Austin
From Foreignliving
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''Note: most of the US-related pages are stubs for now. Help out by filling information or asking someone you know to contribute''. | ''Note: most of the US-related pages are stubs for now. Help out by filling information or asking someone you know to contribute''. | ||
| - | This page is part of a broader series of information pages aimed at helping the Pakistani/Muslim community in the US. Here you will find Austin-specific information only, for general information on living in the US, see Living in the US. | + | This page is part of a broader series of information pages aimed at helping the Pakistani/Muslim community in the US. Here you will find Austin-specific information only, for general information on living in the US, see [[USA:_Current_Residents|Living in the US]]. |
Austin is the capital of Texas, and home to the University of Texas at Austin, better known as simply UT Austin. | Austin is the capital of Texas, and home to the University of Texas at Austin, better known as simply UT Austin. | ||
Austin is known as the live music capital of the world. | Austin is known as the live music capital of the world. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Essential Paperwork== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Social Security=== | ||
| + | (Office location and instructions go here. Who's eligible and who's not. Can you get SSN if you dont work? What if you're on a scholarship) | ||
| + | |||
| + | The social-security cards assigned to non-resident aliens say "For work authorization only". As such, they are often rejected by many services that usually ask for social security numbers, such as when applying for a credit card at Bank of America. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Texas State ID=== | ||
| + | Highly recommended. Helps avoid carrying your passport everywhere, and ringing alarm bells whenever someone sees as Pakistani ID. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Driver's License=== | ||
| + | Highly recommended. Will help reduce insurance premium a few years from now, even if you don't drive in the meantime. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *(where to get it from? The general procedure) | ||
| + | *(online link for the texas drivers handbook) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Banking== | ||
| + | (It would be nice if someone could import information from the International Office's one-page handout on opening bank accounts, which specifies which of them require a SSN and which of them don't, etc.) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Opening a Bank Account=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Bank of America==== | ||
| + | Pros: | ||
| + | *Does not require social security number. | ||
| + | * Allows online transfer to other Bank of America customers (although this feature doesn't work for most people) | ||
| + | * Free unlimited teller services (at branches which provide such services) | ||
| + | * Free unlimited online transfers within your own checking/savings accounts | ||
| + | * ATMs located throughout Austin, several on or near UT Campus. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Cons: | ||
| + | *For UT students: The campus (bevo) branch is quite impotent: does not have teller services and cannnot resolve most issues without referring to one of the main branches at Lamar or in downtown. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====University Federal Credit Union==== | ||
| + | Pros: | ||
| + | *Does not require | ||
| + | *For UT students: Guadalupe branch is a stone's throw from the UT campus. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Cons: | ||
| + | *Only two teller services within a calendar month are free. Subsequent teller-visits incur a $2 charge, although such visits are generally not needed. Visits to the branch with general questions do not count as teller visits. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *ATMs on campus, but not in Austin in general. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ===Credit Card=== | ||
| + | Getting a credit card is the first step towards building your credit history. Without a credit history, you're screwed, and will have to make deposits in hundreds of dollars for every contract you make with the telephone company, cable service etc. Newcomers given a "secured credit card", which requires a deposit equal to the amount of your credit limit before issuing the card, essentially working as a debit card. This does not build your credit history. Students are recommended to try for student credit cards instead. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ====Bank of America==== | ||
| + | Not recommended. Secured credit card does not help build credit history, requires extra cash to submit as the deposit amount. Long process, unreliable online service. | ||
| + | |||
| + | (add external link here) | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ====University Federal Credit Union===== | ||
| + | Provides normal (not deposit-based) credit cards to students. New graduate students get a credit limit of $2000. Approval usually comes through in 24hours. Assessment of online service not known. | ||
| + | |||
| + | (add external link here). | ||
==Things to do in Austin== | ==Things to do in Austin== | ||
| - | Zilker park (add details). | + | * Zilker park (add details). |
| - | Live music (where? urls?) | + | * Live music (where? urls?) |
| - | Lake (add details) | + | * Lake (add details) |
| Line 26: | Line 84: | ||
UT computer science graduate program was ranked 7 by US News in 2005/6 but is rumored to have slipped to 9 or 10. Add other rankings here. | UT computer science graduate program was ranked 7 by US News in 2005/6 but is rumored to have slipped to 9 or 10. Add other rankings here. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Finding TAships/RAships=== | ||
| + | (Advice on finding TAships and RAships) | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ===Getting Internships=== | ||
| + | (mention career center links) | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ===Salary and Tax related paperwork=== | ||
| + | (this section needs more info) | ||
| + | |||
| + | A US-Pakistani agreement waives taxes on the first $3000 or $3500 or earnings. Be sure to get the appropriate form from the tower building before submitting first month's paperwork. | ||
| + | |||
| + | If it takes time for your social security card to arrive, you can ask the university to assign you a temporary social security number in the meantime. (where to go and who to ask? how does it work?) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Student Resources=== | ||
| + | * UT library (needs external link) | ||
| + | * Laptop check out service (from PCL and FAC libraries) | ||
| + | * [http://z.cs.utexas.edu/wiki/gracs.wiki] UT computer science wiki (a work in progress) | ||
| + | * UT legal department, helps students with legal disputes such as car insurance, landlord/tenant disputes. | ||
| + | * UT Health Center (add details) | ||
==Internet== | ==Internet== | ||
| Line 46: | Line 126: | ||
==Grocery Shopping== | ==Grocery Shopping== | ||
(Where to go and how to get there?) | (Where to go and how to get there?) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Getting a Car== | ||
| + | (Why or why not? Where from? What is needed? Insurance and other stuff) | ||
Revision as of 03:23, 23 November 2006
Note: most of the US-related pages are stubs for now. Help out by filling information or asking someone you know to contribute.
