Issue 10: Final Reminders

Greetings!

This is the final Tip of the Week before the start of your Spring semester. We hope you have found these weekly tips helpful and we encourage you to review any important topics on our Tips of the Week page.  

We hope your arrival will be smooth and we are looking forward to meeting you during our welcome activities!

In this edition, we’ll cover information about completing documents check and International Student welcome activities. Finally, we will provide information on how to apply for a Social Security card.

Documents check is now open on your iTerp portal!



If you have completed your intent form, you should see “Immigration Videos and Documents Check” under the “Requests” section of your iTerp home-page.

This checklist has 2 sections: “Immigration Session Videos” and “Documents Check.”

• The “Immigration Session Videos” section contains several short videos and quizzes. You are required to complete these videos to learn about how to maintain your F-1/J-1 status AND to be able to access your Documents Check.

• The “Documents Check” section allows you to upload the immigration paperwork we require to activate your I-20/DS-2019. It must be completed after you arrive in the US.

Once you submit the document check eform, an ISSS advisor will review your documents to ensure your status was documented properly at the port of entry and will activate your I-20 or DS-2019.



• All students will receive an email from ISSS indicating your documents were reviewed successfully and your I-20/DS-2019 was activated.
• F-1 SEVIS transfer students will receive a new I-20 showing your transfer was completed.  

Activation of your I-20/DS-2019 is needed to maintain your status as well as for successful onboarding to any campus employment and for the Social Security application.

Please note: you must complete the “F-1/J-1 Immigration Session Videos” section of your checklist before you have access to the “Documents Check” section.

Hopefully, you have already accessed your International Student Orientation course on Canvas and have started to learn about the many resources available to you. 

How do I access the online International Student Orientation? You can self-enroll here. 

If you are an undergraduate degree seeking student and have not registered for freshman/transfer orientation, please visit the Undergraduate Orientation and Transition website to register for the next available required orientation. This orientation is required and is where undergraduate students will meet your academic advisor to register for classes.

Simply log in to iTerp and click the "Events" button on the top right of the screen to see which events are open for registration

Shuttle-UM

Shuttle-UM UMD operates a free commuter shuttle service for students, faculty, and staff of the campus. You can find the operations schedule here. You must show a valid UMCP ID. We recommend you download the Shuttle App to access live transit information.

On-Campus Parking- Permit Required

During the semester, you will need a permit to park on campus or you will need to pay parking meters. Review the UMD Department of Transportation website carefully, parking citations are common for newcomers to campus, so please plan accordingly!

Who can apply for a Social Security number (SSN)?

Social Security numbers are issued for tax purposes only. They are used to identify you within the government’s tax and pension system. Only those with authorized employment are eligible for Social Security numbers.

Visit our ISSS website for detailed information on how to get a Social Security number.

Use the Social Security Office locator to locate offices in your area to see operational times.

Applying for Social Security requires a government agency to verify your arrival in the U.S. and your immigration status--you must wait fourteen (14) days after you entered the US and your SEVIS record must be activated. Part of the SEVIS activation process includes completing the mandatory online F1/J1 videos and submitting your documents check. Do not apply too early or it will require secondary verification, resulting in longer delays.

You must apply for the SSN in any of these cases:

• You have a Graduate Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant
• You have on-campus job 
• If you will apply for a Maryland Driver's license and do not have a job, you are required to obtain a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security office

For those students who are not eligible to apply for an SSN at this time, do not worry. Not having a SSN does not prevent you from renting an apartment, opening a bank account or utility account (gas, electric, etc.), getting a cell phone plan, etc. If a business representative asks you for a SSN, simply inform them that you are an international student and do not have a Social Security number.

For more information, please attend our session (January 22 @12pm) on Social Security during the ISSS Welcome activities.  

English Conversation Partners Program- ECP brings together our UMD community from all over the world to engage in interesting discussions with each other. For 10 weeks during the semester, participants (students, spouses, faculty, staff) meet in groups with a fluent English speaking facilitator. These groups provide an opportunity to learn from one another, make friends, and become more comfortable and confident speaking English. Topics include: U.S. culture, food, travel, politics, and whatever else you like to talk about! Talk to you soon!

To learn more about the ECP program, please watch one of our information sessions.

Connect with us 

Ask your questions via our Live Chat, available on our website Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. ET.

Schedule a Virtual Appointment with an ISSS advisor. Appointments can be scheduled under newly admitted students Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET.

By email: isss-admissions@umd.edu



For important reminders and updates, and to keep aware of any upcoming events, please follow our office at our social media accounts!

Missed a Tip of the Week?

You can find previous Tips of the Week on our website by clicking here!

We hope that you find these emails informative and helpful. You are receiving

them because you have been accepted to the University of Maryland for the Spring 2024 semester. If you do not intend to enroll at UMD, please inform ISSS via your iTerp checklist, your department, and either the Graduate School (graduate students) or the undergraduate admissions office (undergraduate students-please fill out this form) that you decline your admission.