Office of International Affairs

Useful Links

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Tax Information for Foreign Students and Scholars — Foreigners temporarily present in the United States as students, scholars, teachers, researchers, exchange visitors, and cultural exchange visitors are subject to special rules with respect to the taxation of their income. This web page contains extensive information on the rules and requirements for those individuals.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Social Security Number — Information on how and when you can obtain a Social Security Number.

Date Calculator Tool from NAFSA for immigration processing
Case Status Online to check the status of a pending case while at USCIS, with an application Receipt Number
Processing Times at DHS Service Centers in the US
Processing Times at US Consulates Abroad
Visa Bulletin - summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers for family-sponsored and employment-based preferential categories
U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions around the world
Foreign Consular Offices in the Unites States

New in The United States, the State of Texas, and/or the Texas Medical Center?

Whichever the visa status category, you will benefit from learning the following information prior to coming to the United States and as you are joining UTHealth:

Learning about the U.S. Higher Education System in the U.S. - Education USA: Your Guide to U.S. Higher Education
Study in the States - DHS
The UT System
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Visiting and living in Houston:

Consult the Official Site of the City of Houston
Become familiar with the Texas Medical Center (TMC)
Find your way around the TMC

Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS)

DPS Announced New Residency Requirements For Driver Licenses, Identification Cards, effective May 7, 2012.

All new applicants will also be required to present two acceptable documents containing the applicant’s name and address to establish proof of residency in the state of Texas.

To meet the residency requirement for an original identification card or driver license, an applicant must:

Reside in Texas for at least 30 days prior to application
Present two acceptable documents establishing proof of residency, one of which must demonstrate the applicant has lived in Texas at least 30 days

The 30-day requirement is waived for applicants who surrender a valid, unexpired out-of-state driver license, but two documents establishing proof of residency are still required.

For a complete list of acceptable residency documents and additional details, please visit http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/residencyReqNonCDL.htm.

For a complete list of identification requirements for a Texas Driver's License or identification card visit http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/identificationrequirements.htm

Applying for a Driver's License or a State Identification Card - SEVP Fact Sheet, as of 01-17-2012.