Understanding Your I-94 Arrival and Departure Record 

Every individual lawfully admitted to the United States on an F, J, H, E, TN or O visa will have a Form I-94 Arrival and Departure Record created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This is one of the most critical documents supporting your valid immigration status in the United States. For J-1, H-1B, E-3, TN and O-1 visa holders, the I-94 proves your valid authorization to work in the U.S.

Upon arrival in the U.S., you can retrieve your I-94 record by going to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's I-94 website. Please be sure to retrieve and review information on the I-94 for accuracy. Print and save the document for future use.

Information Needed for I-94 Retrieval

First and last name
Date of birth
Passport number
Passport country of issuance

Understanding I-94 Information

Admission (I-94) record number: This is your unique record number.
Most recent date of entry: Your last entry to the United States
Class of admission: The type of visa used for your last entry to the United States. Review and make sure that it is accurate. Being admitted to the wrong class (visa type) may impact your ability to study, work, or stay in the United States.
Admit until date: This information varies depending on the Class of Admission (type of visa).
- "D/S" with no specific date for J and F visa holders
- A specific date matching your I-797 approval notice end date (or with an additional 10 days) for H-1B, E-3, and O-1 visa holders
- A specific date up to three years from the date of entry date for TN visa holders

How to Correct Information on I-94
If you notice any incorrect information on the I-94, particularly your name, class of admission and the admit until date, please immediately contact a deferred inspections site associated with your port of entry for correction. Many deferred inspection sites, including Los Angeles, offer an I-94 correction request email option.

Understanding Your Visa and Immigration Status

There is a difference between the two terminologies.

Visa
Visa (or visa stamp) refers to the stamp or sticker placed on your passport. It is used only to enter the U.S. Your visa stamp must be valid, and the visa type (category) must be appropriate to allow you to come and work (or study) in the U.S.

Immigration Status

Immigration status refers to the legal category on your I-94 record under class of admission. If your class of admission is H-1B, E-3, or O-1, the admit until date on the I-94 record is your immigration status expiration date. However, if your class of admission is F-1 or J-1, your ability to stay in the U.S will refer to your I-20 or DS-2019 instead.

Expiration of Visa vs. Immigration Status

A visa stamp is only an entry document and can expire after you have arrived in the U.S. However, you must always maintain a valid immigration status in the U.S. You can only renew a visa stamp outside the U.S., but you can renew your immigration status within the U.S.

Social Security Number

A Social Security number is an identification number used for reporting wages to the U.S. government, tracking Social Security benefits and for other identification purposes. Visa holders without a U.S. income, a U.S. employment status or a U.S. work authorization may be ineligible for Social Security number.

We recommend waiting 10 days after arrival in the U.S to apply for a Social Security number to update your information in all government databases. Once you have obtained a Social Security card, please keep it in a safe place (the same place you would keep other important papers/documents) and avoid giving it out unnecessarily.

More Information

Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a tax-processing number only available for certain international students and scholars, their spouses and dependents, who cannot get a Social Security number. It is a nine-digit number, beginning with 9, formatted like a Social Security number (NNN-NN-NNNN).

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Driver's License

To apply for a California driver's license, you must review the California DMV homepage and make an appointment at a local Department of Motor Vehicles office.

If you are a J-1 or F-1 visa holder, completing the J-1 Validation/ F-1 registration process is best and waiting up to 10 days after arrival before applying.

Please take original documents with you when applying for a driver's license. Below is a list of what you may need when using.

Valid passport (with valid visa stamp, if applicable)
Immigration documents, such as:
- Form I-20 for F-1, F-1 OPT/STEM OPT
- Form DS-2019 for J-1
- Form I-797, Notice of Action for H-1B, O-1, E-3 (if available) and TN (if available)
Form I-94, arrival and departure document
Two documents demonstrating proof of California residence (proof that you live in California, such as utility bills or documents with your California residence)
A Social Security card or a denial letter, if you are not eligible

For more information on how to apply for a California driver's license, see the CA DMV website.

Taxes

Visa holders earning an income in the U.S. are generally subject to filing two types of taxes:

Federal tax
California state tax

The season of filing your taxes takes place during mid-April. Filing your taxes can also be referred to as filing tax returns. You will need to obtain either a W-2 or 1099 or other forms from City of Hope's Payroll Services to file your taxes.

For more information on tax filing for international students and scholars, including how to determine whether you are a nonresident alien for tax filing purposes, visit the IRS website.

Tax preparation can be complicated. You are strongly encouraged to consult tax professionals when needed. The International Student and Scholar Office staff are not tax professionals and cannot advise on taxes. For questions regarding City of Hope's tax withholding, please contact Payroll Services at payroll@coh.org.

Helpful Articles

Housing

Once you decide to come to City of Hope, you may want to find an apartment or home as soon as possible, as the City of Hope does not provide housing assistance.

Here are some suggested neighborhoods for your housing search (however, your options are not limited to these areas): Alhambra, South Pasadena, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Temple City, Rosemead, Arcadia, Glendora, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Irwindale, Monrovia and Azuza.

If you want to avoid having a personal car, consider staying near public transportation routes such as the Metro A line, which stops in front of the City of Hope Los Angeles campus in Duarte, California.