This page is part of a broader series of information pages aimed at helping the Pakistani/Muslim community in the US. Here you will find Austin-specific information only, for general information on living in the US, see Living in the US.
Austin is the capital of Texas, and home to the University of Texas at Austin, better known as simply UT Austin.
Austin is known as the live music capital of the world.
Contents |
Essential Paperwork
Social Security
(Office location and instructions go here. Who's eligible and who's not. Can you get SSN if you dont work? What if you're on a scholarship)
The social-security cards assigned to non-resident aliens say "For work authorization only". As such, they are often rejected by many services that usually ask for social security numbers, such as when applying for a credit card at Bank of America.
Texas State ID
Highly recommended. Helps avoid carrying your passport everywhere, and ringing alarm bells whenever someone sees as Pakistani ID.
Driver's License
Highly recommended. Will help reduce insurance premium a few years from now, even if you don't drive in the meantime.
- (where to get it from? The general procedure)
- (online link for the texas drivers handbook)
Banking
(It would be nice if someone could import information from the International Office's one-page handout on opening bank accounts, which specifies which of them require a SSN and which of them don't, etc.)
Opening a Bank Account
Bank of America
Pros:
- Does not require social security number.
- Allows online transfer to other Bank of America customers (although this feature doesn't work for most people)
- Free unlimited teller services (at branches which provide such services)
- Free unlimited online transfers within your own checking/savings accounts
- ATMs located throughout Austin, several on or near UT Campus.
Cons:
- For UT students: The campus (bevo) branch is quite impotent: does not have teller services and cannnot resolve most issues without referring to one of the main branches at Lamar or in downtown.
University Federal Credit Union
Pros:
- Does not require
- For UT students: Guadalupe branch is a stone's throw from the UT campus.
Cons:
- Only two teller services within a calendar month are free. Subsequent teller-visits incur a $2 charge, although such visits are generally not needed. Visits to the branch with general questions do not count as teller visits.
- ATMs on campus, but not in Austin in general.
Credit Card
Getting a credit card is the first step towards building your credit history. Without a credit history, you're screwed, and will have to make deposits in hundreds of dollars for every contract you make with the telephone company, cable service etc. Newcomers given a "secured credit card", which requires a deposit equal to the amount of your credit limit before issuing the card, essentially working as a debit card. This does not build your credit history. Students are recommended to try for student credit cards instead.
Bank of America
Not recommended. Secured credit card does not help build credit history, requires extra cash to submit as the deposit amount. Long process, unreliable online service.
(add external link here)
University Federal Credit Union=
Provides normal (not deposit-based) credit cards to students. New graduate students get a credit limit of $2000. Approval usually comes through in 24hours. Assessment of online service not known.
(add external link here).
Things to do in Austin
- Zilker park (add details).
- Live music (where? urls?)
- Lake (add details)
Housing
Doctors and Health Insurance
Insert recommendations and general advice here.
UT Austin
Longhorns! Add info here!
Does anyone know how many Pakistanis are studying at UT, or any other interesting stats?
UT computer science graduate program was ranked 7 by US News in 2005/6 but is rumored to have slipped to 9 or 10. Add other rankings here.
Finding TAships/RAships
(Advice on finding TAships and RAships)
Getting Internships
(mention career center links)
Salary and Tax related paperwork
(this section needs more info)
A US-Pakistani agreement waives taxes on the first $3000 or $3500 or earnings. Be sure to get the appropriate form from the tower building before submitting first month's paperwork.
If it takes time for your social security card to arrive, you can ask the university to assign you a temporary social security number in the meantime. (where to go and who to ask? how does it work?)
Student Resources
- UT library (needs external link)
- Laptop check out service (from PCL and FAC libraries)
- [1] UT computer science wiki (a work in progress)
- UT legal department, helps students with legal disputes such as car insurance, landlord/tenant disputes.
- UT Health Center (add details)
Internet
Most Pakistanis subscribe to Time Warner's Cable Internet (RoadRunner) (external link needed), which offers a discounted rate of $29.95 per month for the first six months.
AT&T also has a special discounted package for UT students (http://www.att.com/U). AT&T is a DSL service.
Cable/Satellite TV
Enter recommendations or general advice here.
Telephone
(How important is it to have a cell phone? Cell phone vs. land-line).
Most cell-phone providers charge by air-time (in minutes), whether you initiate or receive calls.
Major providers in Austin are: T-mobile, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon (external links needed).
(Pros and cons of each package? Or user experience and general advice?)
Grocery Shopping
(Where to go and how to get there?)
Getting a Car
(Why or why not? Where from? What is needed? Insurance and other stuff)
