Transcript PRACTICAL MATTERS - University at Albany

Presented by
International Student & Scholar Services
Office of International Education
 Open a Bank Account
 Start a Mobile Phone Line
 Print out Important Documents from
MyUAlbany
 Public Transportations around Albany
 Get a NYS Driver’s License; Buy a Car
 Grocery and Other Shopping
 Entertainment
OPEN A
BANK ACCOUNT
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SEFCU (Bank & ATM right here on main campus!)
KEY BANK (just outside of campus)
HSBC (on Western Ave., near campus)
CITIZENS BANK (same as HSBC)
BANK OF AMERICA (not very close to campus)
ATMs on Campus:
Uptown: SEFCU, HSBC & KEY Bank
Downtown: KEY Bank
East: M&T Bank
Passport, I-94, and I-20 or DS-2019
 UA Student ID Card
 Proof of Local Address (MyUAlbany 
Demographic Data  Addresses)
 Proof of Enrollment (MyUAlbany Academics

 My Class Schedule & Enrollment Verification)

Initial Deposit $1 - $50 (varies)
Checking Account
• lower minimum monthly balance
• Commonly use for regular money
transactions (withdrawals, deposits through
ATM & checks) and bill payments
 Saving Account
• Usually higher minimums and avg. balances
• Maintain regular savings for a longer term
• More secure without ATM/check accesses

 You
Do Not Need a Social Security
Number (SSN) to Open a Bank Account.
 If Later You Obtain a SSN, You Need to
Update to Your Bank(s).
Start a Mobile Phone
Line in the U.S.
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AT&T
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon
Contract – 1 or 2 years
Family Plan with friends
Prepaid, No-contract Phone
TIP: Learn about Early Termination Fee
($150↑) before you sign any contract.
 Choose
the phone at the company in
which you want to start the line. Basic
phone is usually free when you open a
new line.
 If you want to use your own cell phone
from home and just switch the SIM card,
check for compatibility first.
 Your Passport, I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019
 UA Student ID Card
 Proof of Local Address
 Security Deposit of $150 ~ $500 (returned
after one year of good payment records.)
TIP: At the beginning of semesters, AT&T
usually charges no security deposit for int’l
students without a SSN.
 SKYPE
•
•
http://www.skype.com/
Free Skype-to-Skype calls & webcam
Unlimited landlines and/or mobiles; rates vary by
destination countries.
MSN or Yahoo! Instant Messenger
 Other International Call Options:
• http://www.zaptel.com/
• http://evaphone.com/
• http://www.phonecardscentral.com/

Learn How to Print Directly
from MyUAlbany:
 Proof of Address
 Class Schedule
 Enrollment Verification
TIP: Printers are available in libraries and
GSO (for grad students only)
Log on to “MYUALBANY”
Use your NetID
and password.
Click on “Demographic Data”
Edit & Print Your “Addresses”
Your local
address
in/near Albany.
Your
permanent
address must
be in your
home country.
“Academics” & “My Class Schedule”
Print “My Class Schedule”
Click “Enrollment Verification”
Find this at the bottom of
the “Academics” page.
Print Out the Official
“Enrollment Verification”
Location: BA B26A (in the basement of
the Business Building)
 Provide Copies to Students.
 Fax Service:
0.50 per page (Domestic)
1.00 per page (International)

Public Transportations
in/around Albany
East Campus via Madison Avenue
 Patroon Creek Shuttle (to Health
Center)
 Shopping Shuttle (to Price Chopper & Wal
mart)
Western Avenue Shuttle
 Freedom-Uptown Campus Shuttle
 Weekend Freedom Apartment Shuttle

FREE with UA Student Card, otherwise
$1.50 Per Ride. http://cdta.org/
 #12 – on Washington Ave.
 #11 – on Western Ave. (Science Library Stop)
 #10 – on Western Ave.
 Wal-Mart Shuttle: Crossgates  Wal-Mart
 #90 – Collins Circle  Central Ave.
(Target and Colonie Center)

#1, #55 – on Central Ave. (to Schenectady)
 Greyhound

Student Discounted Bus Tickets Available at Student
Association at Campus Center 116.
 Mega
•
•

Bus http://www.megabus.com/us/
Yah!- May Get as Low as $1 to NYC (Avg. $25)
Nah!- Bus Stop at Rensselaer NY.
 AA

http://www.greyhound.com/
Bus (Double Happiness) http://www.aabus.com/
$20 One-way or $35 Roundtrip to NYC
Two Bus Stops: 128 Central Ave. & 1245 Central Ave.
Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com
Student Advantage Card –
Buy the card for $20 and enjoy 1 year of 15% off.
http://www.studentadvantage.com/discountcard/

•
•
International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Card –
• 15 % off lowest available fare.
• http://www.isic.org/

