Resources for International Students

All Catawba College students are required to have health insurance. You will be charged for a school-sponsored health insurance plan or you may waive this option if you are currently covered by a comparable insurance plan of your own. We strongly encourage you to contact our Health Services Office to discuss your plan prior to filing your insurance waiver.

The following information is required to obtain a student visa if you are accepted and plan to enroll at Catawba College:

1. A PDF Color Photocopy of your passport (required for all applicants from outside of the U.S)
2. Original English translated bank statement from bank. Bank statement must be within 6 months of submission.
   • Statement must show the estimated out-of-pocket is available in the account.
   • Sponsor's name must be present on the bank statement. 
3. I-20 Application and Financial Declaration (available in admissions portal upon confirmed enrollment)

Students must schedule an appointment with the consulate in their home country to be considered for a visa. Find out more on how to obtain your student visa online.

Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are generally assigned to those who are authorized to work in the United States. International students have certain regulations when it comes to work, including the most important ones below:

• your job needs to be on-campus employment
• you cannot work more than 20 hours per week
• you will need to apply for a Social Security card once you have found an on-campus employment opportunity (you cannot start work before you have a Social Security card)

On-Campus Employment:

• you first need to find an on-campus employment opportunity and then provide a letter from your prospective employer to Dr. Kerstin Rudolph or Dr. Annie O'Brien
• a letter will then be provided to you confirming that you are properly enrolled at Catawba College and are in good standing 
• you will take both letters to the local Social Security Office to apply for a Social Security card

International students are eligible to obtain a North Carolina Driver's License or a state ID Card. We highly recommend that you obtain one of these for identification purposes.

A Driver's License allows you to operate a vehicle and serves as a means of identification.

A State ID Card serves as a means of identification but does not allow you to operate a vehicle.

There are many banking options in Salisbury and Rowan County. When selecting a bank, it is important to consider factors such as accessibility, availability of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and bank fees.

Local Bank Accounts

Having a local bank account can be quite convenient for international students.  In general, a Social Security Number (SSN) is not required to open an bank account, so you should present the following documents when opening an account:

• Passport
• Immigration Paperwork (Form I-94 and Form I-20 or DS-2019, I-797 Approval notice)
• If you do not have a Social Security Number, you will be asked to complete a form W-8BEN for tax purposes

Debit Cards

Debit cards are linked to your bank account and are a great alternative to carrying cash. Debit cards are often issued with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) needed for purchases and ATM withdrawals. To keep your PIN secure, keep it in a separate location than your debit card and do not share it with anyone to avoid unauthorized purchases and withdrawals. Banks may have different restrictions on the use of debit cards, so be sure you understand the specific terms of use for the bank you choose. We recommend keeping track of your account balance to avoid costly overdraft fees.

Credit Cards

In most cases, a Social Security Number will be required to apply for a credit card. There are many credit card options with a wide variety of applicable fees, so it is important to do research before selecting a credit card. Avoid companies which charge exorbitant “insurance” fees. Some credit card companies require a secured credit card for those without Social Security Numbers, which requires funds on deposit for the credit limit on the card.

Wiring Money

In order to wire money to a U.S. bank account, you will generally be required to have the following information (check your bank for details). Additional fees may apply.

• Names of both banks, addresses and telephone numbers
• Account numbers for both banks
• Routing number for the accepting bank
  

Cell Phones

As an International Student, you will likely want to purchase a cell phone in the U.S. if you did not bring one with you from your home country. Options include:

• Pre-Paid: If you do not want to enter into a long-term contract with a cell phone company, this option allows you to add and use minutes to a cell phone without any commitment. Pre-paid phones can be found in grocery stores or larger retail stores.
• Long-Term Contract: Most cellphone companies offer this option and you should not need a Social Security Number (SSN) to take advantage of this option. This option generally requires a deposit. 

Other Options

• Pre-Paid Phone Cards: These can be purchased at most local grocery stores and allow you to make calls internationally. Note that if you use a pre-paid phone card to call from your cell phone, you are also deducting from your allowed minutes. It is best to use pre-paid phone cards from a land line, but you should confirm with your service provider that you will not incur any additional charges.

Additional Information

• Use the 704 area code for calls within the Rowan County/Salisbury area. 
• Calls outside of this area must be dialed using a “1” then the area code corresponding to that location.
• Toll-free calls begin with 1800-, 1866-, 1877-, and 1888-. These calls are usually free of charge. Note: calls beginning with 1900- are often very expensive.

For International Students wishing to invite their family to visit the U.S, the following information will assist family members in applying for a tourist visa.

