Keep your passport, I-20, I-94 Departure Card and all other important documents in a safe place.
Make a photocopy of all materials that you send to the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) and set up a file for all of your USCIS related paperwork and keep this file in a safe place.
Never mail your passport.
Never send cash through the mail. Use a personal check, money order, or bank check. Money orders can be obtained at any United States Post Office.
All checks or money orders sent to the USCIS should be stapled to the appropriate documents.
All materials should be mailed to the USCIS as "Certified Return Receipt." The International Student Services office can provide you with the materials needed to do this.
Make certain that you inform the International Student Services office of any legal changes to your name or any changes to your physical address. These changes must be reported to the office within 10 days of the change.
Make sure to provide the International Student Services office with photocopies of all materials that are sent to the USCIS.
All college rules, regulations and policies apply to international students the same way they apply to all other students. International students also must abide by rules, regulations and policies set forth by the USCIS and other federal agencies.
It is important to understand that college rules, regulations and policies may at times differ or conflict with rules, regulations and policies set forth by the USCIS and other federal agencies. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you are familiar with your rights and responsibilities as an F-1 Student. If you have any questions regarding these rights and responsibilities, contact the International Student Services office.
Applying for a Social Security Number
F-1 students may apply for a Social Security Number as soon as they begin their studies at Hudson Valley Community College (as long as they are in Lawful Student Status and enrolled full-time, thus being eligible to work on-campus) and have secured on-campus employment. Please note that your College Identification Number (e.g., H00XXXXXX) is not a Social Security Number. The only way to obtain a Social Security Number is to formally apply for one.
To apply for a Scial Security Number you must submit an application in person at a Social Security Administration Office. Prior to visiting the Social Security Administration Office, you must meet with the International Student Services office and they will provide you with a letter to facilitate your application. When you go to apply, you will need to bring with you the following items:
Your original passport
Your Form I-20
Your I-94 Card (the white card inside your passport)
A letter from your employer that proves that you have secured on-campus employment and indicates the nature of the employment that you will be engaged in
A letter from the coordinator for international student services/DSO that indicates that you are in Lawful F-1 Status, enrolled full-time, and authorized for on-campus employment
The Social Security Administration Office closest to Hudson Valley Community College is located in Troy, New York and is open from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except for legal holidays).
Troy Social Security Office Suite 101 500 Federal Street Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 1-866-770-2662 TTY: 1-800-325-0778 Map and Directions
Applying for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
An ITIN is a number used for tax processing, available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouse, and dependents. An ITIN is only used for federal income tax purposes. This is an important point, because:
The issuance of an ITIN does not entitle the recipient to Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC);
The issuance of an ITIN does not infer or suggest anything regarding the individual's immigration status;
The issuance of an ITIN does not authorize the individual to work in the U.S.
When completing the federal income tax return (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR, 1040NR EZ), the individual will enter their ITIN in the space for the SSN
Who is eligible for an IITIN? Only individuals who cannot obtain a Social Security Number are eligible for an ITIN. The ITIN is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", and is formatted like a Social Security Number (###-##- ###). Any temporary IRS Number that was previously assigned is no longer valid.
How do I know if I need an ITIN? If you must file a U.S. tax return or you are listed on a tax return as a spouse or a dependent and you do not have, and cannot obtain a valid Social Security Number, you must apply for an ITIN.
Include your ITIN on the tax return to ensure prompt processing and receipt of any refund.
Each person listed on the federal income tax return must have a valid SSN or an ITIN.
If a federal income tax return requesting a refund is filed without a Social Security Number or ITIN for the primary filer and spouse, the refund will be delayed until they obtain the Identification number.
If a dependent SSN/ITIN is missing, the exemptions will be denied and refunds will be adjusted accordingly.
If you were previously issued a temporary IRS Number, you must now apply for an ITIN.
Is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) valid for work purposes? No. An ITIN is not valid for work purposes. An ITIN is only used for federal income tax purposes. Alien individuals who are legally admitted to the U.S. as permanent residents, or in another immigrations status for which employment authorization can be granted, are eligible for Social Security Numbers. Individuals who are eligible for a Social Security Number are not eligible for an ITIN.