Resources to help faculty, scholars & their dependents

Advising

International faculty, scholars, staff, dependents and ASU department Advising

• Email Advising: Please send us an email
• Phone Call: Contact the ISSC scholar’s office at 480-727-7125
• Appointments: You may schedule an appointment with an ISSC staff member here
• In Person Drop-In Advising: Mondays – Fridays, 10am-3pm, Discovery Hall, Room 172

English

English practice

• ISSC Events: Stop by one of our events where domestic and international scholars and students gather to chat and build cross-cultural connections.
• English as a second language: The Tempe Public Library regularly hosts free table talk groups for speakers of English as a Second Language. They meet once a week to learn and improve common vocabulary, phrasing, and to discuss American culture.
• Online English practice: There are many valuable online resources that you may use to develop your English language skills. Here are a few examples of these resources:
  • USA Learns
  • Duo Lingo
  • BBC

Transportation

Transportation options

• Bike
• Public transit
• Campus shuttles
• Car rental and transportation services
• Parking on ASU campuses
• Air travel
• Car Sharing Services
  • Uber
  • Zipcar
  • Enterprise

Driver’s license or state identification

Identification card: Arizona identification cards are available for adults and children. 

Driver’s license: Arizona law states that international driver’s licenses do not satisfy Arizona’s requirements. Arizona still requires those with an international driver’s license to get an Arizona driver’s license.

To get either form of identification:

1. Begin your application online.
2. Determine your identification requirements online.
3. Visit your local MVD office to finish the process.

Family Resources

Housing

ASU’s Office of Off-Campus Housing can provide housing referrals.

You may also use this J-1 Scholars Housing guide as an additional housing resource.

Public schools

This website will help you find public schools near you. 

To enroll your child in a public school, first, find your school district and contact the school your child will attend. There may be different registration requirements for each school, but typically, schools will require the following:

1. Document proving the child’s age (i.e., birth certificate or passport)
2. Document proving residence address (i.e., utility bill).

Childcare

ASU's Family Resources provides referrals to student, faculty and staff families seeking an early care and education program. There are also various child care centers in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. More information can be found here: Child Care Services | Educational Outreach and Student Services

Employment

Social security number

In the U.S. an SSN is issued to track earnings over a worker’s lifetime. Scholars who are employed in the U.S. must apply for an SSN.  International scholars who are unemployed are ineligible for an SSN.

J-2 dependents

J-2 dependents will need to apply for an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD card, which will allow them to work in any job, full-time or part-time.

Additional Resources

J-1 Scholar Handbook

Use this guide to find services near you in Arizona in regards to housing, healthcare, transportation, etc.

Helpful Links

• Frequently asked questions (H-1B, Permanent Residency and other visas)
• Frequently asked questions (J-1 Scholar)
• Writing Center Resources: Inscribe channels and Graduate Writing Workshop Series