General Information About Travel

F1 students who leave the US must have the following documents in order to re-enter the US in F status:

• Valid passport (passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• Valid (unexpired) US visa stamp (page) in your passport (except for Canadian Citizens). If you need a new visa stamp click here.
• Valid I-20 form for F1 or F2 status, signed for travel on page 2 by an ISSO advisor or DSO (Jackie or Monica) within the last year (six months for Canadian students and students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training. Contact Cornell Tech Student & Academic Affairs if you need to update your travel signature or if you lost your I-20.
• Valid DS-2019 form for J1 or J2 status with current travel signature on the lower right hand side
• Evidence of financial funding (bring a copy of whatever funding is mentioned on your I-20 / DS-2019: TA/RA funding letter or bank statements for personal funds)
• Proof of enrollment (certificate of enrollment or transcript). You can obtain a certificate of enrollment from the registrar’s office or you can download the certificate from the registrar’s web site.

---

Financial Information for International Students

Life in The United States

Below are some tips to know about to help acclimate to living in America and New York. Despite its ethnically diverse population, there are generalizations about New Yorkers that continue to persist.  Many new to New York, both within and outside of the U.S., think that New Yorkers are rude and impatient, in a constant hurry, and jaded. Without a doubt, New York is a fast-paced city, but as you come to meet people who call New York home you will find that they have individual qualities to which you easily relate. There are, however, some tips you will want to follow to better immerse yourself in the local culture..  Tips are written under alphabetized headings.  

Alcohol/Smoking

• Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
• When going to a bar, always carry ID. Chances are that you will be asked to show proof of your age
• In NY, you cannot smoke in restaurants, places of business, and public parks. There are typically designated “smoking areas”.  If you smoke and wish to avoid offending those around you, ask permission to smoke in their vicinity. 

Animals/Pets 

• Pets are considered “part of the family”.
• There are animal protection laws to prevent animal cruelty.
• The most popular pets in the U.S. are dogs, cats, hamsters, and fish.

Bathroom

• When you go to the bathroom, close the door and make sure to lock it (if you can).  Sometimes stall doors have wide enough gaps to look through. Expect less privacy.
• Check to see that no one is using the bathroom before walking in to use it. 
• Restrooms are not appropriate places to have a long conversation 
• Once you are done, remember to flush the toilet and clean up after yourself
• Never leave a restroom without washing your hands. 

Classroom 

• Class discussion and participation are HIGHLY encouraged and may contribute to the overall grade.
• Students remain seated when the professor arrives or when the student’s name is called.
• Attendance is expected and critical.
• Understanding, not just memorizing class material is important.
• Using electronics in class can be considered rude, if the instructor asks otherwise. A number of Cornell Tech classes have a no electronics policy.
• Some professors allow eating and chewing gum in class. Check with your faculty or follow syllabus regulations.

Commuting

• When taking escalators, those who want to stand and use the escalator to move them up the incline generally stand to the right side of the escalator and those who want to walk up the escalator generally walk up on the left side.  

Dating 

• When a person says, “no”, he/she means “no”.
• Regardless of what someone is wearing, it is NOT an invitation to touch them.

Dress and Modesty Standards

• Students tend to dress casually during the daytime at school.
• While Cornell Tech is relatively informal, it is always a good idea to dress up a bit for presentations, corporate events, etc.

Driving Laws and Etiquette

• The frequency of honking is more limited compared to other parts of the world.
• If you will be driving while you are in The States, make sure that you follow local driving laws. Check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to learn the specific laws for the area. Some of these laws include:
  • Wearing a seatbelt
  • No texting while driving
  • Headlights must be on at night and while windshield wipers are in use. 

 

Eating 

• In general, Americans eat quietly with their mouths closed.
• Burping and slurping are seen as rude, 
• Americans like sweets!
• Generally, Americans have a more casual form of hospitality, eating such foods as burgers, sandwiches, and pizza with hands and no utensils.  .
• Americans tend to value convenience when it comes to food. They don’t spend as much time cooking and savoring their food.

