给2012秋季入学的孩纸们：要开学了，除了房子我还需要知道什么？（英文，而且很长）

http://www.hellogwu.com/thread-772-1-1.html

Traveling to GW
When to Arrive
F-1 and J-1 visa holders are not permitted to enter the US more than 30 days prior to the report date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019.

At the Port of Entry
You must present the following to an immigration office:
1) Your passport
2) Your US F-1 or J-1 visa stamp for GWU
3) Your I-20 or DS-2019
If you forget an immigration document, the immigration officer may issue you a form I-515 (A), which is a temporary 30-day admission. If this occurs, please come to the International Services Office as soon as possible.
【特别提示】上述证件一定要随身携带，不要放在行李箱内，以免出关入关时拿取不方便。行李箱内建议放入写有目的地地址的纸张，以免行李丢失或错拿时其他人可以送还给你。

About DC’s Airports
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) http://www.metwashairports.com
Transportation to GW is available through:
-- Metro (Blue Line, exit at the GW Foggy Bottom Campus)
-- Taxi
【点评】非常近的机场，出门就是地铁站，坐一站就能到crystal city，打车十几块就到了。不过这个机场不运行国际航班，你要在美国境内转机才可能到达这个机场。

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) http://www.metwashairports.com
IAD is located in Virginia. Transportation available through:
-- Washington Flyer: The Coach Service will take you to the West Falls Church Metro Station (Orange Line). (http://www.washfly.com)
-- Super Shuttle: It can be used for transportation to you place of residence.
-- MetroBus 5A: It operates between the L’Enfant Plaza Station (Blue and Orange Lines) and Dulles, with stops at the Rosslyn Station (Orange Line) and Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride.
-- Taxi: This option will probably cost between $50 and $100.
【点评】大多数同学会到达的机场，出来坐5Abus运行40分钟左右到rosslyn转地铁，或者订shuttle，不建议打车。

Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) http://www.bwiairport.com
BWI is located in Maryland. Transportation available through:
-- The MARC Train: Monday through Friday only. Take the Penn Line to Union Station, located on the Red Line of the Metro. (http://www.mtamaryland.com)
-- Amtrak Train (http://www.amtrak.com)
-- The B30 MetroBus from BWI to Greenbelt Metro Station (Green Line)
-- Taxi (Will probably cost between $50 and $100)
【点评】据说到这个机场会比较便宜，但来学校换乘次数太多，初次来美的同学不建议到这里。

One of the first things to do is come into the Welcome Center at the ISO to legally check in. You are required to do this as soon as possible upon entering the United States. The following documents are required when you check-in.
1)   Your valid passport with valid visa
2)   Your I-94 stamped by the US Immigration Inspector (also called an Arrival/Departure Record)
3)   Your GW I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
4)   Your local address and telephone number (if you have).

【提示】ISO的地址是2033 K Street, NW Suite 310，入口在21街上；电话是202-994-4477。建议各位到美国安顿下来之后就去ISO报到，那里的迎新处有很多资料关于银行、电话、保险等。



The GWStudent Health Insurance Plan
【附加点评】学校这个保险巨贵啊！从2012年开始还变成强制的了！必须买一年两千多的学校保险！不过还好我们勤劳勇敢的广大留学生们发现了可以waive学校保险的利器，虽然还是要花钱，但总算是不那么坑爹了。详情请见下面这个帖子：
【更新证实waive成功！保费已经从账户上消失啦！】waive坑爹的学校保险的FAQ
http://www.hellogwu.com/forum.ph ... 877&fromuid=254



EAP Exams are for Graduate Students only.

【提示】有的program不需要参 加这个考试。尽早报名考试，这样早出成绩你可以早点知道你选哪门EAP的课，免得别人先把好时间选了结果你只能早上8点钟去上课。如果你的托福成绩在98 分左右，试试去找你的导师看能不能把这个考试waive掉，不然就要多选3个学分的英语课。



