International Student Resources
- Orientation Schedule Spring 2010
- Scholarships
- Insurance
- Income Tax
- Transportation
- Public and Shared Transportation
- Employment
- Housing
- Banking
- Weather and Clothing
- Driver's License
- Alcohol Drinking Age
- Receiving Packages
- Obtaining a Social Security Card
Orientation Schedule Spring 2010
The closest and most economic option for airports is Charlotte, NC. Pick up service is only provided from Charlotte on Sunday, January 3 at 5:00 pm. Public transportation is available from Greensboro to Boone. All international students, graduate and undergraduate degree seeking students as well as exchange students are required to attend the International Student Orientation. The schedule is posted here: International Student Orientation Schedule.
Scholarships
The office of Admissions offers scholarships to undergraduate students who are applying. Please go to http://www.admissions.appstate.edu/scholarships/ for more information.
The Office of International Education & Development offers two scholarships each year: The Kephart and the Woodson-Horine Scholarship. Please submit applications to the Office of International Education & Development before 5:00PM by Janurary 31, 2010 for consideration. See Grant Application guidelines for details and qualifications. The Office of Sponsored Research also offers International Research Grants annually.
Kephart Grant (DOC 30K) - amount varies per academic year.
Woodson-Horine Scholarship (DOC 28K) - amount available varies per academic year.
Insurance
Appalachian State University requires all F-1 students and their dependents to enroll in the HTH Worldwide insurance plan for international students. Currently, the cost is $282.50 per semester per student, $1280 per semester for student and spouse, $1717.50 per semester for student, spouse and children, and $720 for student and children. For more information about Health Insurance plan and requirements!
If you are an exchange student on J Visa and you do not want HTH health insurance, you must provide OIED with your insurance card and the insurance form completed by the first day of your arrival at ASU. Otherwise, OIED will purchase the insurance for you and charge your student account for the cost of the insurance.
More information about insurance requirements in Power Point (PPT 109K)
More information about HTH insurance in Power Point
Income tax
All F-1 and J-1 students are liable for both U.S. federal income tax and state income tax. The tax forms 1040NR and 8843 must be filed between January 1 and April 15. Remember to keep a copy of all your tax forms to obtain your “tax clearance” when you leave the U.S. remember to inform your employer that foreign students do not pay social security (FICA) tax.
All international students who were in the United States prior to December 31 must submit tax form 8843 to the Internal Revenue Service before April 15. Students who received compensation, prior to December 31, for on-campus work, scholarships, tuition waivers and/or assistantships must file state and federal taxes. This office purchases access to a tax software which assists international students and scholars with filing the federal tax forms: http://www.cintax.us.
Workshops will be provided to get you started with state forms. If you received compensation as described above you should receive one of the following forms in your ASU mailbox by the end of January:
W-2 - Wage and Tax Statement
1042-S - Wage and Tax Statement for non-resident aliens (tax treaty)
1099 - Independent Contractor statement
1098-T- Scholarship Tax document
Do Not Throw These Forms Away! If you did not receive one of the above forms, please contact Payroll Office at 262-6422.
Bring ALL of the following items to your workshop:
- W-2, 1042, 1098-T, and/or 1099 (These forms will arrive through your ASU postal box)
- Any other tax information / forms you may have received
- Passport/Visa/I-94, I-20 or DS-2019
Tax workshops are designed to help current F-1 and J-1 students with general tax questions and forms. Students with specialized cases may need to seek professional help off-campus.
What To Do If...
- If you received compensation as described above you should receive one of the following forms in your ASU mailbox at the end of January: W-2, 1042-S, 1099, or 1098-T Do Not Throw These Forms Away!
- If you received compensation and did not receive one of the above forms, please contact Payroll at 262-6422
Transportation
Are you thinking about buying, leasing or renting a car?
Information and owning an automobile in North Carolina (DOC 143K)
Automobile information/mechanics and parts (XLS 32K)
Enterprise: Enterprise is the only rental car company in Boone.
Do you need a driver's license and you have a J or F Visa?
Public and Shared Transportation
BOONE TO GREENSBORO—AND STOPS ALONG THE WAY! The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation is now providing bus service from Boone to Greensboro. Stops along the way include Wilkesboro, Winston-Salem and Yadkinville. By connector buses boarded in Winston-Salem, trips to Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh are also offered.
You can utilize easy connections in Winston-Salem and Greensboro that will take you to the train station in High Point, or PTI airport. Once you have purchased a ticket, you are considered "in the system,” and you can make all the transfers and connections that you want without incurring additional charges.
The Applecart Bus runs around Boone and parts of Watauga County. The bus is free.
Craigslist and the ASU Ride Share website are good places to look for people with whom you can share a ride out of Boone.
The Hickory Hop will take you to Charlotte. Call the contact number for information about leaving from Boone.
Taxis: The service OIED often uses is the company Airport Service to the High Country whose motto is “High Quality, affordable, door to door service to all points.” The number is 828-295-7779.
Employment
Appalachian students and alumni are encouraged and invited to contact the Career Development Center at 828-262-2180 to schedule a consultation with a career counselor and create a personalized plan of action and identify the resources that best suit your individual needs.
The Office of Student Employment can advise all students about campus employment opportunities.
Off Campus Employment for Students on an F Visa:
The following are a list of items that will help students on an F Visa understand OPT and CPT. Please read these items and then schedule an appointment with ISSS to discuss any questions. Once you have a complete application for CPT or OPT, make an appointment with ISSS to create a new I-20 for you that reflects the recommended work authorization.
