Office of International Education

Graduation Settling In Guide

Table of Contents

Immigration Issues
Weather and What to Bring
Money
Airport Currency Exchange
Sending packages to CMU

Neighborhoods in Pittsburgh
Types of rental housing
Resources
Utilities and paying bills

Bus system
Carnegie Mellon shuttle
Purchasing a car

Welcome

Dear International Student,

Welcome to the United States , Pittsburgh , and Carnegie Mellon University ! We are glad you have chosen to come to Carnegie Mellon. We hope to get to know you better over the course of your stay.

Please use this Settling in Guide as a reference as you prepare to come to the United States and during your first weeks on campus. The back section includes pages where you may record important contact information for easy reference. Keep this guide at your fingertips as you travel to Carnegie Mellon and as you settle in to the community.

OIE will provide many more details to you during the International Student Orientation. In addition to providing practical information, the orientation program gives you the opportunity to meet OIE staff, campus and area service providers, and other international students from around the world.

Please visit the OIE web site < http://www.cmu.edu/oie> for more information or contact the office with your questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

OIE Staff

Preparing to Come
  • Immigration & visa issues

    Critical immigration procedures are discussed in the enclosed cover letter. Read this information very carefully to know the correct procedures for your particular situation. For a list of American embassies, consulates and their web sites, refer to: http://usembassy.state.gov/. Complete information on how to apply for a US visa is available on the US Department of State web site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors.html.

  • Weather and What To Bring

    During the summer, June through September, the weather is often hot and humid. Lightweight clothing is required. During the winter season, late November through March, expect sudden and extreme weather changes: several days of cold weather may be followed by days of moderate temperatures; days of snow and/or rain alternate with periods of clear and bright weather. Warm overcoats and boots are needed and may be purchased at nearby stores and shopping malls (all buildings are heated, so medium weight clothing is most comfortable indoors). Spring and fall seasons are moderate. Below are some averages:

    Season

    Fahrenheit

    Centigrade

    Summer

    70 ° ~90 ° +

    21 ° ~32 °

    Winter

    20 ° ~45 ° (May drop to 0 ° or below)

    -6 ° ~7 °

    Spring & Fall

    50 ° ~70 ° +

    10 ° ~20 ° +

    In addition to clothes, books and other essentials, consider bringing the following items for your stay in the US: extra eye glasses or contact lenses, medications (in clearly labeled containers), photos, traditional clothing, addresses of friends & family, phone numbers of US contacts, home country driver's license and an international driver's permit (which is not available in the US), compact items that will help your apartment or house feel like home. Check with the airline that you are using regarding luggage weight restrictions and security measures.

  • Money

    You should arrive with $2500 to $3500 in traveler's checks to cover initial costs. You should also carry a small amount ($100-$300) of US currency ($1 and $5 bills) and coins. These funds will be used for your arrival expenses such as taxi, meals, books, supplies, apartment deposits, and other personal needs. For your protection, it is best to carry any large sums of money in the form of traveler's checks (NOT in CASH); be sure to sign your name to each one.

    If you bring a bank draft or a foreign check to open an account, you cannot draw upon it for 2-3 weeks, so do not rely upon these funds for immediate cash. After you have established an account, you may have money wired directly from your home bank to your Pittsburgh bank. Since wiring fees are expensive, consider wiring only large sums (some banks waive one wiring fee per month).

    Students who need a confirmation of expenses in order to obtain permission to transfer funds to the US should request the document from OIE as soon as possible. Please be specific about the time period and the expense(s) to be covered.

    Tuition payments should be wired to Mellon Bank, 500 Ross Street , Pittsburgh , PA 15262 . Routing Number: 043-000-261. Carnegie Mellon Account Number: 197-9003. SWIFT Number: MELNUS3P. Be sure to include the student's full name and ID number on the transfer. International wire transfers take longer to process so please allow fourteen business days to avoid late payment fees. If a third party will be paying your tuition, you must send them the bill for your first semester at Carnegie Mellon. During your first semester, you may make arrangements with the HUB to bill your sponsor directly for subsequent semesters.

