Once You Arrive

Housing

Due to various flight schedules and the long distances our foreign students travel, the Center for International Studies staff does its best to assist students with checking into campus residence halls upon arrival. However, you must have applied for housing, paid the housing application fee and submitted your bacterial meningitis vaccination record prior to arrival.

Please be prepared to stay in a hotel for the first evening of arrival if the Housing and Residential Programs Office staff is unavailable to check you into your room.

Please Note: Proof of a bacterial meningitis vaccination is required for all new enrolling students and transfer students. Some students may have already had the vaccination, but any students who have not must get vaccinated at least 10 days prior to the first day of classes. For information about this requirement, please visit the Bacterial Meningitis web page.

Orientation Sessions

Banking

Upon arrival and check-in with the Center for International Studies, information on local banking services will be provided. The bank you choose depends on your banking needs and the services available.

To open a bank account, you’ll need your passport, a local mailing address, personal information and money for a deposit. Funds deposited in your account should be in the form of a bank draft, bank wire or check.

If you have a spouse or other dependents, you may wish to open a joint account. This kind of account allows family members to make use of funds in the account. Family members must also provide the bank with personal information to include their names on the account.

Helpful Tips

Managing your money is essential to living in the U.S. The most common expenses students face are tuition, fees, housing, meals, health insurance, books, transportation, clothes, personal expenses, recreation, travel, taxes, family expenses, etc. While the I-20 reflects many of these expenses, a student should also be prepared for unexpected expenses.

Here are a few tips to help you manage your money:

• Keep up with your account and expenses. Review your bank statements regularly.
• Make sure you understand the bank policies and procedures, such as the amount needed to open an account or the minimum balance required.
• Keep track of your expenses. Try tracking your expenses by date or by categories, such as food, books, clothes, fees and recreation.
• Pay bills on time. Companies charge a fee for late payments.
• Be careful when authorizing “automatic debits.” Make sure the company you are authorizing is well-known. Never allow companies to withdraw money from your account unless you authorize the transaction.
• Don’t write checks for more money than is in your account. It is illegal and usually both your bank and the establishment will charge you a fee.
• Shop around. Compare different prices before buying an item.
• Before doing major shopping, get accustomed to the exchange rate, prices and store locations.
• Look for items on sale through advertising in newspapers, television, radio or stores displays.
• Shop at discount stores when possible.
• Look for student discounts at places such as stores, theaters, museums and restaurants.

Credit Cards

If you plan on using a credit card issued by a bank in your home country, please make sure the credit card can be used in the U.S. In the past, we have had a few cases when foreign credit cards could not be used in the U.S.

Debit Cards

A debit card provides an alternative payment method to cash when making purchases. Its functionality is similar to writing a cheque/check as the funds are withdrawn directly from either the savings/checking bank account (often referred to as a cheque/check card), or from the remaining balance on the card. The debit card serves a multipurpose, acting as the ATM card for withdrawing cash and also as a cheque/check guarantee card.

For more information on debit cards, contact your local banking center.

Expenses

The cost of attending ASU varies with enrollment status, housing situations and personal lifestyles. Standard student expense budgets are prepared each year to determine a student’s financial need. These are the latest cost estimates for undergraduates.

If you are a non-resident for tax purposes, you are not eligible to file your tax return electronically. Commercially purchased tax return software will file your return incorrectly. Non-residents for tax purposes should only use the Glacier Tax Prep software.

Schedule An Appointment

For tax assistance, schedule an appointment with the Center for International Studies at 325-942-2083.

Bring these items with you to your appointment:

• Any W-2 or 1042-S forms
• All other tax forms you may have received

The deadline to file tax returns in the U.S. is April 15. Glacier Tax Prep is accessible through June 16.

Glacier Tax Prep

ASU has purchased a license agreement for Glacier Tax Prep to assist in preparing your non-resident U.S. tax return. Glacier Tax Prep will prepare the following forms:

• 1040NR-EZ
• 1040NR
• Form 8843

Before logging into GLACIER Tax Prep, make sure you have the following documents:

• Form W-2
• Form 1042-S (please note: the Form 1042-S was issued by the CIS office in February)
• Passport
• Copy of last year’s non-resident tax return, if you filed a return

You will be asked to enter your “Academic Institution” information in Glacier Tax Prep. Please enter the following information:

Academic Program Director Name: Meghan Pace
Telephone Number: 325-486-6503
Institution Address: 2601 W. Avenue N, San Angelo, TX 76909

Angelo State University has a medical health insurance and evacuation/repatriation policy requirement for all international students enrolled at the university. The Center for International Studies is responsible for monitoring verification of international students’ required health insurance.

It is your responsibility to comply with university, system and federal regulations as they relate to health insurance.

• F-1 students are required to have medical health insurance and evacuation/repatriation coverage each semester they are registered.
• J-1 students and their dependents are required to have medical health insurance and evacuation/repatriation at all times.

All international students are automatically enrolled in the ASU Student Health Insurance Plan (ASU-SHIP) unless they apply for and are granted a waiver.

Automatic enrollment in the ASU-SHIP may be waived for international students only in the following instances:

• You are sponsored by the United States government, a foreign government recognized by the United States of America, or certain international, government-sponsored or non-governmental organizations. Waivers will be based on the government or organization guaranteeing payment of all health care expenses, including medical evacuation and repatriation. Documentation of guarantee must be presented to the Center for International Studies no later than the first day of classes each semester of enrollment.

• You are enrolled in employer-provided group health insurance coverage, which includes medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. This includes ASU employee coverage for graduate students and full-time employees.

To request a waiver from automatic enrollment, you must provide the Center for International Studies with details of your benefits no later than the first day of classes each semester of enrollment.

Public Transportation Around San Angelo

Ram Tram is FREE weekend city bus transportation dedicated to ASU students.

Angelo State University embraces international students and encourages you to get involved with any of our 100+ student organizations. We also welcome your involvement with these groups:

• International Students Association
• Korean Student Association