Information for Banks near GWU

The following services are offered as of May, 2011: To Open a Bank Account: You will most likely need to bring your passport, visa, a second form of identification (yourGWorld, a foreign driver’s license, a foreign credit card, an overseas debitcard, etc.), your permanent overseas address, and your DC address (this mightbe the address of a friend).   name Nearest Branch &            Hours Nearest ATM Special Offers Contact Information Bank of            America             § 2001 Pennsylvania            Ave., NW: M-R 9-5, F 9-6              § 1801 K Street, N.W.:                 M-R 9-5, F 9-6              § #3 Dupont Circle,            N.W.             M-R 9-5,            F 9-6, Sat 9-12 § 2001 Penn. Ave., NW              § GW Thurston Hall,            1900 F St., NW              § GW Rome Hall, 801 22nd            St., NW § Cash personal checks            from foreign accounts.              § Credit cards available            to international students without SSN              § No minimum balance.            No Monthly maintenance fee using eBanking. §  2001 Penn Branch:            202-624-4950              §  K St Branch:  202-624-5110              §  www.bankofamerica.com   PNC            Bank              § 1919 Pennsylvania            Ave., NW: M-F 9-6              § 1920, L ST., NW:              Sat            9-4, Sun 11-3              § 1919 Penn. Ave., NW              § 606 23rd St, NW              § 1920 L St. NW                           § International            services hotline.              §            1 incoming international or domestic wire (no fee) each            month             §            Deposit personal checks from foreign banks – certain            currencies no accepted                          §  1919 Penn Branch:            202-835-7110              §  L St Branch: 202-296-1023              §  Language Interpretive            services:                  1-888-PNC-Bank              §  www.pncbank.com                                        Wells Fargo                                       § 18TH & K M-F 9-5              § 17th &            Pennsylvania Ave.:  M-F 9-5              § 20th &            L St., NW: M-F 9-5              § Columbia Plaza            Offsite, 502 23rd St., NW              § 20th &            L St., NW                           § Special “Secured            Card” for students without SSN. Acts like a credit card. Allows students to a            way to build credit.              § Can Cash            international checks. $75 Fee. 2 week turnaround.              § Free Checking and            Savings Accounts                           §  17th and            Penn Branch: 202-879-7170              §  www.wachovia.com                           Citibank                           § 2101 L St, NW:                M-R 9-5; F 9-6              § 1775 Pennsylvania            Ave., NW: M-R 9-5; F 9-6                                       § 1775 Penn. Ave NW              § 2101 L St, NW              § 2140 F St NW            (FoBoGro)                           § Free student account            with no minimum balance or monthly fees              § Special Student            Package for GW              § Students without            Social Security Number can apply for credit cards.              §  2101 L Branch:            202-728-4914              §  Guillermo Fanola: 202-728-4901              §  (800) 627-3999              §  www.citibank.com

【总结】我只列了几个同学们最有可能去的银行。离学校最近的ATM是citi bank和bank of america。大多数同学会使用这两家银行的服务。citi据说比较容易开信用卡，这对能拿到SSN的同学来说是个攒信用的好机会；BOA与国内建行有 合作，6000刀以内汇款不收手续费，不过貌似只在大城市有这个服务，而且还有一些附加限制。其他银行我不太清楚，但BOA银行开户的时候如果你填写 referral推荐人信息的话你们俩都能得到25刀，可以问你身边已经开户的人如何操作，其他银行应该也有类似优惠。（其实手机啊什么的都可能有各种优 惠，多问问店员。）开户的时候你会有两个账户：一个saving一个checking，外加一张储蓄卡。尽量把钱都放在checking里面，因为刷卡是 从checking账户走的，因为金额不足从saving里划出去的话要收手续费。在这边的房租都是要交支票的，如果你用的不多就算了，如果你经常要写支 票，建议不要到银行去买，二十多美刀一本太贵，我推荐checksunlimited.com，在网上找找coupon code，能买到$5.5一盒的支票，足够你用两年，只是操作有些不方便，需要你传真statement第一页过去，其他网站上也能找到类似$7.5一盒 的支票。


Employment with an International Organization

F-1 students are authorized to work off-campus for no more than one year at a recognized international organization given he/she continues a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of employment. The student must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and be approved before commencing with an organization.
An F-1 student is authorized to work at qualifying international organizations only. The following list contains international organizations of which the United States is a member and which have been designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act. A full list of authorized international organizations can be found at  http://gwired.gwu.edu/iso/ListofInternationalOrganizations/


【总结】很多同学关心如何挣钱。总的来说，第一年只能在校园内打工，招工信息主要看gwork，竞争非常激烈（GWork的链接：http://gwired.gwu.edu/career/gwork/ 需注册。有的学院像法学院等有自己的career center，请关注自己的学院）。第一个暑假开始可以在校外打工，需专业相关，给不给钱的工作都可以，平时不允许超过每周20小时工时，暑假不超过每周 40小时工时，需申请CPT。毕业后根据专业不同有1年左右的实习期，需申请OPT。详情请联系学校ISO的advisor。这里顺便澄清一下，多数专业 会有自己的acdemic advisor，负责你的学习选课什么的，而你在学校iso也会有一个advisor，解答关于移民身份的问题。当你每学期选课少于9学分或者没申请 CPT就出去打工或者回国之前没找ISO签字等等都是很严重的问题，任何可能影响到你身份的活动都请事先联系ISO的advisor问清楚。

选课界面里的课程不懂的缩写下面都有虚线，把鼠标移到上面停留一会儿就会有解释出现。上课日期是：M-monday, T-tuesday, W-wednesday, R-thursday, F-friday, S-saturday。TR的话就是每周二周四都上