    If you have major credit cards, bring them. Since you have no credit history in the US , initially it will be difficult to obtain a credit card even if you have a credit card in your home country.

  • Airport Currency Exchange

    While it may be more convenient to buy US dollars in your home country, limited buy/sell currency exchange is available at Travelex Worldwide Money located in the Pittsburgh International Airport . They are open every day from 7am-9pm and offer additional services of faxing and international calling cards. Ask airport personnel for directions to their offices. You can contact them by phone at (412) 472-5151.

  • Sending Packages To CMU

    Until you know your new address, you may have your letters and packages sent directly to your department or addressed to:

    Your Name
    Carnegie Mellon University
    International Students
    HOLD AT: 5032 Forbes Avenue
    Pittsburgh , PA 15289

    You must pick up your mail as soon as possible after arriving on campus. To do this you can go to the Carnegie Mellon Post Office in the University Center and inquire if your mail has arrived.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is required by the university and is a necessity in the US because the cost of routine and emergency health care is extremely expensive. Also, international students are not eligible for public benefits. Accepting any benefits would make you subject to deportation from the US . Prior to your arrival on campus, the premium for the basic insurance plan will be applied to your Fall invoice. You will be enrolled in that plan unless you choose to upgrade to a plan with better benefits or obtain a waiver from the Student Health Service by providing acceptable documentation of coverage by the deadline set by the Student Health Service (see below).

The cost for coverage under the Carnegie Mellon Student Health Insurance Plan for 2006-2007 is estimated to be:

- $1,625 per year for individual coverage

- $4,109 per year for student and spouse or child coverage

- $4,862 per year for family coverage

Note that Carnegie Mellon student health insurance will become active on August 1. If you expect to arrive earlier, we recommend that you purchase short-term travel insurance at home to cover you before your Carnegie Mellon insurance becomes active. If you are starting your studies in the spring or summer semesters, you may purchase a partial year's policy through the CMU Student Health Center that will provide coverage until the beginning of the next academic year in August. More information about health insurance is available at the Health Services website.

You may request a waiver from the CMU health insurance requirement by showing proof of other acceptable health insurance. Requests for a waiver must be made to the Student Health Service; waivers are granted in very few circumstances. Note, individual health coverage programs which are purchased by you individually (in your home country or in the US ) will not receive the waiver, and you may be required to also pay for the CMU health coverage. To avoid being obligated to pay for two health insurance plans, you should not purchase any private health insurance without first consulting with Student Health Services. Routine dental work and eye examinations are not covered by most US health insurance plans; therefore, you should take care of any dental or eye problems before you leave your home country. Optional dental and vision insurance plans are available from Carnegie Mellon at additional cost.

You will also be required to provide medical history information and immunization records to the university. Certain immunizations and PPD skin testing for tuberculosis are required. If you do not fulfill the immunization requirements, your registration will be held, a fine will be imposed and you will not be able to live in university housing. Your department will send medical forms that you should send in advance of your arrival or bring with you. For more information, email your questions to: or visit the Health Services website.

Getting To Campus
Carnegie Mellon is located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh , approximately 20 miles from the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. There is public bus service (PATransit, Bus #28X) directly from the airport, near the baggage claim area, to the Carnegie Mellon campus. Ask airport personnel where to catch the bus. The last bus stop is in front of Morewood Gardens E-Tower Residence Hall on the Carnegie Mellon campus. For complete schedule information see the PAT web site: http://www.ridegold.com . Charges for the fares are subject to change.

#28X BUS SCHEDULE & COST

Monday ~ Sunday

6:13 AM ~ 12:08 AM
every 20-30 minutes (including holidays)

Adults

$2.25

Children (6~11)

$1.10

Children (5 & under)

Free

Drivers do not carry change, so be prepared with exact change (in small bills & coins). The fare is to be paid when boarding the bus and is subject to change. The trip takes approximately 45~60 minutes depending on the time of day. Taxi service from the airport is also available at all times and will cost about $40 to Carnegie Mellon.

