Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about life in the United States, please download and read our International Student Orientation Guide.

1. Prepare for the exam

2. Prepare Documents

  • Proof of Address (a letter from the school on school letterhead indicating enrollment period)
  • Proof of identity (Passport)
  • A social security card OR a letter from the Social Security Administration stating you are not allowed to work in the US. You will need to go to the Social Security Office to get this letter. For directions, click here.
  • Form I-20
  • Translated driver's license from home country. The translator must use Form 4030 and must be accompanied by a letter of verification from his employer on letterhead qualifying him as a translator. This translation can be made at xpresstranslate.com and costs $50. If you don't have a driver's license, you will need to wait 6 months between your written test (permit) and the driving test (full license).
  • Proof of insurance for the car you will be driving.

3. Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Present your documents
  • Pass a vision test
  • Pass the knowledge and skills test.

For more information, see Form MV-94.

Choose a Bank

There are a few factors you want to consider in choosing a bank:

  • Choose a bank that is located close to the school.
  • It is important to compare services and costs. Find out whether the bank charges a monthly fee. Find out how long it takes to "clear" a check (meaning how long from the time you deposit a check in your account until you are allowed to withdraw the funds). Find out whether the bank offers overdraft protection. Overdraft protection allows you to spend more than you have in your account for a fee. It is usually best to ask that overdraft protection be removed.

We recommend the Bank of Travelers Rest. They are one of the closest banks to the school. They offer a free checking account. You will need to deposit a minimum of $100. They offer overdraft protection but using it will cost you $28.50. We recommend that when you open an account, you ask that they remove the overdraft protection.

Open a Bank Account

Although many banks advertise that you can open an account over the phone or online, you should plan to open an account in person. As an international student, you do not fit neatly into any category set by US banks, and it will be easier to deal with any complications in person. In addition, it’s always useful to establish a face to face relationship if you require additional services. When you go to the bank to open a bank account, you will need to bring:

  • Passport
  • I-20
  • I-94 Card
  • Birth certificate
  • Enrollment verification letter from your school
  • You will also need the funds you want to deposit and open the account with. Banks usually have a minimum amount needed to open an account.
Many students use Republic Wireless for their phone service. It is an inexpensive phone service without any contracts. Republic Wireless only works with certain phones so either purchase your phone directly from them or, if you decide to purchase a used phone (for example on Ebay), make sure the phone is unlocked (not locked to another service provider) and compatible with the Republic Wireless network.

Another good option is Mint SIM. Mint SIM allows you to purchase a sim card and use your own phone. There are no contracts and the rates are reasonable.

It is important that you have a good English Bible to read and study while you are student at EI (or an English/"Your Language" parallel bilingual Bible). We recommend you purchase the English Standard Version of the Bible. This version has a good balance between accuracy and readability. You can purchase ESV Bibles here.
F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in two types of off-campus employment:

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)

Any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) and USCIS. For more information click here.

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