Many resources are available for current international students. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us, at the numbers below.
Mandatory Health Insurance
Health, Major Medical and Life
All International students and dependents are required to enroll in the Major Medical Hospitalization/Surgical Insurance Plan approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR). No outside insurance policies will be accepted as substitutes for the BOR policy. The only exception to this rule is if you are covered by your government's insurance. Documentation of this is necessary. If any of your dependents are with you here in the United States, it is required that you purchase insurance coverage for them also. Again, the only acceptable policy for you and your dependents is the BOR policy. Questions about health insurance should be directed to the Ivanhoe International Center.
Medical costs in the U.S. are very high; any hospitalization or surgery or major medical problem could lead to the curtailment of your study and stay in the U.S. Contact the Ivanhoe International Center for more information
Health Insurance Plan approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents
Health Plan
Health Insurance enrollment form for SDSM&T
Enrollment Form
South Dakota Board of Regents Policy on Health Insurance:
http://www.sdbor.edu/policy/3-Student_Affairs/documents/3-14.pdf
ESL web Resources
English as a second language tutoring provided through the international student ministry to help students sharpen their English skills.
This information applies to the Rapid City, South Dakota Social Security office.
Most international students at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology apply for a Social Security Number within their first semester at SDSM&T. In order to apply for a number at the local Social Security office, you must be in valid F-1 or J-1 status and you must have an on campus job or job offer.
When you go to apply for a Social Security number, you must take the following items:
Application form (available at: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf)
- I-20 form (for F-1 students) or IAP-66 form (for J-1 students)
- Passport
- I-94 card (stapled inside your passport)
- Job or job offer letter on department letterhead
- Letter from designated school official (DSO, at the Ivanhoe International Center)
The Social Security office is located at 605 Main Street, Suite 201. You will go down a hallway to an elevator, which will take you to the second floor. Upon entering the Social Security office, take a number!! You must have a number, or you will not be helped.
Once you have filed the application properly, it will take 2-4 weeks to receive your Social Security card. When you receive it, please bring it to the Ivanhoe International Center. We will make a copy of it for our records, and we will change your identification number in the main computer system. You should use your Social Security number as your ID number from this point on.
Make sure you always keep your Social Security card in a safe place. The number you receive now is the number you will have for the rest of your life.
ALL international students must file an income tax return, even if the student does not have any income!!!!
The type of form you file and the deadline is based on whether or not you had any income. If you had any income at all, the filing deadline is April 15. If you did not have any income at all, then the filing deadline is June 15.
This page provides links to general information for income tax requirements for F-1 students.
Internal Revenue Service
International Student Taxes (This is a fee-based site.)
Helpful links at other universities
University of Texas at Austin
Free tax assistance is also offered on campus, beginning in mid to late February.
ESL Web Resources
These resources should be used in conjunction with a traditional ESL program. The resources listed here are supplemental and are not intended to replace vital classroom instruction.
UsingEnglish.com
www.englishlearner.com
http://www.englishgrammar.org/
Forvo - "All the words in the world. Pronounced"
Howjsay - English pronouncing dictionary with instant sound
Suggestions from National American University:
www.eslcafe.com - Dave's ESL Café - includes idioms, vocabulary, quizzes, chat rooms, etc.
www.manythings.org - Interesting Things for ESL students - includes games, puzzles, quizzes, vocabulary, reading, and pronunciation - minimal pairs, songs, etc.
www.esl-lab.com - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab; listening practice for students, improving comprehension skills through practice, self-grading
http://towerofenglish.com/a-z.html Links to ESL web sites, Idioms/Slang section
http://www.esl.about.com - good grammar resources and quizzes.
From the University of South Dakota's ESL page:
http://www.usd.edu/esl/webresources.cfm