Graduate Student Orientation

Graduate Student Orientation will take place Tuesday, August 15th through Thursday, August 17th. Graduate Student Orientation is designed to make your transition to life in the United States and Carnegie Mellon as easy as possible. We will provide you with essential information about university services, housing, banking, English as a second language resources, restaurants, recreation, etc. We will inform you about your immigration rights and responsibilities. Even if you have already spent time in the United States , you will find this program useful. All incoming international graduate students are required to attend an orientation session with OIE. At the orientation we will be collecting immigration information from you that the university is required to report to the US Department of Homeland Security. If you will arrive at Carnegie Mellon before August 1st, you should attend a mini-orientation program at OIE. For more information about the mini-orientations please contact OIE by phone at (412) 268-5231.

Transitional Housing

If you are arriving prior to fall orientation, limited transitional Carnegie Mellon housing may be available, if you've requested it in advance.

  • If you are interested in transitional housing you can reserve a room through the Summer Housing icon on the Housing and Dining Services web site: http://www.housing.cmu.edu/
  • Transitional housing is available from Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 9:00 am to Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 6:00 pm. If you need temporary housing before July 30, visit http://www.cmu.edu/home/visitors/accommodate.html which provides you information on local hotels. Check-out is by 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 13.
  • Transitional housing will likely be in Donner Residence Hall and costs for Summer 2005 were $17.65 per night per person to share a double room or $24.55 per night for a single room (new rates will be approved in Spring 2006 and posted on the web site). Rooms are assigned on a first-come first-serve basis and single rooms are limited.
  • If you reserve transitional housing and cannot use it, you must cancel your reservation 48 hours in advance or you will be billed for the dates you reserved. These are dormitory accommodations; sheets and pillows and towels will NOT be provided and bathrooms are shared.
  • When you register on-line you will agree to allow Housing and Dining Services to bill your student account after you check out for the number of nights you have stayed. Credit cards, cash and traveler checks are NOT accepted.
  • For more information about Carnegie Mellon's graduate housing visit the Housing and Dining Services web site at: http://www.housing.cmu.edu/GraduateHousing . For more information on off campus housing visit the Community Housing web site at: http://www.housing.cmu.edu/CommunityHousing/

Some students may find temporary accommodation through international student groups, departments, or other sources that attempt to locate volunteers to house students in need. You may also want to apply for the US homestay opportunity provided by the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors for temporary accommodation or as a means of meeting a US family. For more information, visit their website at http://www.pciv.org/Default.htm . Their contact information is:

Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors
425 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh , PA 15219
Phone: 412-392-4513
Fax: 412-392-2411

Email:

However, if you will not arrive during the period of time when temporary housing is available on campus or if you have NOT found housing by the final day temporary housing is available you may be required to stay in a local hotel if you can not find other accommodations. We have listed below accommodations close to the Carnegie Mellon campus should this be necessary. Rates are per night and reservations are necessary as this is a very busy time of the year. Be sure to ask for a Carnegie Mellon University discount when making reservations.

Name

Address

Telephone

Approx. Daily Rates

Type of Room

Shadyside Inn

5404 5th Ave.

412-441-4444

$99 / 129*

Studio / 1BR

Must use CMU PIN# when making reservations to get discount rates: 6511CM

Hampton Inn

3315 Hamlet St .

412-681-1000

$89-119*

1BR (up to 5 people)

Includes continental breakfast & shuttle service to CMU and free parking.

Holiday Inn at University Center

100 Lytton Ave at Bigelow Blvd

412-682-6200

$134/154*

Single/ Double

Best Western Hotel

3401 Boulevard of the Allies

412-683-6100

$84.99*

Single or Double

Additional charge for 3rd or 4th person.

