How do I open a bank account?

The international student advisor will provide you with a letter that will facilitate your application for a bank account at any bank. You will need to bring your: Form I-20, Passport, Student ID, and I-94 Arrival/Departure documents.

How do I get a Social Security number (SSN)?

Eligibility for SSN

To be eligible for an SSN card, you must:

• Valid Immigration Status
  • Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • Passport with a valid visa
  • Most recent I-94
• Be registered full-time
  • Undergraduates = 12 credits / semester
  • Graduates = 6 credits / semester
• Provide evidence of lawful employment
  • On-Campus Employment: Provide an offer letter of employment
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Form I-20 with the DSO recommendation for CPT on page two showing that you have been authorized to engage in F-1 Curricular Practical Training
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Off-Campus Employment: Provide a valid Employment Authorization (EAD) card from the USCIS authorizing you to work

Once you get a job offer, you should come to the ISSS office to complete paperwork that acknowledges the regulations for on-campus employment. As part of your SSN application, you will need a letter of support from the PDSO. You will also need to get a letter that your prospective employer must complete and print out on office stationery.

Take both letters to your local social security office, along with your passport and I-20 or DS-2019 to request a SSN.  

You can also apply online, then go to a local Social Security office to provide your documentation.  Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a Social Security card with your number on it by mail within 14 days: https://www.ssa.gov/number-card

For more information on SSN and International Students, please visit: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10181.pdf

Can I get support letters for SSN and driver’s license applications, a relative’s visit, military postponement, etc?

Yes, any letters which are required by the U.S. and foreign governments, as well as for the visit of relatives to the U.S., can be obtained at the ISSS office.

Do I need to be concerned about taxes when I did not earn any money last year?

Yes. Everyone must file federal, state and local tax returns in April for the preceding year. Check your email and the ISSS office Moodle page for more information on your tax obligations beginning in February. Forms will be available in the ISSS office in early March.

May I enroll part-time this semester?

You can be enrolled part-time only if it is your last semester before graduation and you need less than full-time enrollment to complete your studies. If this is true, you must complete and submit a Request for Reduced Course Load to the ISSS office. If you are thinking about dropping below full-time enrollment or dropping classes for any other reason, you must first see the international student advisor about your case.

I have moved. Whom should I notify?

You can change your address with the the ISSS office via email or in person within 10 days of the move. When you notify the ISSS office, we will automatically notify the U.S. government. When you notify the ISA, we will automatically notify the U.S. government.

Do I need to have health insurance?

Yes. Healthcare in the U.S. is extremely expensive and all students are advised to enroll in a health insurance plan. Information on several plans designed especially for international students and scholars is provided at the orientation programs in August and January and available anytime in the ISA office, Miguel Hall 207A. J-1 students and dependents are required to have health insurance. If you have a dependent, or have questions about your health insurance, please contact the Study Abroad office at studyabroad@manhattan.edu

Am I promised a position on campus?

No. While employment opportunities exist, they are not guaranteed. A student must apply for a position and be hired by the employer. The ISSS office can provide letters of support when applying for an SSN, but we are not involved in the hiring process.

Where do I look for an on-campus job?

Check individual offices where you wish to work. (Suggested locations include O’Malley Library, the Athletic department, the Admissions center and the Research and Learning Center.) You can view student job listings on the Student Employment page.

F-1 students should schedule an appointment with the ISSS office to understand the regulations around on-campus employment.

J-1 students must get written authorization from their responsible officer (international student advisor) before they can work on campus.

Are there really limits on how many hours I can work on campus?

Yes. Students are limited to 20 hours per week working on campus during the semester.

Can I work off-campus? 

Off-campus work for F-1 students is not typically permitted. F-1 students may only work off-campus when a student has received authorization from USCIS to work under curricular practical training, optional practical training or off-campus based on severe economic hardship.

I have questions about my I-94 status and about my visa too. Whom do I ask?

Discuss all your immigration and visa related concerns with the ISSS office. To prevent misinformation it is best to not seek advice from friends, even if they are an international student too, as each situation can be different.

I lost my passport. What should I do?

File a police report, notify your country’s consular office, and let the ISSS office know as soon as possible.

I lost my I-20, DS-2019, 1-94 card or other important document. What should I do?

Come to the ISSS office right away with any documents or copies of documents that you still have.

I plan to travel outside the US. What do I need to do?

Request a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 at least a week in advance of your trip by coming to the ISSS office.

This includes travel while on F-1 OPT or J-1 Academic Training.

I am a transfer student and the visa in my passport reads my previous institution’s name. Does this pose a problem?

No. You are allowed to transfer to another institution in the U.S., and your visa from your previous institution is still valid as long as it hasn’t expired. If it has expired, you should ask the international student advisor how to renew it.

If I take a W grade for a course during the middle of a semester, does that mean I am no longer full-time?

If you receive a W for your course, you cannot count the credit for that course toward your full-time enrollment requirement. For example, if you registered and enrolled for 12 credits and you receive a grade of W for three credits, then you will only receive nine credits of total enrollment. This will drop you below full-time if full-time enrollment for your program is 12 credits. If you do not know how many credits you must enroll for, contact the international student advisor. Failure to be enrolled as a full-time student will result in your being out of status.

I plan to graduate earlier/later than expected. What should I do?

An F-1 student whose program end date has changed should contact the PDSO/DSO at the ISSS office to update their program end date in SEVIS. The student must do this before their program end date on their I-20 to either shorten or extend their program.

I've arrived in the United States, and I'm having trouble adjusting. What should I do?

Adjusting to life in the United States can be stressful. In addition to the academic pressure of university life, international students are susceptible to cultural, social, and economic stressors. If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, please contact Manhattan University's Counseling Center. They are located in Miguel Hall, Room 501. You can make an appointment over the phone at (718) 862-7394 or by email at jegan01@manhattan.edu

What is there to do around here?

There are many things to do in New York City. Please check out our "What to Do in NYC" tab to view affordable events and activities.