International Student Handbook - Office of International Affairs ...

4. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
In this day and age, telecommunications have become complex at best! We
know that the different types of telecommunications options available to you
are very important for you to stay in touch with your friends and families at
home.
Telephones
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
There are many different phone companies which provide land line service
inside your home or apartment. You’ll have to do some research to find out
which plan has the best options for you. Often phone companies offer what
are called packages (bundles of phone service, wireless service, cable TV
service, etc.) for lower prices than you’d pay if you signed up for each
service separately. Be very careful, though, when entering into such
agreements, as most “good deals” require a year or longer commitment. A
phone company will charge an initial installation fee (about $60.00), and
there will also be monthly fees (depending upon services, they can be $18
-$35). For general plans, you will not be charged for local calls you make
from your home, but you will usually be charged for long distance service.
Note, long distance often means outside the greater Portland area!
As cell phones become more popular, there are fewer and fewer public
phones, but most of these phones are still coin-operated phones rather
than card phones. Phones can be found in public places and a local call is
usually 50 cents and you can talk for an unlimited period of time.
The phone company publishes telephone books for every town. Most
people who receive telephone services are listed alphabetically in the
telephone books. If you would prefer to not be listed, you need to tell the
phone company this when you sign up for service.
Local information or directory assistance can be obtained by dialing 411.
Check the front of the phone book for area codes and tips on how to find
long-distance numbers. There is a charge for 411 calls.
Please note: Oregon uses a system of 10-digits. In the Portland area, you
must dial the area code (503) before dialing the phone number. All calls
with the area code 541 are considered to be long distance.
Immigration Documents
YOUR LEGAL STATUS
Passport
You passport must be valid at all times. Your F-1 or J-1 status requires that
your passport be valid at least 6 months into the future. Be sure to allow
yourself plenty of time to renew your passport. To do so, contact the Embassy
or Consulate of your country.
I-94 Card
At your port of entry into the United States, a small white card was stapled
to your passport by an immigration official. This form is very important and
should be kept in a safe place. On that card is written your port of entry,
your arrival date, your visa status, and how long you have been given
permission to stay in the U.S. (for F-1 students this should read D/S).
Also located on your I-94 Card is your Admission Number. This number
was given to you before you went through U.S. Customs on your first entry
to the United States. The number looks something like this: 995-000935
60. Be certain to include this information when you complete your Fact
Sheet when checking in at ISSS. If your I-94 Card has been lost or stolen,
contact ISSS immediately.
NOTE: J-1 students will either have D/S or a date on the I-94 card. If
your I-94 card is date specific, the date on it should match the completion
date on your form DS-2019.