Wyndham Garden Hotel

3454 Forbes Ave.

412-683-2040

$119*

Single or Double

$10 per additional person; van service to CMU.

Residence Inn by Marriott

3896 Bigelow Boulevard

412-621-2200

$109*

Studio or 1 BR suites

Courtyard Marriott Shadyside

5308 Liberty Avenue

412-683-3113

$154*

Single or Double

*An additional % in taxes will be added to the regular room rate.


Housing
The search for off-campus housing is perhaps the biggest source of anxiety for new international students. Because long-term on-campus housing is not available to graduate students at Carnegie Mellon, most current students recommend arriving couple of weeks before classes start so you have ample time to get settled before you become totally involved in academic life.

Housing is reasonably priced in comparison with major US cities. Most rental leases start on the first of each month with the most common start dates being the first of June, July, August, and September. If you already have a Carnegie Mellon e-mail address, you can access the community housing webpage at http://www.housing.cmu.edu/communityhousing/ for more detailed information on housing and related issues, and to search Carnegie Mellon's database of local apartment listings.

If you do not have a Carnegie Mellon e-mail address, you can access the password request form at http://pr.housingregistry.us/cmu . Your password will be sent to your e-mail address once your request is approved in 1-2 days. You can then access the community housing webpage at http://www.housing.cmu.edu/communityhousing/ .

You can also contact Community Housing by e-mail at commhous@andrew.cmu.edu by phone at (412) 268-4990. The Community Housing Office web site contains information on current apartment listings, detailed maps of Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and on the Roommate Matching program among other topics. Also available in the Community Housing Office is a notebook listing comments and complaints from students about local landlords and apartment units.

  • Neighborhoods In Pittsburgh

    The following neighborhoods are located within a two-mile radius of Carnegie Mellon University . They are grouped and listed according to their proximity and convenience to the CMU Campus. For further information about each of these neighborhoods, please check: http://www.housing.cmu.edu/communityhousing/neighborhoods.htm l . Also, consider purchasing the Pittsburgh Street Finder, a street guide to Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas (available at www.amazon.com).

    1. Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill: Most CMU students choose to live in these three areas because they are closest to campus. Oakland has perhaps the cheapest rent but is considered less safe and less quiet than the other neighborhoods. Shadyside is favored because it is close and on the CMU free shuttle route, but the rental rates are higher and parking is limited. Squirrel Hill has decent rental rates, and has ready access to public transportation, but the CMU shuttle service is not available to this neighborhood.
    2. Bloomfield, Greenfield: These neighborhoods are farther away from campus, but also within walking distance to CMU and on city bus routes.
    3. Friendship, Point Breeze, Highland Park: These are even farther away from CMU than those above, but still within commuting distance and on city bus lines.

  • Different Types Of Rental Housing

    Rental costs depend on location, size, condition and whether utilities (gas, water, and electric) are included in the fee. Although you cannot, and should not, rent housing before you visit the actual location, informing yourself before you arrive, and arriving early will make the housing search a much smoother and less anxious experience.

    Room in Private Home: One room with a shared bathroom and a shared kitchen located in a private home or a large house with many such rooms. These rooms are usually furnished.

    Efficiencies/Studios: A small one or two room combination of living room, kitchenette, and bathroom. Average price range for studios: $450 - $800 a month.

    1, 2, 3+ Bedroom Apartments: An apartment including one or more bedrooms, a living-dining area, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Average price range for one-bedroom apartments: typically $575 - $1000, for two-bedroom apartments: $700 - $1200.

    Houses: A one or two family style home in which a group of students share kitchen and bathroom facilities. In addition to full houses, the area near the University has many town houses, which are built in rows sharing common walls between each dwelling. Some houses include a car garage, a basement and/or a yard.