Checklist for OPT from USCIS-(PDF)
Power Point to explain Practical Training for all F Visa Students
Power Point to explain Stem Extention for all F Visa Students
Cap Gap Factsheet for employers who hire students on OPT-(PDF)
Academic Advisor Form needed for CPT- (PDF)
I-20 Request Form need for OPT and CPT- (PDF)
Off Campus Employment for Students on a J Visa:
Power Point to explain Academic Training for all J Students
Housing
Graduate students, students with families and students over 25 years old can live on campus in Mountaineer Apartments depending on their availability. Apartments fill up fast and fall occupants are usually determined the spring before occupants’ arrival. OIED has a block of apartments in Mountaineer reserved only for international students. The apartments are 1-2 bedrooms. Two bedroom apartments can be divided between 2-3 students. There is 1 bedroom, 1 living room and 1 kitchen in each apartment. Each apartment has internet access and access to a laundry room. The cost of a 1 bedroom apartment is $3,500 per semester. The cost of a 2 bedroom apartment is $3,800. The cost is divided by the number of people living in the apartment, and all utilities are covered in the price. Students must sign a new lease each year they wish to live in these apartments, and they must move out of the apartments during the summer unless they wish to pay rent for the summer months. Students may reside in the Mountaineer apartments for up to 24 months. Residents must check out with their RAs and should arrange an early check out if they are returning to their home country so that they can receive their $100 deposit before they return.
Undergraduate students must secure on-campus housing through the Housing Office. You must sign a housing contract and pay the required deposit each semester by the designated deadline. Failure to do so will result in students having to look for housing off-campus. All new undergraduate students must register for housing through First Connections. Freshmen cannot choose their dorm.
Exchange students are placed in a dorm by OIED. Most exchange students will live in the Living Learning Center, but some will live elsewhere on the campus once space in the Living Learning Center is full. Exchange students do not have to register for housing or pay a deposit. If exchange students must pay for housing, they will pay when they arrive on campus through student accounts. Exchange students should NOT consult the Housing Office about their dorms before they arrive, as OIED takes care of all of their arrangements for them.
For all students who reside on campus:
All students who reside on-campus must follow the Housing Department procedures and regulations and report housing conflicts with their Resident Assistant or Resident Director.
Appalachian State University requires all students who reside in a residence hall to purchase a meal plan. This rule does not include students living in Mountaineer Apartments.
Residence halls close to all students on the last day of exams at the end of each semester. Residenc halls also close during winter break, but they are open during other university breaks.
If students wish to live off campus and if they do not have a car, they should consider whether or not the Applecart runs to the off-campus housing at convenient times. Students should expect to pay about $450 a month to share off-campus housing. Students should expect to pay between $600 and $900 a month to live alone off campus. OIED cannot find off-campus housing for students.
These websites contain off campus housing options:
http://offcampus.appstate.edu/
www.mountaintimes.com/- Look in the Marketplace section
www.scene.appstate.edu/- Look in the Marketplace section
www.highcountrypress.com/- Look in the Classifieds section
Banking
We suggest you bring at least $500.00 in US traveler's checks in $50.00 denominations with you to cover initial expenses. This means $500.00 beyond the cost of tuition and fees listed on your I-20. We do not suggest that you carry large sums of US currency with you, about $75 in cash, plus a small amount in change for phone calls should be sufficient to keep on your person. Local banks provide a full range of financial services you will need during your stay: We will help you to open an account, but this can take time. Please have a plan to access money for your first months stay.
For information on Banking in Boone (DOC 37K)!
Weather and Clothing
Boone is located at 1,000 meters elevation. The climate is cooler than you might expect for a southern state. If you arrive in August, daytime averages 80 degrees F. During the Fall and Spring you will need a sweater or light jacket most days. The temperature drops ten to twenty degrees at night. Heavy winter snowfall is not uncommon.
It will get very cold during the winter, and the wind-chill frequently pushes the temperature well below 0 degrees F.
Bring Heavy, wind-resistant winter clothing and warm sturdy boots or be prepared to purchase them after your arrival.
Driver's License
You are required to get a North Carolina license, pass both a written and a street driving test, provide proof of automobile insurance and pay a fee of $20.00 before you purchase a car. The Office of International Education & Development cannot be involved in either helping you buy a car or in helping you find insurance. This is a personal choice, and you will have to make the arrangements to meet North Carolina law on your own. To find out more about driver's license visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You will need to bring your I-20 or DS2019 to the DMV to obtain a license.
Alcohol Drinking Age
The legal drinking age in North Carolina is 21. You may not legally purchase, nor drink alcohol if you are under 21. It is also illegal to purchase alcohol for people under 21 if your are over 21. You must have a valid photo I.D. that also shows date of birth in order to purchase alcohol. Either your passport, or international driver's license fits this requirement. However, it is recommended that you obtain the North Carolina Identification Card.
This can be obtained through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Requirements for obtaining a State ID card (PDF 1.77M).
Receiving Packages
Please refer to the information provided by the ASU Post Office.
Obtaining a Social Security Card
Everyone who wishes to obtain paid work needs to have a social security card. The closest social security office to Boone is in Wilkesboro, NC which is 45 minutes away from Boone. OIED brings students to the social security office once per semester at which time students can apply for a card. The card will take 2-4 weeks to arrive. Students and scholars can also arrange their own transportation to the office if they choose, but they MUST wait 10 days after entering the U.S. to apply for a card. If a non-resident applies for a card before the 10 days have passed, the card may be denied. Please bring the following to the social security office: passport, I-20 or DS2019, I-94 and a letter of eligibility from OIED. Anyone wishing to travel to the social security office without OIED should obtain a letter from OIED before applying. The Wilkesboro social security office is located at 1517 River St, Wilkesboro, NC.
