New International Graduate Student Guide

Studying in the U.S. can be expensive! When you are admitted and submit your financial documentation in order to obtain your immigration paperwork, you certify that you have sufficient financial resources to cover at least the cost of one year of attendance as well as a plan for future years.

As you consider your personal budget and spending plan, we recommend that you consider the costs listed in our Cost of Attendance, as well as the following:

• • • • Apartment Rentals. Renting an apartment in the United States may require an application fee, background check, and a deposit of typically the first and last month’s rent. As you secure housing and plan your arrival, be sure that you have funds available for these expenses.
      • Personal Expenses. While we estimate your personal expenses in our Cost of Attendance, your actual costs may be lower or higher depending on your lifestyle. Expenses such as cell phone bills, groceries, and entertainment vary greatly from student to student.
      • U.S. Student Visa Fees. Obtaining your U.S. student visa requires several fees paid to the U.S. government. More information is available on our Student Visa Information page.
      • Travel. Airfare and other travel expenses are typically not covered by Graduate Assistantships. Be sure that you have budgeted sufficiently to cover your costs of traveling to Boise and back again.
      • Taxes. Being employed in the U.S. requires that you pay taxes, which will be automatically withheld from your paycheck if you are a Graduate Assistant or have other on-campus employment. Boise State’s Tax Reporting Office offers guidance to international students to ensure that you appropriately file your taxes, but be aware that your paycheck may be a bit smaller than your pay rate indicates due to tax withholdings.

If you have accepted a Graduate Assistantship offer, please work directly with your graduate program to understand your employment start date. There are several considerations to be aware of as you plan for the start of your employment:

• • • • There may be a delay between when you begin working and when you receive your first paycheck. This is a normal occurrence due to the timing of Boise State’s payroll system and is something that you should plan for. Please contact your academic program for more information on when to expect your first paycheck.
      • Graduate Assistants who do not already have a Social Security Number (SSN) must apply for one before beginning work. Currently you cannot apply for a SSN until you have been in the U.S. for at least 14 days. You can start working with proof of the SSN application. You do not have to wait to receive the SSN itself.
      • Having a U.S. bank account can help to streamline your process. Opening a U.S. bank account (for direct deposit) and/or identifying your U.S. mailing address (to receive a physical check) as soon as possible will be helpful in this process. Keep in mind that you must be in the U.S. to open a U.S. bank account.

Your academic program may be able to help you set up an earlier payment date to allow your stipend payments to begin prior to you beginning work. To discuss this option, please reach out to your academic program directly.

Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are 9-digit numbers used for employment and some financial purposes in the United States. If you have been awarded a Graduate Assistantship then you will need to apply for a SSN before you may start working on campus.

Upon arrival at Boise State University, please complete the on-line check in form. You will need details from your passport, visa and I-94. You will also need to have your contact information and local address, so that our team can register your arrival in the SEVIS database. You can request an SSN support letter as part of the check-in process, if you already have an on-campus job such as an assistantship. This will take 3-5 business days to complete and the support letter will be emailed to you. Please note that you cannot apply for an SSN until after your arrival has been registered in the SEVIS database.

You can find the New Student Arrival Check-In Form on the International Student Services website.

On-campus housing at Boise State can be extremely competitive and options for graduate students may be limited. If you plan to live on campus, we encourage you to submit Boise State’s housing application as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing housing. The application generally opens in October for spring semester and February for fall semester.

Many graduate students choose to live off-campus. The housing market in Boise is competitive, so we encourage you to begin searching for off-campus housing as early as possible. When applying for rental housing in the United States, there are generally several steps. These may vary a bit, but generally consist of:

• • • • Rental application. Once you have located potential housing, you will be asked to submit a rental application, which typically requires an application fee. The maximum allowable application fee in the City of Boise is currently $30.
      • Screening. Property management companies or landlords may conduct background checks, credit checks, or reference checks on rental applicants. Sometimes this requires that you have a Social Security Number (SSN). Confirm with your potential property management company whether or not a SSN will be required or if they can make accommodations for you if you do not yet have an SSN.
      • Lease Signing. If you are approved for the rental property, you will then be given a lease. The lease is a legal document that details the terms and conditions of your rental contract. Read this document carefully and be sure that you understand all terms before signing.
      • Deposit. At the time that you sign the lease, your landlord will typically require a deposit. Usually this means submitting the first month and last month of rent at the time of signing.

For assistance with securing off-campus housing, please see International Student Services’ Off Campus Housing Options page and the Housing Office’s Off-Campus Housing Marketplace. Your academic program may also be able to assist you in identifying potential roommates or housing options.