  • Resources To Use For Listing Of Rental Housing Units

    The Carnegie Mellon Community Housing Office has its own housing listings on the web site. Other helpful sources are classified section of the local newspapers such as The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://classified.post-gazette.com/ or Tribune Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com . The Sunday edition of the newspaper has the most comprehensive listings. Many students also use the CMU electronic bulletin boards such as cmu.misc.market.apartments, but you will need a CMU email account in order to access these. You will receive email account information from your graduate program as soon as it becomes available. Electronic bulletin boards are also a great place to find furniture and other necessary household items.

  • Utilities & Paying Bills

    Bills in the US are commonly paid by personal checks available through your US bank. In most cases, you may set up automatic bill payment which enables you to pay bills electronically, directly from your checking or savings account.

    Some apartments may include utilities like gas, electric and water. However in most cases you will have to contact the utility companies directly to set up and pay for service for your apartment. When looking for an apartment be sure to include the cost of utilities in your monthly rent estimate. It is strongly recommended that you request an estimate of the previous tenant's utility bills by calling the utility company directly. Note that heating bills can be very high in the winter (over $100 depending upon the type of heat and size of apartment). Listed below are some major utility providers.

    ELECTRICITY

    Duquesne Light Company

    1-888-393-7100

    Allegheny Power Company

    1-800-255-3443

    GAS

    Dominion Peoples Natural Gas Company

    1-800-764-0111

    Equitable Gas Company

    412-395-3050

    LOCAL TELEPHONE

    Verizon

    1-800-660-2215

    Note: Some students are told that they need a US Social Security Number (SSN) before they are able to establish telephone or other utility services. This information is incorrect. Students who do not have an SSN may have to complete an application and submit copies of documents (such as a passport and a student ID) in person or by fax and may have to pay a deposit. If the employee you are speaking with seems unaware of the procedure for starting service without an SSN, politely ask to speak with a manager or call back and talk to another employee.

Transportation

Carnegie Mellon is located at the junction of three major neighborhoods (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Oakland ) and is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. For traveling longer distances, you may want to consider using a bike, bus, or taxi.

  • Local Buses
    The easiest and least expensive means of transportation in Pittsburgh is the local bus transportation provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT). Schedules for the various routes throughout the city may be obtained from the Information Desk in the University Center (on campus), by going to the PAT web site at www.RideGold.com or by calling PAT customer service at (412) 442-2000 and asking specific questions such as, “How do I get from CMU to the Homestead shopping center?”

    All degree-seeking students are charged a Port Authority Fee of approximately $38 per semester. You will be provided with a validation sticker each semester from the HUB to be placed on your student ID, which will serve as a bus pass, good for unlimited free use of the entire city bus system including the “T”, the subway between downtown, the South Hills and the inclines. Family members may find it economical to purchase coupons for a weekly, a monthly, or even a yearly bus pass. Passes can be purchased on campus, at the PAT office downtown, or at local banks, department stores, and grocery stores.
  • Carnegie Mellon Shuttle
    Carnegie Mellon operates a shuttle service daily from 6:45am to 10:45pm between campus and nearby off-campus locations. There is also an escort service available from 6:30 pm. to 6:40 am . The shuttle follows a designated route and the escort service operates within a 1.5-mile radius of campus. All students and their dependents may use these services for free. More information about these services is available here: http://www.cmu.edu/police/escort.htm
  • Purchasing A Car
    Owning a car in the US can be expensive. There are ownership costs (purchase price, taxes, depreciation, finance charges, registration, insurance, license fees, parking, etc.) and operating costs (gas, oil, engine maintenance, tires, etc.). If you'd like to research this option, Consumer Reports Magazine and Car Magazine are good resources. You can also visit http://www.carseverything.com and http://www.nada.com for more information. Automobile insurance rates for people who are new to the US are usually inflated until a driving history has been established. Be aware that parking on campus is very difficult and costly to obtain.
Shopping

Supermarkets and grocery stores are usually open from 7am to 11pm . Some may even be open 24 hours. Most other stores open around 9:30 am and close around 5 pm or 6 pm , Monday through Saturday. Some may have evening hours as well. Shopping malls are open from 10 am to 9:30 pm every day except Sunday, when they are open from 12:00 pm to 6 pm .

