International Students

We welcome International Students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

We can assist you with your F-1 student visa to study at one of our U.S. campuses: New York and Los Angeles. This includes students who are coming to one of the U.S. campuses from the Year-In-Israel program and students who will be beginning their academic program on one of our U.S. campuses.

Contact Information:

Designated School Official

Monisha “Mo” Ringler

Email: Registrar@huc.edu

Once you have been admitted and know which stateside campus you will be attending, please contact the Designated School Official (DSO) at registrar@huc.edu. 

F-1 Visa: 

• Canadian Citizen: You don’t need an F-1 visa if you are a citizen of Canada. 

• All Other Citizens: We recommend that you begin the process for an F-1 visa about 6 months before you plan to arrive in the United States.  

All students: To enter the United States to study at HUC-JIR, you will need to do the following: 

1. Valid Passport: Make sure that you have a current passport valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter the United States. 

1. Certificate of Eligibility (I-20: After admission to HUC-JIR, and assignment to a U.S. campus, submit the I-20 request form. Fill out the form completely and provide any supporting documents. Incomplete forms and supporting documents will not be processed. 

1. Financial documents: You will be responsible for demonstrating that you have enough money to cover the full cost of attendance for the academic program on the campus you plan to attend. Acceptable documentation: 

• Bank statements 

• Line of credits 

• Scholarship letter 

• Signed sponsor letter with documentation to show they have enough money 

1. Dependent: If you plan to be accompanied by any dependents, you would need to provide documentation to show that you can support them. Please add 50% of the cost of living per dependent. 

1. DSO will prepare your I-20 for you and email a scanned copy. Please sign and email a scanned copy to registrar@huc.edu. 

1. Register with SEVIS (the database for student visitors to the U.S.) and create an account. You will need to pay the SEVIS registration fee. 

All Students Except Canadian Students: 

After receiving the I-20 and getting a receipt for payment of the I-901 fee, you can apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Review the student visas page on travel.state.gov, as well as the instructions on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a visa.  After you receive your visa, check to see that you received the right type of visa and that your name and date of birth are correct and match the information in your passport. 

Travel to the U.S. but not 30 days before the program start date on your I-20. 

1. If your F-1 visa is granted, then gather all your documents before you travel. Take with you in your carry-on luggage: 

• Passport 

• F-1 visa 

• I-20 

• Copy of your admission letter 

• Copy of your financial information form 

1. When you arrive at the U.S. airport/border, you will meet with a Customs & Border Protection officer who will verify your information and determine if you may enter the U.S. They will also verify your information in the SEVIS database. 

1. Make an appointment with DSO to check-in. Make sure to have the following ready: 

• Copy of F-1 visa, if applicable 

• Printout of I-94 (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home ) 

• US address 

• US phone number 

The United States allows eligible international students and new graduates the opportunity to gain on-the-job-learning that supplements knowledge gained in their academic studies. To participate in one of the below training opportunities, an international student does not need to change their nonimmigrant status. Instead, the student must work with their designated school official (DSO) to ensure eligibility as well as apply for and receive proper authorization.  

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or other type of required practicum that a sponsoring employer offers through cooperative agreements with your college or university. CPT is only available for F-1 students when it is part of an established curriculum within a school. CPT must be integral to your program of study; however, unlike pre-completion OPT, CPT can be full-time and is not restricted by a weekly 20-hour work limit. 

• Optional Practical Training (OPT): a form of training, often paid, that directly relates to your program of study. You can apply for OPT during your program of study, which is known as pre-completion OPT, or after you finish your program of study, known as post-completion OPT. 

• On-Campus Employment: F-1 students whose status is Active in SEVIS may apply for it. On-campus employment is specific to work that takes place on campus or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school. Examples of on-campus employment include working at a campus library. 

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues to an individual who needs to report income but is ineligible to obtain a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration. To apply for an ITIN, an F or M student must submit a Form W-7, “Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” with a U.S. tax return. An F or M student who is ineligible for an SSN must apply for an ITIN if any of the following occur: 

• Reception of a grant, fellowship or scholarship 

• Interest from stock options, lottery or gambling winnings 

• Other types of non-wage income 

Who must file 

Aliens temporarily present in the United States as students, trainees, scholars, teachers, researchers, exchange visitors, and cultural exchange visitors are subject to special rules with respect to the taxation of their income. 

There is no minimum dollar amount of income that triggers a filing requirement for a nonresident alien, including a foreign student or a foreign scholar. 

Filing IS required by nonresident alien students and scholars who have: 

• A taxable scholarship or fellowship grant, as described in Chapter 1 of Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education; 

• Income partially or totally exempt from tax under the terms of a tax treaty; and/or 

• Any other income that is taxable under the Internal Revenue Code. 

Filing IS NOT required by nonresident alien students and scholars who have income ONLY from: 

• Foreign sources; 

• Interest Income from a: 

• U.S. bank 

• U.S. savings & loan institution 

• U.S. credit union 

• U.S. insurance company 

• An investment that generates Portfolio Interest (Described in Chapter 3 “Exclusions From Gross Income” – “Interest Income” – “Portfolio interest” of Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens); 

• A scholarship or fellowship grant that is entirely a Tax-Free Scholarship or Fellowship Grant as described in Chapter 1 of Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education; and/or 

• Any other income that is nontaxable under the Internal Revenue Code. However, income that is not taxable because of an income tax treaty must be reported on a U.S. income tax return even though no income tax is due on the U.S. income tax return. 

More information can be found on the IRS website. 

While studying in the United States, it is important to maintain your student status. Your status relates to the purpose or reason for why you want to come to the United States. The U.S. Department of State issues you your visa based on your intended purpose.  

If the Department of State issues you an F-1 student visa, this means that you are coming to the United States to study. You should not take any action that detracts from that purpose. Maintaining your status means: 

• Fulfilling the purpose for why the Department of State issued you your visa. 

• Following the regulations associated with that purpose. 

You can read about maintaining your status on the maintaining status page on the Study in the States website. 

Talk with your DSO First 

If you are an F-1 student studying in the United States, your DSO should be the first person you talk with if you have any questions regarding the legal requirements of your stay in the United States. Your DSO can assist in answering your questions or help you find someone who can help. 

F-1 students should speak with their DSO if they are planning to do any of the following: 

• Change your major, program, or degree level. 

• Change your education level. 

• Transfer to a new school or take a leave of absence. 

• Take a break from school. 

• Travel outside the United States. 

• Move to a new address. 

• Request a program extension. 

• Please bookmark the following link: Study in the States for Students. This site provides resources for most of your questions 

• Keep all of your records in a safe place, including your I-20, financial information, I-94, passport, etc. 

Remember, all international students who receive financial compensation of any kind must apply for a social security number.  

In general, only noncitizens who have DHS’ permission to work can apply for an SSN. We suggest you wait 48 hours after reporting to the school before you apply for an SSN. This wait will help ensure Social Security Administration (SSA) can verify your immigration status with DHS. To apply for an SSN, visit Request a Social Security number for the first time page at www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time. You will need to:  

• Start the application online.  

• Complete the application by visiting your local Social Security office or Card Center with your documentation within 45 calendar days.  

• Required Documentation: 

• Unexpired passport 

• I-94 

• I-20 

• Letter from DSO 

• Job-offer letter 

• CPT: I-20 must show CPT approval 

• OPT: EAD card