You may buy or bid your flight ticket at:
 PRICELINE .COM
http://www.priceline.com/
 ORBITZ
http://www.orbitz.com/
TIP 1 - When you bid online, there is NO refund or change.
Be sure to read through policies first.
TIP 2 - If you’re traveling outside of the U.S., be sure to get
a Travel Signature from ISSS on your I-20/DS-2019 at least
one week before departure.
Obtain a NYS Driver’s
License & Buy a Car
 “A
Valid Driver License from Another
Country is Also Valid in NYS. You Do Not
Need to Apply for a NYS Driver License
unless You Become a Resident* of NYS.”
* More than 90 days of stay in NYS and you are
considered a resident.
 Be
Sure that Your Driver License from
your Home Country is in English.
 The Minimum Driving Age in NYS is 16.
 No SSN ?  Get a letter from ISSS and another
from Social Security Administration before you
go to DMV.
 Provide 6 Points of “Proofs of Identity”
Example: Passport & I20/DS2019 (3p) US Health Insurance
Card (1p) US Bank Statement (1p) Utility Bill (1p)
 Pay Application Fee
 Get a Mug Shot - Smile!
 Pass the Vision Test & Written Test (20 MC Qs)
Online Driver's Manual & Study Guide:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMANUAL/DEFAULT.HTML
1) Visit ISSS and Request a Status Letter -
“Not Eligible for SSN”
2) Once you receive the letter from ISSS,
bring it to Social Security Administration
(Bus #12 or #10 to Clinton Sq. in
Downtown Albany) and get another
letter there.
3) Take the letter from SSA and be ready
for DMV!
 Take the 5hr. Pre-licensing Course.
 Drive with a Supervising Driver Who
Holds a Valid Driver License and is
Aged 21 or Older.
 Schedule & Pass the Road Test.
TIP: Take another 6hr. Defensive Driving Course
and receive auto insurance discount.
Right Way Driving Center
http://www.rightwaydrivingcenter.com/
Gateway Driving School
http://www.gatewaydrivingcenter.com/
Knowledge Network Inc
http://www.knowledgenetwork.org/
Buy a Used Car
 Kelley Blue Book http://www.kbb.com/
 Edmunds http://www.edmunds.com/
 Auto Trader http://www.autotrader.com/
Check Vehicle History Reports (VIN):
 Carfax http://www.carfax.com/
 Autocheck http://www.autocheck.com/
Buy a New Car
 Check Consumer Reports for review
 Check the dealer’s inventory and check a review
of dealer itself.
Shopping
 Price Chopper (Get a Free AdvantEdge Card)
 Hannaford
 Wal-Mart Supercenter
TIP: Check School Shopping Shuttle to
Wal-Mart and Price Chopper, Mon - Fri.
Asian Supermarket (1245 Central Ave.)
 Asian Food Market (91 Colvin Ave.)
 Dnipro (Russian & East Europe. 1533 Central Ave.)
 Honest Weight Food Co-Op (organic, 484 Central)
 Kashmir Bazaar (Indian, 1531 Central Ave.)
 Kim's Oriental Shoppe (Korean. 1649 Central Ave.)
 Mitsuwa (Japanese. 595 River Rd., Edgewater, NJ)

 UA Bookstore http://albany.bncollege.com/
 Mary Jane http://www.maryjanebooks.com/
(215 Western Ave. Bus #10, #11 & school shuttle)
 Go Online – Compare Prices first:
http://www.addall.com/ or
http://www.dealoz.com/
TIP: Many low-priced books are
‘International Edition’ and may not be
eligible for buyback.
 PayPal https://www.paypal.com/
One for all shopping sites.
• Shop without sharing your bank info.
 Make sure the website is reliable.
 Do NOT use Western Union or Money
Gram for online shopping!
•
Entertainment
Movie, Music, Performances,
Shopping, Sports

•
University Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Schedule of Events http://www.albany.edu/pac/
University Art Museum
 UAlbany Fountain Day
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April 2011 http://www.albany.edu/fountainday/
A Celebration of School Spirit
Say Goodbye to Winter (at least symbolically)
 Crossgates Mall (Bus #12, #10)
 Colonie Center (Bus #90)
 Lee Prime Outlets
(1hr drive to Lee, MA)
 Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
(2hrs drive to Central Valley, NY)
Regal Cinemas at Crossgates Mall
 Regal Cinemas at Colonie Center
 Madison Theatre at 1040 Madison Ave.

(Near downtown campus, next to Muddy Cup café)

Spectrum 8 Theatres at 290 Delaware Ave.
(locally owned, independent movie theater.. Join ISSS events to
win buy-one-get-one-free ticket discount!)
 New York State Museum
 The Egg - Performing Arts Center
 Times Union Center – Concerts, Sports, Family
 Palace Theater – Films, Drama, Music
 Proctor's Theatre at Schenectady
 Saratoga Performing Arts Center
 Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (renowned for
its acoustics)