Pittsburgh offers a variety of neighborhood shopping districts within a short walk or bus ride from campus where you may purchase clothing, furniture, appliances, household supplies, cosmetics, as well as general and ethnic groceries. Suburban shopping malls offering a larger selection of stores are accessible by bus or car.

The State of Pennsylvania charges a 6% sales tax, with 1% additional in Allegheny County (which includes Pittsburgh ), on all purchases except unprepared food, clothing, and medicine. Other states and cities also charge sales tax on purchases, but there is no uniform nationwide sales tax.

  • Buying Used Items
    You can save money by buying used items, such as clothing, furniture, and other household goods. Certain stores sell used items and people often have sales in their garage or yard where they sell things they no longer need or want. You can also check the want-ads (classified advertisements) in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette ( http://classified.post-gazette.com ), the Tribune Review ( http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/classifieds ), or the Pennysaver, a free newspaper delivered to homes in local neighborhoods each week. Carnegie Mellon also has a number of electronic bulletin boards where students and staff advertise items for sale. Most of them can be found under the name cmu.misc.market. You will need a CMU email account to access these.
Tax Obligations For International Students
All international students and scholars and their dependents must complete at least one tax form for each calendar year in which they are present in the US , even if they have no income from a US source. The Office of International Education makes available the necessary forms and instruction booklets to help students and scholars comply with these regulations beginning in mid-February of each year. Tax forms must be sent to the government by April 15 of each year. However, the staff of OIE can not provide tax advice. The tax filing process will be relatively simple for students and scholars who had NO US source income. However, the tax filing process will be more complicated for those individuals with US source income who may need to spend hours completing the necessary tax forms. Therefore, we advise you to start completing the forms well in advance of the tax deadline.


Information For Families
  • Getting A CMU Spouse Or Partner Id Card
    For a small fee, a current Carnegie Mellon student may complete the Request for Identification Card Form (available at www.cmu.edu/hub ) in order to obtain a Carnegie Mellon sponsored ID card for their spouse. The Carnegie Mellon student must bring the completed Request for Identification Card Form and be present with their spouse for the card to be produced. The sponsored ID card permits use of the Carnegie Mellon shuttle, and the recreational facilities. The ID card does not entitle the cardholder to ride the Port Authority Transit bus system free of charge. For additional information, please see Hub's website at www.cmu.edu/hub

  • Organizations For Spouses & Partners
    There are various organizations in which spouses, partners and other family members can get involved. Three of these are: Carnegie Mellon International Spouses and Partners Organization contact Lisa Krieg at ; the International Women's Association of Pittsburgh: 412-828-4663 or 412-441-8102; and Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors: (412) 392-4513 or http://www.pciv.org .

Additional information for spouses and families of international students will be provided at International Student Orientation.


Arrival Checklist
Once you've arrived on campus, use this checklist of things to do in your first few days:
  • Secure transitional housing.

  • Report to your academic department and complete registration procedures.
    Your department may have other tasks for you and should also be able to give you your student ID number and email user ID, if ready. .

  • Get your student ID card at the HUB on the ground floor of Warner Hall.
    You will need your student ID number to do this. If you do not know it, your department will be able to provide this information. If you are enrolled for the current semester, you should be given a validation sticker to ride the public transportation free.

  • Attend Graduate Student Orientation.
    You will receive essential information and assistance in getting settled. Orientation is a rare opportunity to meet students from across campus and around the world. It's also an opportunity to meet staff from a variety of Carnegie Mellon offices.

  • Complete mandatory immigration check-in.
    This should be completed during orientation. Please bring your immigration documents. If you arrive before August 1 st or after August 17th, you MUST complete a 1.5 hour mini-orientation in the Office of International Education. Call (412) 268-5231 to sign up.

    !! Immigration check-in must be completed by the end of the first week of classes or you will lose your legal nonimmigrant status in the US !!

