This information is for general orientation only and does not constitute legal, tax or medical advice. Always verify with the official sources cited.

Because bureaucracy in New York already matters before the flight

New York combines the most expensive rental market in the country (Manhattan often over $3,800/month for a studio apartment) with excellent public transportation. Outside of NYC, many SUNY campuses have more manageable costs.

Below you will find the federal rules (the same everywhere) and the New York only rules: driver’s license, state taxes, bank and university documents.

F-1 visa: step-by-step process (federal)

  1. Admission and I-20— University withSEVP certification; documented funds; signature on Form I-20.
  2. SEVIS I-901 fee— Payment onfmjfee.com; keep the receipt.
  3. DS-160— Question aboutCEAC; print confirmation with barcode.
  4. MRV fee and appointment— Interview at the US consulate/embassy in your country; indicative rate$185(check updated amount).
  5. Interview— Passport, I-20, economic proof, ties to the country of origin; answers consistent withnot immigration.
  6. Campus entrance and check-in— Within the I-20 deadlines; address report toDSO within a few days of changing residence.

After arrival in New York: local documents

New York DMV and driver’s license

In New York you must obtain a state license or ID throughNew York DMV within30 days from the residence (except for exemptions for students who do not drive - check on the site).REAL ID available; Enhanced ID for borders.

  1. Book an appointment onNew York DMV(online when possible).
  2. Bring: Passport, I-20, I-94, proof of address in New York, SSN or SSA denial letter.
  3. Pass theoretical/practical tests if required; pay state fee.
  4. Keep a temporary receipt until the card arrives.

SSN and ITIN

  • Request SSN only if you have an authorized job offer (CPT/OPT) or letter from the DSO.
  • For tax returns: State return required (in addition to federal).

Apostilles and documents from abroad

For birth certificates or diplomas used in New York, the appropriate office isNew York Department of State. Check if the university accepts notarized copies + certified translation instead of the full apostille.

Taxes and universities in New York

  • Income declaration: State declaration required (in addition to federal). Links:Tax Foundation.
  • In-state tuition fees (DACA/undocumented): eligible (Dream Act).
  • Typical campuses: Columbia, NYU, CUNY, SUNY, Cornell (Ithaca).

First week: operational checklist

  1. Check in with DSO and sign updated I-20 if necessary.
  2. Open account (documents: passport, I-20, address); Common banks: Chase, Citibank, TD Bank.
  3. Book New York DMV if you plan to drive or need REAL ID for domestic travel.
  4. Activate campus health insurance (tight deadlines - see Health guide).
  5. Save digital copies of I-20, passport, visa, I-94, rental agreement.

Frequent mistakes of international students

  • Working without authorization— Freelancing or remote work for foreign clients also violates F-1 status.
  • Address not updated in SEVIS— May block travel or renewals.
  • License expired or never applied for— In New York the deadline is 30 days: fines and problems with car insurance.
  • Confusing federal and state taxes— State declaration required (in addition to federal).

J-1 Visa (Exchange): Quick Differences

  • DS-2019 instead of I-20; program sponsor (university or institution).
  • Work and tenure rules depend on the category J — Responsible Officer on campus.
  • Specific insurance obligation J-1; do not cover with incomplete plan.

Travel and Sign I-20

  • Sign DSO travel endorsement before leaving the USA during your studies.
  • Grace period after end of program: do not work without new status.
  • Intercollegiate transfer: new I-20, SEVIS transfer within USCIS windows.

New York: DMV, Dream Act and Enhanced ID

  • NY Dream Act: Aid for non-status students at private SUNY/CUNY — separate from federal aid.
  • Enhanced ID: Useful for land travel to Canada without a passport in some cases.
  • DMV backlog: Book online; document wallet for proof of identity (6 ID points).
  • NY Statement: Form IT-201 if a NY tax resident — be careful if you work in two states.

Frequently Asked Questions (New York Red Tape)

  • Can I remain without a license? Yes if you don’t drive; for ID just DMV card without driving test in many states.
  • Do you need SSN to open account? It depends on the bank - ask for a list of documents first.
  • Change from F-1 to another status? Only with new petition/release — don’t improvise.

The data tables below the article summarize verified numbers for New York; for evolving amounts and deadlines, always use the official portals.

Sources

Broker fee

A NYC verifica se fee legale e chi paga — spesso tenant.

Quick reference

New York combina federal standard con NY Department of State, DMV e tax department (NY DTF). NYC aggiunge regole locali per lavoratori e affitti.

  • Federal rule: same in all states for visas
  • NY state tax + NYC resident tax se vivi nei 5 boroughs
  • REAL ID per voli domestici
  • CUNY/SUNY: tuition resident dopo 12 mesi dimora

Universities and pathways

SUNY / CUNY

State-specific rule

CUNY a NYC economico per residenti; SUNY spread nello stato. Community college poi transfer comune.

Private (Columbia, NYU, Cornell NYC)

State-specific rule

Costi altissimi; housing campus o borse quasi obbligatorie.

Excelsior Scholarship

State-specific rule

Tuition-free SUNY/CUNY per eleggibili residenti — internazionali esclusi.

International

Federal rule — same in all states

CPT/OPT federal; campus internazional office molto trafficato — appuntamenti anticipati.

Documents and setup

SSN e DMV NY

State-specific rule
  • SSN con job autorizzato
  • Learner permit → road test (NYC: pochi guidano)
  • ID card utile anche senza auto

Federal vs state

NYC vs resto stato

Federal + state

Affitto e lavoro: NYC Human Rights Law extra protections. Upstate: più simile Midwest.

State-specific data for New York: Bureaucracy & documents

Data verified: 2026-03

Federal rule — same in all states

Regola federale — uguale in tutti gli stati: status F-1/J-1, SEVIS, CPT/OPT gestiti da USCIS e DSO

REAL IDREAL ID available; Enhanced ID for border
Driver licensing agencyNew York DMV — DMV/DPS
New resident license deadline30 days
State income tax filingDichiarazione statale richiesta (oltre al federal)
ID for international studentsID/DL statale consigliato per banca e noleggi; visto F-1 non sostituisce documento locale
Apostille officeNew York Department of State
In-state tuition (undocumented/DACA)eligible (Dream Act)

Sources: DMV · USCIS · USA.gov

Official U.S. sources

Informational summary only—always read the latest official pages. Not legal, tax, or medical advice.

Student visas & SEVIS

Student visa policy and SEVIS are federal programs (U.S. Department of State and SEVIS/ICE).

Immigration status, student employment, work authorization

Rules for F/M/J students, CPT/OPT, and Form I-765 are published by USCIS. Confirm the current page before starting any work.

I-94 (admission / stay)

Electronic I-94 records are issued by CBP (Department of Homeland Security). Verify class and admit-until date after each entry.

REAL ID & motor vehicles (license / state ID)

REAL ID is a federal standard implemented by state motor-vehicle agencies. USA.gov links to state-level driver/ID services.

Social Security Number (SSN)

SSN assignment is handled by the Social Security Administration. Follow SSA’s official instructions for documents and appointments.