Social Security Number

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique, 9-digit taxpayer identification number issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration. SSN is used for income reporting and record keeping purposes only. As an international student, you are eligible to apply for an SSN, only if you are a registered full time student with a job offer and are authorized to accept on-campus employment. It is recommended not to share SSN with others with few exceptions like applying for bank accounts, credit cards, employment etc. It is completely confidential. Don’t carry the original copy of your SSN unless it is extremely essential.

The SSN Application Procedure:

1. You are eligible to apply for SSN after 30 days of your entry into the United States
2. If you are currently enrolled as an F-1 student, you must register for classes on a full-time basis
3. You must then obtain a letter from ISSS verifying your full-time status and your eligibility to accept on- campus employment. Also obtain a letter from your employer approving your employment.
4. Once you have the letter from the ISSS and your employer, you are ready to submit an application for a Social Security Number.
5. Carry the following documents with you when you apply for an SSN.

• Passport
• I-94 card marked “F-1 D/S”
• Your Drexel I-20
• A letter from your employer
• A letter from ISSS certifying you as a registered student of Drexel University
• Completed SSN application form

1. Submit the above documents at the Social security office at 3901 Market Street, The Market, 2nd Floor.
2. You will receive your Social Security Card within 3-4 weeks. Please keep it very securely as it is one of the most important documents.

For more details, check http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

Pensylvania State ID (Photo Identification Card)

The passport is the only official document from India that carries your date of birth and so states your age and which will be accepted in America. In order to do away with the hassle of carrying a passport all the time, you can get a Penn ID which serves as a proof of your age and also your identity. The process of getting a Penn ID is fairly simple.

1. Go to Penn DOT at ARA Towers, 1108, Market Street.
2. Please carry your SSN Card, Passport, and I-94 and two forms of residence proof. In addition you would need a letter from the International Student Advisor. This can be obtained from the ISSS office at the Creese Student Center.
3. The process costs $10.00 which can be paid by check or money order.

Please check the following link for details: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLicensePhotoIDCenter/obtainingPhotoID.shtml

Driver’s License

Please visit this link for details: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/teenDriversCenter/obtainingLearnersPermit.shtml

Post Office

The United States Post Office is a reliable way to send and receive packages. The nearest post office from Drexel is located at:

3000 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104-9998

Transportation

Air transportation

To book cheap tickets to any destination use the following links.

1. www.kayak.com

2. www.bookingbuddy.com

3. www.southwest.com

4. www.orbitz.com

5. www.expedia.com

Road and Rail Transportation

Philadelphia is well connected by both road and rail lines. SEPTA connect places within Pennsylvania using buses, sub-surface trolleys, subway and regional trains while Amtrak trains connect major cities in America. You can use NJ Transit to travel to New Jersey.

SEPTA: www.septa.org

AMTRAK: www.amtrak.com

NJTransit: www.njtransit.com

Greyhound: www.greyhound.com

APEX (Chinatown) bus: www.apexbus.com

PATCO: www.ridepatco.org

Philly Car Share

Drive Prius hybrids, Minis, BMWs, and more, steps from home or office! Simply reserve online, hop in using your personal key, and go. Enjoy hundreds of locations and available cars at a moment’s notice.

Rates from $2.90/hour or $29/day cover gas, insurance, parking, and even your ride on SEPTA rail. Plus get one free hour in a hybrid every month. Cheaper. Greener. More Convenient. That’s PhillyCarShare.

www.phillycarshare.org

Useful Links

• www.circuitcity.com
• www.bestbuy.com
• www.compusa.com
• www.deals2buy.com
• www.edealinfo.com
• www.newegg.com
• www.craigslist.com
• www.sulekha.com

Managing Bill Payments

Most international students stay with roommates and share the apartment rent and groceries. Managing the bill payment is a difficult and daunting task if you sit with your pen, paper and calculator. BillMonk is a free service that makes it easy to track expenses between friends, and to settle them up instantly online. Particularly popular with roommates and college students, it has been used for splitting bills like rent, utilities, meals, and beers. Refer to www.billmonk.com.

Also, it is important to note that while paying rent, please use checks in order to leave a paper trail. Record all transactions, whether it is paying utility bills or shopping. Keep bank statements and bills carefully.