  • Find off-campus housing.
    Review the information in this booklet and the Carnegie Mellon Community Housing Office web site on finding off-campus housing that meets your specific needs and preferences. The Community Housing Office will provide information at international student orientation. If you arrive early, be sure to visit the Community Housing Office on the first floor of Morewood Gardens E-Tower, tel: (412) 268-4990.

  • Open a bank account.
    When you attend international student orientation you will receive detailed information on the many full service banks close to campus. In the meantime, check out the following web sites:

    PNC Bank

    http://www.pncbank.com

    Citizens Bank

    http://www.citizensbank.com

    National City

    http://www.national-city.com

    Dollar Bank

    http://www.dollarbank.com

    Take into consideration services and fees associated with checking and savings accounts, interest rates, wire transfer fees, ATM machine access, credit and debit card availability, as well as telephone and web banking. You may not want to open an account until you have secured housing as proximity to your residence is also an important consideration.

  • Purchase health insurance for yourself and any dependents, if you do not already have it.
    Health insurance is required by the university and is a necessity in the US because the cost of routine and emergency health care is extremely expensive. For more information visit Health Services web site: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/healthservices

  • Apply for a Social Security number of you will be employed on campus.
    A Social Security Number is a type of national identification number that is required for employment in US. You must have an offer of employment in order to apply for a SSN. You must apply in person for a permanent Social Security number at a Social Security Office. Take your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94 card (found in your passport), a written job offer, and a confirmation letter from OIE. You will also need to provide an address where your new card can be sent.

What's What On Campus
The university has two telephone exchanges, 412-268-XXXX for faculty, staff and graduate student offices and 412-862-XXXX for undergraduate student residence hall rooms. Intra-campus calls are made by dialing 8-XXXX to reach a faculty, staff, or office extensions and 2-XXXX for undergraduate residence hall rooms.

Your Department
registration issues/ stipends (and pay advances) /academic and research assistance.

Office of International Education (3rd floor, Warner Hall)
I-20 & DS-2019 signatures/ immigration questions/ international travel visa issues/employment issues/ trouble-shooting for other problems not handled elsewhere
Tel: 412-268-5231
Fax: 412-268-7832

http://www.cmu.edu/oie

The HUB/Enrollment Services (Ground floor, Warner Hall)
enrollment verification letters/ change of student I.D.# , name, or address (on-line)/ I.D. cards/ transcripts/ correction of enrollment errors/ bill payment, if not by mail/ sponsor billing/ financial aid & loan services / campus dining programs
Tel: 412-268-8186
http://www.cmu.edu/hub

Community Housing Office (Morewood Gardens, E Tower)
listings of off-campus housing/ maps/ notebook of landlords to watch
412-268-2139 / Norma Shaw


Intercultural Communication Center - ICC - (3rd floor, Warner Hall)
language support services/ writing clinic/ tutoring/ workshops/ placement interviews/ International TA testing
http://www.cmu.edu/adm/apaa/icc/icc.html
Tel: 412-268-4979


Student Health Services (Morewood Gardens, E Tower)
basic health care/ immunization/ health insurance information/ medical history information
http://www.cmu.edu/HealthServices
Tel: 412-268-2157


Campus Police (24 hrs) - (Old Student Center/4902 Forbes, behind Cyert Hall)
After-hours problems/emergencies/Shuttle, Escort & Safe Walk services/ Report crimes
http://www.cmu.edu/security
Tel: 412-268-2323

Post Office (lower level, University Center)
stamps/ mail services/on-campus mail boxes
Tel: 412-268-2928

Payroll Office ( 4615 Henry St. near Forbes & Craig Streets )
For students with on-campus employment: tax & I-9 forms/ information on tax withholding/ I-9 & W-4 updates
Tel: 412-268-2097

Computing Services (Cyert Hall)
e-mail account problems/ computing issues/ computer cluster issues
http://www.cmu.edu/computing
Tel: 412-268-4357 (HELP)

Last Updated On: September 5th, 2006