Where to Find Housing

Word of Mouth: You may ask your future manager, mentor, friends already in the Los Angeles area or colleagues. This avenue can be a helpful way of discovering available local homes that fit your needs.
Stay with a family: After a child leaves for college, families often open a spare room for rent. The rooms often come furnished with utilities included in the rent. This convenient living arrangement allows foreign nationals to settle down quickly. Also, you can observe and interact with a typical American family.
Internet Websites: Visit websites like www.apartmentguide.com, www.apartments.com, https://www.zillow.com/los-angeles-ca/apartments/, and www.trulia.com. Or, do a Google search of apartments in the neighborhood you want to live in, but please note that some websites charge a fee to view listings.
City of Hope Intranet: Once you arrive at City of Hope, you may visit the intranet's e-Board Classifieds to search for property rentals, furniture and other goods listed by our community members. City of Hope doesn't authorize or sponsor any transaction that may take place. If you are a postdoctoral fellow, you can also search and visit the Postdoctoral Association page.

Tips For Your Housing Search

Finding the best apartment available requires diligence. Sometimes, you may need to make many phone calls and schedule appointments. We recommend starting your search as soon as possible. Consider arriving at least one week before your City of Hope start date. This will give you time to secure lodging before you start working full-time. Once you start working, looking at apartments will become more challenging.

Keep your checkbook with you. When you find a good apartment, you must prepare to act upon it quickly. Suitable apartments stay vacant for a short time.
Compile your rental information. Write down your housing information, before you start visiting apartments. See a sample apartment application form.
Consider safety and local schools. Research which areas you will feel comfortable living in, such as neighborhoods with ideal school districts for any children you may have.
Check transportation. If you plan to have a car and your housing does not provide a parking spot, you may need to apply for a city permit, as many streets do not allow overnight parking.

Tools like Google Maps offer travel options if you plan to use public transportation. Depending on where you live, you may need to make multiple transfers. Remember that buses and trains may have limited schedules during non-rush hours or on weekends and holidays.
Dress and groom professionally. Landlords of outstanding units usually have their pick of several applicants. They are looking for people who can:
- Pay rent on time
- Treat the property with respect
- Maintain quiet and rapport with neighbors

Financial Concerns Before Signing a Housing Contract

Budget for Rent and Move In: The recommendation is to spend at most 30% of your monthly gross income on rent. A tenant may be responsible for utilities like electricity, gas, internet, etc. When you first move in, you may want to furnish your apartment or purchase household items.
First Month's Rent and Security Deposit: In the first month, landlords often charge more than the month's rent. Before signing a lease, you should find out what the landlord will charge and get these terms in writing.

The security deposit is equivalent to about one to two month's rent. At the end of your lease, the landlord will inspect and determine whether any repairs are needed for damage beyond the usual wear and tear.

Then, the landlord will deduct the money needed for any repairs from your security deposit and return the remaining balance to you. If you've maintained the apartment well, the landlord may return the deposit to you in full.
Cleaning Fee: This fee is what the landlord charges to clean after you vacate the premises.
Last Month's Rent: Some landlords will ask for the rent in advance. This protects the landlord if a tenant leaves the premises without giving a warning. Unlike the security deposit, this charge is nonrefundable.
Renter's Insurance: While voluntary, renter's insurance protects you in case someone breaks into your apartment or there is a fire or water damage. You can buy renters insurance from an insurance company, not the landlord.
Parking: Most apartments around Duarte and its neighboring cities do not charge a monthly parking fee, but check with the landlord.

Short-Term Housing

Homestays involve living with a family in their home. Different preferences for boarding, like meals included and laundry access, are available. Short-term exchange students often participate in homestays.

Homestay Companies

If you cannot secure housing before arrival, consider staying at a local motel or hotel for the first few days. Airbnb rentals are great for first checking out areas where you may want to live.

Airport Transfers and Local Public Transportation

Airport Transfers
When planning your travel, you might see multiple airports in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas. However, most international students and scholars will arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Once you have arranged your flight and confirmed your arrival day, you should know how to travel from the airport to your destination. There are various options for ground transportation in the Los Angeles surrounding areas, including, but not limited to:

LAX FlyAway bus
Taxi cabs
Ride share apps

Please visit the LAX Traffic and Ground Transportation page for a more inclusive list of available transportation and airport transfer options.

Local Public Transportation

Foothill Transit (a multi-cities transit bus system serving nearby cities to near City of Hope including Duarte, Monrovia, Arcadia, Pasadena, Downtown Los Angeles and many more)
Metro (Los Angeles bus and rail system) — City of Hope is near the Metro A line.
Metrolink (a commuter rail system in Southern California)
Amtrak (a long-distance, interstate train system)

School

Los Angeles is home to a multitude of educational institutions, offering a broad spectrum of options. Whether your family prefers public schools, charter schools, private or parochial schools, or even home schooling, there are many alternatives.

The California School Directory is a comprehensive resource for public schools, private schools (inclusive of nonpublic nonsectarian schools), school districts, and county offices of education within California. You can access additional information through this directory.

Banking

Setting up a bank account in the United States can simplify the life of an international student or scholar while living in the United States and safeguard their finances. There are various types of accounts available, including savings and checking accounts. For international students or scholars, choosing a checking account at a bank that doesn't require a minimum balance or charging ATM fees could be a suitable choice. It's also a good idea to select a bank with a nearby branch or ATM conveniently located close to their living accommodations.

How to Open a U.S. Bank Account

Weekend Activities Around Town

Weekend activities can enrich cultural and social awareness and support mental health.

Below are examples of activities for international students and scholars and their accompanying family members (if applicable) to enjoy during their time in Southern California. While some options may require a fee, plenty of fantastic free alternatives are available.

Hiking close to City of Hope

Hiking (around Los Angeles)

Parks (around Duarte)

Parks (around Los Angeles)

Beaches

Places within 10 miles of City of Hope

Places more than 10 miles from City of Hope

Places Outside the Greater Los Angeles Area

Resources for New International Students and Scholars