 

Etiquette When Visiting a Home or at a Party

• When going to someone’s home, ask if they prefer for you to take your shoes off.   

Eye Contact

• People tend to appreciate when using eye contact during social interactions

 

Gender Issues, Interactions, and Perceptions

• Public affection is acceptable.
• Everyone should be treated fairly and respectfully.  It is normal for both men and women to share the responsibilities of the home and children.

Gestures

• While potentially offensive in many cultures, giving the “thumbs up” can mean, “Good!”, “That’s cool!”, “Congratulations!”, or “Good job!” in the USA.
• Pointing at people is often seen as rude.

Getting in Line

• People queue and wait their turn for things such as buying tickets, shopping, using the restroom, or waiting for a bus, etc.
• It is considered rude to cut in line or push your way through.

Healthcare

• The healthcare system is quite complicated in the US. Before you make a doctor’s appointment, make sure it’s “in-network” with your insurance to avoid paying a higher price. It’s good to build a relationship with a primary care physician (PCP) to whom you can reach out to with any health problem and who will refer you to the appropriate provider if your health problem needs more specialized attention. 

Money

• Asking how much money a person makes is considered taboo.   

Personal Hygiene

• Americans blow their noses with tissues and dispose of them in a trash can.
• If you need to sneeze, do so into your inner elbow opposed to your hands or in the air. 
• Tap water is clean enough to drink and to brush your teeth with.
• It is rude to spit in public.

Social Courtesies

• Smiles are basic signals of politeness, a non-verbal way of being friendly.
• Engaging in “Small talk” or polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters is acceptable & is considered “nice”.
• In the U.S., asking “How are you?” is not necessarily a request for your state of health, but rather a general greeting, to which one might respond by asking that same question.
• Most people prefer to have some personal space when engaging in conversation with others and stand about 2 feet apart when talking. 
• Ask if you can touch another person before doing so.  
• If you accidentally bump into someone, it is customary to say “excuse me” to explain that the touch was accidental.  Don’t be offended if you are on the subway and no one takes a seat next to you; they are looking for a seat with the most personal space.  

• Most people shake hands firmly and briefly when they meet for the first time or in a formal situation.
• When people are good friends or family, they will sometimes hug each other to say hello, goodbye or thank you.
• Kissing as a greeting, however, is usually only done between relatives and close friends (on the cheek) or between lovers (on the lips).
• Displays of affection are acceptable in public.
• Blocking traffic: If at all possible, do not come to a sudden stop in the middle of the sidewalk or decide to hold a group discussion in a heavily trafficked place.  If you wish to stop or slow down you should move to the side to allow others to pass.

Standards of Safety

• Bike helmets are encouraged.

Time Management

• The work/class week runs Monday-Friday. Saturdays and Sundays are both set apart as the “weekend”.
• It is important to show up to class, meetings, and social gatherings on time.

Tipping

• Tipping your server 15%-20% is customary. 
• Tipping a NYC green/yellow cab driver (not Uber, Lyft, Via, etc.) is a common practice in New York City; those are generally 15-20%
• Tipping delivery people is generally 10%
• No tips are needed at fast food restaurants, for “carry out”, or coffee shops.

Trash, Littering, and Recycling

• In general, littering is greatly frowned upon and each state has its own littering law.
• The idea of recycling has become very popular to help take care of the environment.
• Cornell Tech recycles items; please follow the instructions posted near the garbage bins.

Usage of First Name, Last Name, and Title

• Most people, even in a business setting, will prefer to be called by their first name. However, it is a good principle to address them by their title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., or Professor) and last name unless you are invited to do otherwise.
• Others may call you by your first name once they’re introduced to you. This is not considered rude, but may reflect a casual style.
• Using “Sir” and “Madam” are not common