THE ARRIVAL SERIES · PART 2 OF 6
You cleared the visa. Now the clock starts. Do these in order — the paperwork comes before the settling-in.
If the officer can't verify something, you go to secondary inspection — an interview area for extra checks. It is not a denial; stay calm.
HAVE YOUR DSO'S 24-HOUR NUMBER READY
Typical questions: purpose of visit, how long you're staying, where you're staying, how you're funded. If documents are missing, you may get Form I-515A — a temporary 30-day admission that requires you to fix the gap with your DSO within 30 days. After admission, print your I-94 at cbp.gov/i94 and verify it says F-1 with the correct admitted-until date.
Your DSO — the Designated School Official — maintains your SEVIS record. Report to them within days of landing, before classes start.
THE RULE MOST GUIDES GET WRONG
The "30 days" figure you see online is the DSO's SEVIS registration deadline — not your grace period. If you don't report and SEVIS shows you as a "No Show" 30 days after the program start date, your record is auto-terminated. Contact your DSO within days of landing. This single meeting matters more than anything your consultancy ever did for you.
F-1 students can get a Social Security Number only after securing on-campus employment. No job, no SSN — and you don't need one for anything else.
WHAT THE SSA REQUIRES
A DSO letter on school letterhead (your name, employer, nature of work, DSO signature) plus employer evidence (offer letter or pay slip) — plus passport, I-94, I-20. Wait at least 10 days after entry before applying; the card arrives by mail in ~2–4 weeks. You may start work before the SSN arrives. You do not need an SSN for a bank account, driver's license, or phone plan.
BANK ACCOUNT
No SSN required. Carry: passport + visa, I-20, printed I-94, a second photo ID, proof of local address (lease or enrollment letter), and an opening deposit (typically $25–100). You'll sign IRS Form W-8 instead of providing an SSN. Ask about international wire fees and monthly-fee waivers on student accounts.
PHONE PLAN
Prepaid is the newcomer path: no SSN, no credit check, no contract, no deposit. Postpaid contracts typically demand a credit check — without US credit history you may face deposits of $400–500 (~₹38,000–48,000). Bring a carrier-unlocked phone from India and activate a prepaid SIM/eSIM; many campuses hand out free prepaid SIMs at international welcome desks. Note: US plans typically charge for incoming calls and texts too — verify before choosing.
Sequencing matters. Don't do week-4 things in week 1.
WEEK 1 — SURVIVE & REGISTER
Reach housing. Buy a prepaid SIM. Open a bank account. DSO immigration check-in + I-94 check. Get your local address onto every record.
WEEKS 2–4 — BUILD
Apply for on-campus jobs (this unlocks your SSN application). Apply for the SSN. Attend orientation. Join your ISA and admit groups for roommate matching. Sort groceries and kitchen basics.
The Arrival Series — 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6
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