Table of Contents
		Arrival
		Getting Around
		Finding Housing
		Safety
		Managing Money
		Shopping
		Climate and Dress
		Staying Healthy
		Staying in Touch
		Libraries
		Legal Holidays
		Hints for Having Fun
		Bringing Your Family
		Financial Aid for International Students
		Immigration Information
		Getting Ready to Leave New York
		Resources for International Students

Staying In Touch
Telephone
Internet and Email
Fax Machines
Mail
Television

Telephone

To Make a Call
Phone numbers in the United States consist of seven digits plus a three-digit area code. Your telephone directory has a listing of every area code in the U.S.

To make any call in New York City, local or otherwise, you must first dial “1”, then the area code and the number.

The codes 800, 822, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888 before a telephone number mean that the call you are making is toll-free (you will not be charged for the call).

In order to dial internationally, you must first dial 011, then the country and city codes, and finally, the number you wish to reach. To find out a particular country code, dial 0 to speak to an operator or look in your “white pages” telephone directory under “International Calling Codes.” (If you wish to call New York from abroad the international country code for the United States is 1.)

To Find a Telephone Number
Each region publishes two main telephone directories each year: a “white pages” directory and a “yellow pages” directory. “White pages” directories offer a complete alphabetical listing of all persons and businesses with listed telephone numbers in the immediate area. In most cases, addresses are also included. For privacy reasons some people choose not to have their numbers listed (this requires payment of an extra monthly fee). The front pages of the “white pages” directories list important emergency numbers. Look here to find the number of the local fire department, police precinct, and poison control hotline and make note of them.

The “yellow pages” directories list businesses and services, arranged by category. These directories make it easy for you to locate services or products you need in your immediate area. For example, to search for a drugstore in your area, look under “Pharmacies.” The “yellow pages” can be located online at www.superpages.com, and both the “yellow pages” and “white pages” at www.anywho.com. To get a complimentary copy of a telephone directory, call your local telephone service provider.

Another way to locate the phone number of a residence or a business is to dial Directory Assistance at 411. If you need assistance in finding a number outside your area code, dial 1 + the area code + 555-1212. Whenever possible, check the telephone directories before calling Directory Assistance, since you will be billed for each inquiry.

DIAL 911 to report a fire, crime, car accident, or any other emergency, whether you are directly involved or simply a witness.

Home Telephone Service (Land-line)
There are two types of telephone service that you may subscribe to from your home: Basic/Local Calling and Domestic Long Distance Calling/International Long Distance Calling. When you sign up for local phone service, you will be asked to specify which long distance service you want to use. You do not have to use the same provider for both services, although you may be able to save from “bundled services” or “packages” (using the same provider for different services such as local and long distance service, Internet service and cable television service on the same account). Long distance calling, especially international long distance calling, is considerably more expensive than local calling so it pays to shop around for a cost-effective plan that offers good calling rates. Rates can vary a great deal from company to company—inquire about special international calling plans, especially those that may lower your rates for frequent calls to a particular country.

Remember that your local phone company cannot give you advice about which long distance company to subscribe to; they can only process your request. Check newspapers, the “yellow pages” directory, or ask your friends for recommendations.

Basic/local calling service is currently offered by:

	Verizon (212) 890-1550 (toll free), www.verizon.com
	AT&T (800) 222-0300, www.att.com
	MCI WorldCom (888) MCI-LOCAL (888-624-5622), www.mci.com
All these service providers also offer long distance calling service, as does:
	Sprint (888) 723-8010, www.sprint.com.

AT&T and Vonage (www.vonage.com, (866) 243-4357) also offer Voiceover Internet Protocol (Callvantage or VoIP), with which you use your existing broadband Internet connection to make local and long distance calls at a flat rate.

Installing a Phone
You can rent a telephone from AT&T for a monthly fee by calling (800) 555-8111, but it may be more economical to purchase one. A telephone can be purchased for as little as $15 online or at stores such as K-Mart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Radio Shack.

When you have chosen a service provider and are ready to install your phone, you can sign up for service either by calling the provider at their customer service number or by registering online. Please note that a Social Security number may be required to register online. Both methods will require you to state your complete address, the type of monthly service you want, the name of the company you have chosen for your long distance service, your previous telephone number and address, and other credit information, including your occupation. Complete your research and have this information handy at the time you wish to order service to avoid delays in the process.

If the service provider cannot activate your telephone service automatically, you may have to make an appointment for a technician to visit your home. Depending on the provider you have chosen, installation may be free, or it may cost up to $200. If you have to pay a fee, you may have the option to be billed in installments or all at once. Some providers may require a refundable deposit (up to $200) if you will be setting up service for less than a year or if you have no credit history or Social Security number.

If you should have any problems with your service such as no dial tone, or an inability to receive incoming calls, contact your provider’s customer service number to report your problem.

