International Student Handbook - Office of International Affairs ...

STUDENT RESOURCES
VI. STUDENT RESOURCES
1. BANKING & MONEY MATTERS
Most banks offer similar services, but there are differences in the fees they
charge and the minimum balance they require in each account. For the best
price, ask several banks for details about their services.
Checking Accounts
You deposit money in these accounts, then write checks to buy things so
you do not have to carry a lot of cash with you. There are various kinds of
checking accounts with different types of privileges and restrictions;
therefore, you should ask many questions and make sure you understand
what the person at the bank is telling you.
Savings Accounts
You can deposit any amount of money into a savings account, but the purpose
is to keep it there to let it grow. You can make withdrawals but can’t
write checks on most of these accounts. Some banks may require you to
keep a minimum amount of money in these accounts to avoid a service
charge, but they all pay interest.
To open a bank account, you will need identification (I.D.). You will need
both your passport and Portland State I.D. If you do not yet have your I.D.,
a second piece of photo identification will be required. Most banks open at
either 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM and close at either 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. For a
complete listing of bank information, look in the Yellow Pages under Banks.
Special Registration
SPECIAL REGISTRATION & TRAVEL
Who is a “special registrant?”
Special Registration requirements can be applied to individuals from ANY
country, however the requirements have primarily been applied to males
ages 16-45 from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya,
Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
How Do I Know if I am Registered?
During the special registration process, when you entered the U.S., the DHS
inspector took fingerprints and photographs. The inspector will write a
Fingerprint Identification Number (FIN#) on the I-94 card of the specially
registered person. If your I-94 card has a FIN# written on it, or a notation
of “NSEERS,” you are enrolled in the Special Registration program. Your
enrollment remains "open" until you leave the United States after having an
exit interview with a DHS officer. If you are not sure if you are a special
registrant, check with your international student advisor.
Departure Reporting / Interview
Anyone enrolled in Special Registration must have an exit interview with an
immigration officer at the airport BEFORE you leave the U.S. If you leave
the US, including traveling out of the US even for only a short period of
time, you must appear in person before an immigration inspecting officer at
the airport from which you leave the US. (If you transfer planes within the
U.S., you must report to the immigration officer at the LAST airport in the
U.S.)
For example, if you have a direct flight from Portland to Amsterdam,
Netherlands you will have your exit interview in Portland. If you have a
flight from Portland to Chicago to London, you will have your exit interview
in Chicago. The airport from which you depart the U.S. must be one of the designated
ports of departure, and you must leave the US from that port on the same day. If
you have questions about an airport, go to East Hall 101 for additional information.
If you do not go through the exit interview with a DHS officer, your Special
Registration file will remain "open." You are likely to be denied a new entry
visa for failure to go through the exit interview. You are also likely to be
denied entry into the United States even if you have a valid visa, if the DHS
records show you did not go through the exit interview. It is possible to
request from DHS, in advance, an exception from the departure reporting
requirement. Such exceptions require a showing of very unusual
circumstances however. It is best to plan your flight times with the exit
interview requirement in mind. It is important to go through the exit
interview, even if it means missing a flight.