- Immigration Service
- Getting a Driver's License
- Cars on Campus
- Change of Address
- Identification Cards and Social Security Cards
- Income Tax
- Immigration Service
- The University of Delaware's Office of Foreign Students & Scholars maintains liaison with the District Office of the Immigration & Naturalization Service located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The address is 1600 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. The local INS office is located at 1305 McD Drive, Dover, DE 19901.
- Getting a Driver's License
- In order to drive a car or buy a car in Delaware, you need to get a Delaware driver's license. Manuals describing the driving laws in Delaware are available online at http://www.dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/dr_frm_manual_03272008.pdf .
They are also available at the following location: -
Delaware Motor Vehicle
Airport & Churchman's Rd.
(302) 326-5000
- To take the test to obtain a driver's license, go to the Division of Motor Vehicles. They are open Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Wed. - 12:00 noon - 8:00 p.m. In order to own a car, you must have automobile insurance coverage. It should be noted that the State of Delaware requires the driver and passenger in the front seat to use seat belts. In addition, small children must be restrained in an approved car seat.
- For additional information Please Visit The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles Website
- Cars on Campus
- Undergraduate students living on campus are not normally permitted to have cars on campus. However, if you have reasons for needing a car, you may request a special permit for it at the Public Safety Office, located at 79 Amstel Ave. Any student wishing to use the University parking lots must obtain a parking sticker from Public Safety. Costs for parking stickers vary depending on your classification and where you live, therefore, the best thing to do is visit the Public Safety office, if you have need of a parking sticker.
- Change of Address
- Students must notify the Office of Foreign Students & Scholars of any change of address. It is important that the OFSS staff knows of your whereabouts at all time while you are enrolled at the University. When you receive a letter from the Office of Foreign Students & Scholars requesting you to come in to update your file, COME IN IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR PASSPORT! The procedure takes less than five minutes to complete, so it should not be a burden.
- Identification Cards and Social Security Cards
- When you arrive on campus, you will be given a number that may be used to obtain a University of Delaware I.D. card.
The Social Security Administration has recently changed its regulations. The only valid reason for issuing a social security number to an F-1 student is if they are working on campus, which will require a letter from OFSS.
To apply you must submit a completed social security application (available in our office), and you must show your passport, your I-94, I-20 or DS-2019, and a letter from OFSS if you are working on campus. One of the forms of identification must be at least one year old.
The nearest Social Security office is located at:
-
Suite 200
920 W Basin Road
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 323-0304
Get Directions to local Wilmington office - When you receive your permanent Social Security number, you will need to report the change to the Office of Foreign Students & Scholars.
- Income Tax
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. agency responsible for the collection of income tax. Most people need to pay Federal income tax and state income tax. There may be a tax treaty between your country and the U.S. The treaty may exempt your income from taxation. The Payroll Office has information about tax treaties. You will need to complete Form 8843 even if you had no U.S. income.
April 15 is the deadline for filing a return on the income earned during the previous year and April 30 for the State of Delaware tax return. Your employer will send you a W-2 form, showing the amount of money you have earned and the tax witheld. The W-2 form is used in the preparation of your tax return. Tax forms are available in February at the Office of Foreign Students & Scholars, or the Public Library in Newark. After leaving the U.S., you can get a tax form from the nearest U.S. Consul for use in filing your tax form for the year during which you left the U.S. The Office of Foreign Students & Scholars cannot provide assistance in preparing tax returns, but can recommend other alternatives. Foreign students can also find answers to tax questions for free at www.istaxes.com/taxes/who.html
The "Sailing Permit" or "Certificate of Compliance" is issued by IRS as evidence that you have paid your income taxes. You should get the sailing permit before you leave the U.S. IRS recommends sailing permits be applied for 15-30 days before departure from the U.S. You may obtain the permit at the Wilmington IRS Office in the Federal Building at 8th & King St. Students who have F-1 or J-1 visas and who have not been employed while in the U.S. are not required to obtain a sailing permit.
- Until you have decided where you will live, you may need a place to receive mail. This mail may be sent to the Office of Foreign Students & Scholars by writing on the envelope as follows (this is the correct format for addressing an envelope in the U.S.):
-
Your name
30 Lovett Avenue
Student Services Building
c/o Office of Foreign Scholars
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716-6410
USA