There are several features, some listed below, that may be included in the calling plan you choose. When not included, you can usually add them later and they will be charged automatically to your monthly bill. If you are on a tight budget however, be careful not to become too dependent on these extras as their costs can quickly mount up.

	Call Waiting: Eliminates the “busy” signal by allowing incoming calls to go through even when you are already on the phone. A short beep will let you know there is another call coming in. You can put the first caller on hold by touching the hang-up button to talk to the second. This service is very popular in the U.S. and costs approximately $5 a month.
	Three-Way Calling: Allows you to talk to two people in two different places at the same time. Approximately $4.50 a month.
	Star 69 (*69): If you dial *69 after the last incoming call, that number will be automatically called back. Some providers charge up to $3.50 a month for providing this service, and you should also be aware that each use costs $0.75. This service is useful when you miss a phone call, when you forget to get the number of the person who has just called you, or to prevent “prank” phone-calls. (A Word of Caution)
	Caller ID: Allows you to screen your calls by displaying the number and name of your callers. It also allows you to see who the last people calling you were, and can help you keep track of telephone numbers. Costs approximately $8 a month.

Phone Charges
The least expensive calls are the ones you dial directly yourself. When the operator assists your call, there is an additional charge. To place an operator-assisted call, dial 0 before dialing the number you want to call. A voice will answer and ask you to choose what type of call you wish to place. This may be a “collect” call, in which the person or company you call is asked to pay the charges, or a “person to person” call, in which you wish to speak with one particular person and no one else.

The charges for calls also depend on the time and day that you call. Local and long distance calls are often less expensive when placed at night and on weekends or holidays. Check your telephone directory for further information, and ask your long distance carrier about when it’s cheaper to make long distance or international calls.

Your Phone Bill
You will receive monthly bills for basic service, local calls and long distance calls. The long distance section of your bill will be itemized, with each call listed separately, along with the date and time of the call and the cost. Make sure to check this section on your monthly bill to avoid being charged for calls you didn’t place. The local call section of your bill, however, will not be itemized.

You can pay both your local and your long distance provider by sending a check or money order, or you can charge your bill to a major credit card by submitting the number of the card, the expiration date and your signature. You can also be billed and make payments online. Remember: Never send cash in the mail!

Be sure to pay your bill on time! If your payment is overdue, your service may be interrupted until your payment is received and you could be charged a penalty to get your service turned back on.

Answering Machines
Most New Yorkers have some type of answering device to go along with their telephone. You can purchase an answering machine for as little as $25, purchase a phone with an integrated answering machine, or subscribe to a voicemail plan where you dial a central number to retrieve your messages.

A Word of Caution
Occasionally you may receive “prank” phone calls (obscene, threatening or harassing calls); either the caller will hang up as soon as you answer, or he/she may harass you verbally. Usually, these calls are simply an annoyance, but if you receive a series of prank calls or if the caller is threatening you, you should report the incident by calling the Unlawful Call Center at (800) 640-2043. In general, the best way to handle prank calls is to hang up immediately. Never offer any personal information to a prank caller over the telephone.

You can expect to receive a number of “telemarketing calls,” which come from businesses trying to sell goods or services over the phone. You can easily end this kind of a call—state firmly that you’re not interested and hang up. Another solution is to register with the “National Do Not Call Registry.” This service allows you to limit the number of telemarketing calls you receive by entering your phone number onto a list that telemarketers must search every three months. If your number is on this list, telemarketers must remove it from their call lists and cease calling you. Go to www.donotcall.gov for more information.

Pay Phones
There are many payphones located around New York, though many are frequently out of service. You can use coins (except for pennies), calling cards (prepaid cards with an ID number that you enter to access your calling credit) or collect calling (where the person you are calling accepts the charges) to pay for your call. Local calls from payphones on the street cost $0.25 or $0.50. Dialing 911 for an emergency is always free.

Cell Phones
Cell phones have gained so much popularity that some New Yorkers have replaced their traditional land-lines with cell phones. Types of cell phones and service packages vary, as do prices, and it pays to consider your expected usage and shop around for the cell phone and service plan that will best match your needs and budget. Service plans start from as little as $30 a month, but be very careful to check the fine print as companies can build in expensive costs such as cancellation fees for not fulfilling a two-year contract. If you only expect to be in the U.S. for one year, a $200 fee to end your cell phone account could be a big burden. Also, if you have no credit history or Social Security number, you may have to pay a very large deposit ($600 or more) to be allowed to sign up for any plan at all. To find out about different plans, try a site such as www.getconnected.com that lets you compare costs and different features.

Calling Cards
In many cases, international calling cards—available at local deli’s and newsstands throughout the city—provide the cheapest way of calling home. These are prepaid cards with an ID or PIN number that you enter to access your calling credit. You can usually buy them for values of $5, $10, or $20. There are many different brands; some work only for specific countries, while others offer great value for one country or region, but are less of a bargain for other places. Shop around for a calling card that will work for your country and offer good value. Some sellers provide charts showing the rates to specific countries for each card.

