International Postdoc Checklist
- Once you have accepted your ISU job offer, sign up for a New Scholar Check-in session with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). Follow the link below and choose a session on or before your first day of work, but after your planned arrival in Ames:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e4baaa729a5fa7-scholar1.
Check-in session dates are visible 30 days in advance, so if you don’t see the date you need, check back in a few weeks. Make sure to read the information at that website to learn where the sessions will occur (e.g. online or in person) and what documents you will need to have ready.
ISSO location: 3241 Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way
Telephone: 515-294-1120 Office hours: M-F 8:00 am-5:00 pm (7:30 am-4:00 pm summer and breaks)
Website: https://isso.dso.iastate.edu/
- Before arriving in Ames, set up your Net-ID and ISU email account so that you will have access to Workday on or before your first day of work. If you have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), you will receive instructions about getting your Net-ID when you enter your SSN into Workday. If you do not have an SSN, please contact ISSO for instructions to obtain your Net-ID.
Contact the ISU Solution Center (IT Services) if you experience technical difficulties during the Net-ID process:
Location: 192 Parks Library, 701 Morrill Road
Phone: 515-294-4000
Email: solution@iastate.edu
- During your New Scholar Check-in session, ISSO will:
- assist you with immigration matters (scanning your documents, updating your record with ISSO and SEVIS, if applicable)
- explain how to obtain an SSN if you do not already have one. Keep in mind that you may need to wait several weeks for your SSN appointment, and it takes about 2 weeks for your Social Security (SS) Card to be mailed to you after your SSN appointment. Although you do not need an SSN to begin working, you must schedule an SSN appointment to remain employed at ISU. (Note: To avoid identity theft, when you receive your SS card, keep it in a safe place and share your number only for official purposes. See: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf for more information)
- help you complete Section 1 of your Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) in Workday, and schedule a time to meet in person to complete Section 2. If yours is an in-person check-in session, you will complete both I-9 sections at the same time.
Once you have completed your I-9 with ISSO (and if you have an SSN) multiple onboarding tasks requiring your action will appear in your Workday inbox. If you don’t have an SSN yet, you will gain access to those onboarding tasks after you receive your SSN and enter it in Workday.
- After you check in with ISSO, you will go to the ISU Card Office to obtain your ISU ID Card. Take your passport and your University ID number with you to the ISU Card Office. Your ISU ID card is a photo ID and provides access to university services and facilities such as after hours access to the building where you work. For a monthly fee, you can also gain access to the three gyms on campus using your ID card.
ISU Card Office Location: 0530 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road
Phone: 515-294-2727Website: www.isucard.iastate.edu
- If you have questions about the Workday onboarding tasks mentioned in #3, please contact the following:
University Human Resources Service Center (for general questions)
Location: 3810 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road
Phone: 515-294-4800
Email: hrshelp@iastate.edu
Benefits Office (for questions related to health insurance, other benefits)
Location: 3810 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road
Phone: 515-294-4800
Email: benefits@iastate.edu
ISSO Tax Help (for questions about tax treaty benefits, income tax withholding, filing taxes with the Internal Revenue Service)
Email: issotax@iastate.edu
- If you did not have an SSN at the time of your hire, contact the ISSO for further instructions after you receive your Social Security Card.
- If you want to ride the CyRide bus, please visit www.cyride.com for information about schedules/routes/fares.
- Alternatively, for campus parking permits, follow the instructions at
https://www.parking.iastate.edu/services
Parking Division Office Location: 168 Armory Building, 2519 Osborn Drive
Phone: 515-294-3388
Email: parking@iastate.edu
- Vehicle Registration and Driver’s license information:
If you are moving from another state within the US and own a car, you must transfer your vehicle registration and your driver’s license to the State of Iowa 30 days after relocating to Ames. You must schedule an appointment and take all your immigration documents with you to the Department of Transportation for a driver’s license application. More information can be found at https://iowadot.gov/mvd
If you are new to the US and wish to apply for a driver’s license and/or register your new car, the same requirements apply. See https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/new-iowa-residents