way of living in the US. 

We’ve prepared this post-arrival checklist of things every international student should accomplish within the first 30 or 90 days in the country.

Steps to Take in the First 30 Days

1. Open a bank account

We must emphasize the importance of having a bank account, especially as an international student.

You’ll need your American bank account for various transactions, including paying your school fees and living expenses. We recommend going with a bank that has several locations in your city. 

As a new international student, you may want direct access to your money. So, a bank with several local branches ensures that you can easily have your questions or concerns answered at any point during your stay. 

When opening an American bank account, you must provide a valid passport, a US visa, and your Form I-20 as proof of your legal presence in the United States. 

In most US banks, opening a bank account at a branch office takes only one visit. So, you should expect to have this up and running in no time. You’ll have the option of opening a checking account, a savings account, or both. 

As an international student, you could also enjoy the benefits that some US banks offer exclusively to college students. The most common student benefit is a checking and/or savings account without monthly service fees. 

2. Set up your cell phone plan

You’ll also want to set up your cell phone plan within 30 days of your arrival. You can go for large cell phone carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. Alternatively, you can opt for smaller but cheaper cell phone carriers like Mint Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Metro.

However, finding a carrier with the best coverage in your location is important. With the smaller cell phone carriers, you can expect to pay less compared to the larger carriers. But the quality of their coverage is not always as reliable as that of the large cell phone carriers. 

3. Set up your utilities

This part of our post-arrival checklist is made under the assumption that you're renting at an off-campus housing facility. If you live in an on-campus housing facility, your utilities will already be set up by your provider. 

If you’ll be renting a place off campus, some landlords will require that you set up your utilities, such as electricity, water, gas, and internet connection. You might also need to provide renter's insurance. 

4. Apply for your social security number 

Now, this point does not apply to international students who don’t plan to start working within the first semester. A social security number will be required to set you up on your first job on campus.

You have to apply for your social security number if you'll be working and earning money within your first semester on campus. 

You can read our guide to applying for your social security number as an international student.

Steps to Take in the First 90 Days

1. Obtain a state identity document (ID) 

We recommend getting a state ID because it's a much smaller and safer alternative to using your passport as your primary form of identification.

With your state ID as your primary form of identification, you can safely leave your passport containing your important immigration documents at home. 

You can access our detailed guide to applying for your state ID as an international student.

2. Apply for your driver's license 

Now, this option is only relevant if you plan to drive frequently. 

Certain states allow you to drive a car using a foreign driver's license for a certain period. Some states may allow you to drive your car using a foreign license for about 90 days. But it's always recommended that you get a state driver's license if you’ll be driving in the US for an extended period. 

If you're driving a car in the US, drivers are required by state law to have insurance in all 50 states. So, getting car insurance within your first 90 days will be a necessity. 

You can read our detailed guide to learn how to apply for your driver's license as an international student.

So, why should you get car insurance?

If you ever cause a car accident, you'll be held responsible for covering any damage to the other person's car. You’d also cover any bodily harm you’ve caused to the person or persons in the car. 

As a result, state law in most US states mandates that every driver has liability coverage. If you're found to be at fault in a car accident, your car insurance company will cover the damages to the person's car or body. 

3. Apply for your individual tax identification number (ITIN) 

Now, this is an important document to get if you don't plan to apply for a Social Security number because you don't intend to work in the US anytime soon. 

You will need an ITIN to file your taxes as an international student. You can read our detailed guide on how to apply for an ITIN as an international student.