For most cards, the number of minutes you have for each call depends on how you use the service. A connection fee is often imposed, which means that making many short calls uses up more credit than making a few long calls. Most cards give you the option of dialing a local number or a free (800) number, from which you must then enter your PIN number to access your credit. You should dial the local number if you have a land-line with cheap or unlimited local service, as this will often give you more minutes per card. However, if you are calling from a pay phone, the free number may be better value. Finally, some cards will automatically deduct money from your credit if it is not used within a specific time frame. It can therefore be of better value to buy $5 cards frequently, rather than $20 cards from time to time.

Internet and Email
The Internet is not only one of the most popular resources for researching information about countless topics including news, weather reports, world maps, the entertainment industry, etc., but also a fairly inexpensive way of communicating with your friends and family across the globe.

Most likely you will be entitled to a free email account and Internet access through your university. However, if you are unable to access the Internet at home through a university account, you may want to consider subscribing to an Internet service. You can choose between different types of connections, such as dial-up, DSL and cable. Dial-up and DSL both use your telephone line, however DSL is much faster and allows you to use your phone line to make calls and be connected to the Internet at the same time. A cable connection also allows you to use your phone and be online simultaneously, and is faster than dial-up. If you plan to have cable television, you should inquire to see if there is a discount for getting both services at the same time. Rates can be as low as $10 per month for a dial-up connection (plus whatever your phone company charges for time on the phone line) or $30 for DSL or cable (unlimited user time). Almost all telephone providers offer package deals with Internet access for discounted prices; make sure to inquire about all your options to find the best deal.

Fax Machines
Fax machines enable you to send a printed document from telephone to telephone, or from modem to modem on personal computers. Even though fax machines have recently become more affordable, most students opt not to buy one for their home use; these machines are more commonly used in offices and businesses. Should you need to send or receive a fax, local stationery stores and copy/printing shops (such as Kinko’s) usually have machines that can be used by the public for approximately $1 to $3 per page for local faxes.

Mail
Post offices are located in all neighborhoods of New York City; to find a complete listing check the telephone book under “United States–Postal Service.” The postal service also has a website (www.usps.com) where you can find zip codes, locate post offices and view their hours of operation, buy stamps and calculate postage rates, and notify the post office if you change your address. Stamps may be purchased individually, in books of 10, or in rolls of 100.

You can get informational pamphlets listing domestic and international rates at your local post office free of charge. Try to buy your stamps at the post office in order to avoid the extra charges sometimes added by convenience stores or stamp machines. Stamped letters may be brought to the post office or dropped into any blue mailbox on the street.

Postage Rates*

*These prices were accurate at the time this book was published.

Mail is delivered once a day Monday through Saturday, usually between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Post office hours are different per location but are generally from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Post offices are closed on Sundays and on legal holidays. The General Post Office (Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street) and the Grand Central Station branch (Lexington Avenue and 45th Street) have extended hours.

The standard way of addressing envelopes and packages in the U.S. is illustrated below. When sending mail to a U.S. address, be sure to include the apartment number, if known, and the zip code—a set of 5 to 9 digits that corresponds to a particular geographic area.

How to Address an Envelope

Special U.S. Postal Services
Mail can be sent “certified” or “registered” for an extra charge if you are sending something valuable—upon delivery the receiver must sign to accept the package or letter. If speed of delivery is urgent, you can send your package/letter through the Postal Service’s Express Mail, which provides overnight service in the U.S. and expedited delivery to foreign countries. Priority Mail takes one day in many areas and is slightly cheaper than Express Mail. If you need to send money, you can purchase a postal money order in either U.S. or foreign currency. You can also rent a post office box (“P.O. Box”) if you move or travel frequently and want a safe place to collect your mail.

Private Delivery
There are many independent delivery companies, some of which offer greater convenience than the United States Post Office. Prices vary from company to company. Two of the more commonly used are United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (FedEx). Both deliver overnight within the U.S. and to many international destinations. For information on UPS call (800) 742-5877 or go to www.ups.com. For Federal Express call (800) 463-3339, go to www.fedex.com, or visit a packaging store.

Television
New York City is served by various national networks, several local channels, and a public broadcasting system. All these channels are free and require no special installation. However, reception in most parts of the metropolitan area may be extremely poor without a “cable” connection.

Along with improved reception, cable subscribers have access to countless channels including Cable News Network (CNN), MTV, and many foreign language broadcasts. The monthly fee for basic cable service varies. For an additional charge, you may include access to specialized programming such as sports or movie channels. Many cable companies offer package deals combining television, phone, and Internet service for less money than it might cost to purchase these services from separate companies, so be sure to shop around. Each neighborhood of New York City is served by particular cable companies. The major companies are Time-Warner (www.twcnyc.com), Cablevision (www.cablevision.com), and RCN (www.rcn.com)—check their websites to find out which provide service in your area.

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