This page provides information about:

 

Social Security Card or Number (SSN)

Social Security numbers are necessary for students who will be employed in the United States. It is a registration number issued by a government agency (called the Social Security Administration) and it is used for tax purposes.

Please provide your Social Security number to the student employment office in the Office of Student Financial Aid, Office of the Comptroller (payroll), or the Graduate School after you have received your number.

Please contact the Social Security Administration if you have other questions or to learn the requirements for people with other legal statuses. The Social Security Administration can be reached toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or at www.ssa.gov.

Social Security Number (SSN) for F-1 Students

The Social Security Administration will only issue a number to an F-1 student who has a job or who has been offered a job. Students with F-1 visas who have campus employment may apply for a Social Security number AFTER they have arrived in the United States with valid F-1 visa status. To apply for your number, follow these steps:

  1. Request certification letter at the Office of International Education (OIE), Holthusen Hall, 4th Floor.
  2. Take the certification letter to your supervisor or employer in the department where you will work. Your employer will complete the section of the letter which indicates your job duties, expected starting date, and the names of your supervisor and employer.
  3. Return with your letter to the Office of International Education (OIE) to request the signature of an OIE advisor. You can return to collect the signed letter two (2) business days later.
  4. Collect your certification (which is now signed by your employer and an OIE advisor) from OIE.
  5. Visit the Social Security Administration to submit your application for a Social Security number. Take your passport, Form I-20, Form I-94 and the certification letter from OIE.
    Location: Social Security Administration
    Reuss Federal Building
    310 West Wisconsin Avenue, room 260
    Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

The Social Security Administration recommends that you wait at least 10 days after you arrive in the United States before applying for a number. This allows time for your arrival data from the port of entry to be entered in the database which is used to authorize the issuance of your card. If approved, your official Social Security Card with the number will be sent to you by postal mail.

Social Security Number (SSN) for J-1 Students

Social Security numbers are necessary for J-1 exchange visitors who will be employed in the United States. Students with valid J-1 visa status may apply for a Social Security number AFTER arrival in the United States and after they have received authorization for employment. To apply for your number, follow these steps:

  1. Request the necessary confirmation letter for your Social Security application from the Office of International Education (OIE), Holthusen Hall, 4th Floor. This letter will state that you have valid J-1 status and employment authorization as part of the Marquette Exchange Visitor program.
  2. Visit the Social Security Administration to submit your application for a Social Security number. Take your passport, Form DS-2019, Form I-94 and the confirmation letter from OIE.
    Location: Social Security Administration
    Reuss Federal Building
    310 West Wisconsin Avenue, room 260
    Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

The Social Security Administration recommends that you wait at least 10 days after you arrive in the U.S. before applying for a number. This allows time for your arrival data from the port of entry to be entered in the database which is used to authorize the issuance of your card.

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Wisconsin State Identification Card (WI ID)

Students who are not eligible for a Wisconsin driver's license can obtain a WI ID card to use as proof of age or identity. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (www.dot.state.wi.us) offers a non-driver state ID card. There is a $28.00 fee.

Minimum stay requirement: Wisconsin will issue a state ID to non-immigrant students and visitors who will have legal status in the United States for a minimum of 6 months and who are eligible to remain in the United States for at least 3 months at the time of applying for the ID card.

The following items are needed to apply for a Wisconsin State Identification Card:

  • Passport
  • Form I-20 (F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 students)
  • Form I-94
  • One other form of identification (such as your Marquette student ID card)
  • Social Security number or a form titled “Certification of Non-Eligibility for Social Security Number” which states that you are not eligible for a Social Security number. (You may obtain a copy of this form at the Department of Transportation when you apply for the card or at the Social Security Administration office.)
  • Proof of Wisconsin residency such as a copy of your apartment lease, bank statement from a Wisconsin bank, or electric utility bill showing your residence address.

Apply for a Wisconsin State ID at the following location:
State of Wisconsin Office Building
819 North Sixth Street, room 190, Milwaukee

Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

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Driving an Automobile in Wisconsin


Wisconsin (WI) Drivers License

A driver's license from a country outside the U.S. may be valid for one year after arrival in Wisconsin, as long as the driver's license from the home country is valid. In addition to having a valid foreign driver’s license, visitors are advised to carry an International Driving Permit obtained in their home country. Otherwise, all drivers are required to be licensed in Wisconsin as soon as possible after arrival.

New residents seeking a Wisconsin driver’s license must take a Wisconsin driver examination and vision test. A road test may also be necessary. A $28 fee is charged for an original 4-year Wisconsin driver's license.

Minimum stay requirement: Wisconsin will issue a driver’s license to non-immigrant students and visitors who will have legal status in the United States for a minimum of one year and who are eligible to remain in the United States for at least 6 months at the time of applying for the license.

The following items are needed to apply for a Wisconsin Driver’s license:

  • Passport
  • Form I-20 (F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 students)
  • Form I-94
  • One other form of identification (such as your Marquette student ID card)
  • Social Security number or a form titled “Certification of Non-Eligibility for Social Security Number” which states that you are not eligible for a Social Security number. (You may obtain a copy of this form at the Department of Transportation when you apply for the card or at the Social Security Administration office.)
  • Proof of Wisconsin residency such as a copy of your apartment lease, bank statement from a Wisconsin bank, or electric utility bill showing your residence address.

Applications for a driver's license are available at the following location:
State Motor Vehicle Division
State of Wisconsin Office Building
819 North 6th Street, Milwaukee

Parking

Parking is prohibited on City of Milwaukee streets between 3 am and 6 am, except Saturday night. An overnight parking permit is available at a cost of $12 for 3 months or $55 for a 12-month permit. Cars with a permit can park on alternating sides of the street each night. To obtain a permit, visit any Milwaukee police station. The nearest police station to Marquette is located at 749 West State Street. If you do not purchase a permit, you must call the Milwaukee Police Night Parking Division between 8 pm-12:30 am for permission to park overnight: 414-286-8300. Parking may also be further restricted during the winter months.

For more information on parking, call the Milwaukee Police, non-emergency phone number: 414-933-4444 or refer to www.mpw.net/Pages/ppermits.htm.

Parking at Marquette

Daily as well as overnight parking is available on the Marquette campus. 

The Parking Service Office is responsible for all parking on campus, including surface parking lots, parking structures and restricted areas such as the malls and loading zones. Please visit http://www.marquette.edu/parking/index.shtml for information about the various options and fees.

Auto Registration

Out-of-State vehicles must be registered with the State of Wisconsin after the owner becomes a Wisconsin resident.  Applications and certificates of title are available at the State Motor Vehicle Division, located in various locations around the Milwaukee area.  The auto registration fee (license and title) is $144.50.  You will receive original Wisconsin license plates when you register the vehicle, and then you pay for a renewal registration sticker each following year.  Vehicles purchased in Wisconsin, or purchased within 90 days of your moving here, are subject to sales tax, unless you already paid an equivalent tax in another state.  For information about vehicle registration, call 414-266-1000 or refer to www.dot.state.wi.us.

Vehicle Emissions

All Wisconsin vehicles must operate within Wisconsin vehicle emission standards.  This means that your car must be tested to determine that it does not pollute the environment.  Vehicles which do not pass the test must be repaired.  New Wisconsin residents do not need to have their vehicles tested in their first year of residence.  After a year, Vehicles must be tested at a vehicle emission testing station in order to renew the vehicle registration sticker.  For more information, call 414-266-1080 or refer to www.dot.state.wi.us . 

Insurance

Everyone who drives a car should carry appropriate insurance on the vehicle and its occupants.