Invitation Letter

You must write an invitation letter to your visiting family members explaining the reason for their visit. Include the following information:

1. Reason for Visit (i.e. vacation, commencement, visit student, etc.)
2. Duration of Stay and Approximate Dates of Visit
3. Source of Visitor(s)’ Financial Support throughout the Stay (i.e. who will pay for the trip)

Learn More:

• Department of State
• U.S. Embassy
• Visa Wait Times

Grocery Stores

• Harris Teeter | 850 Jake Alexander Blvd W, Salisbury, NC 28144
• Food Lion | 123 Mahaley Ave, Salisbury, NC 28144
• ALDI | 920 Jake Alexander Blvd W, Salisbury, NC 28147
  

Banks

• Wells Fargo | 1300 W Innes St, Salisbury, NC 28144
• F&M Bank | 221 Statesville Blvd, Salisbury, NC 28144
  

General Shopping

• Walmart | 323 S Arlington St, Salisbury, NC 28144
  

Postal Services

• USPS | 605 E Innes St, Salisbury, NC 28144

Learn about the Federal Work-Study and Campus Employment Programs at Catawba, which allow undergraduate students to work as a part-time employee of Catawba College. 

View this helpful guide for graduating students who are applying for OPT and the Stem OPT extension:

Sprintax

Sprintx makes U.S. tax compliance easy for nonresident students to ensure fully compliant Federal and State tax returns. It is the only online self-preparation software that will guide you through each part of the tax preparation process.

Read More

Getting Started

1. Create a Sprintax account or login to your existing account
2. Answer some simple questions
3. If you have received an access code or Sprintax discount code, enter it in the “review your order” section
4. Sprintax will prepare the necessary tax return(s)
5. Download and print your tax form(s)*
6. Sign and send the forms to the relevant tax department as per the instructions provided in the return pack
   
   *Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to E-file your Federal tax return.

Guide: How to Fill out the Sprintax Questionnaire

Below is a how-to-guide on filling out the first step of the Sprintax questionnaire. After you create your Sprintax account and choose the tax year you’d like to file for, you will arrive at the residency status page. Here is how you can easily determine your residency status before proceeding through the Sprintax tax preparation process.

Nonresident Tax Webinars (EAP)

In these webinars, international student, scholars and professionals will be run through everything they need to know about nonresident tax for the 2024 tax season. Topics will include who must file, tax residency, FICA, State returns, implications of misfiling as well as how to use Sprintax to prepare a compliant tax return.

• Tuesday, March 11th @ 2pm EST – Register here
• Thursday, March 27th @ 1pm EST – Register here
• Thursday, April 3rd @ 1pm EST – Register here
• Thursday, April 10th @ 2pm EST – Register here
• Monday, April 14th @ 11am EST – Register here

OPT Webinars - Sprintax Nonresident Tax Overview for OPT/CPT (E)
Topics covered will include residency for tax purposes, tax liabilities when on OPT/CPT and preemployment tax forms when on OPT/CPT. The Sprintax team will also provide an overview of Sprintax Forms which can be used to prepare your pre-OPT/CPT employment tax documents.

• Thursday, March 27th @12pm EST – Register here

FAQs

What documents and information might I need to have available when preparing my tax forms?

• Passport
• US entry and exit dates for current and all past visits to the US
• All income forms: Final payslips, W2 forms, 1042-S and/or 1099
• Visa/Immigration Status information, including Form I-20 (if applicable)
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you do not have an ITIN, Sprintax can help you get one!
• If you are using Sprintax for State tax return(s) preparation only, you will need a copy of your already prepared Federal tax return (for the current and previous years, if you filed any)

How long can I access my Sprintax online account for?
You can access your online account any time you like and if you choose to use our service in subsequent tax years, you can still access the same account.

Where can I enter my access code (discount code)?
Simply enter the code on the Sprintax ‘Review Your Order’ page to get your discount. You must have a different access code for each tax year and each code can only be used once.

How can I get help?
The Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat facility.

Other Tips!

• Forgot your password? Reset it by clicking “Forgot your password” and follow the instructions.
• Make sure you use a valid and current email address. If you forget your password, a reset password email will be sent to the email address you gave us, so if you can’t access it, confirm what address you used to register on Sprintax.
• Make sure that you have all income documents for the tax year you’re applying for.
• If you need to reprint or modify your tax return, simply access your online account at sprintax.com.

Access free downloadable tools and resources which make it easier for you to follow the U.S. government rules and regulations that govern the International Student process: