International Student Resources
Apostilles and Authentication Certificates
If your home country requires that you receive an apostille or authentication certificate for your Tarleton transcript or diploma, follow the steps below.
- Get your transcript or diploma notarized by a Texas Notary Public. Instructions detailing how to obtain a notarization are available here.
- Complete Form 2102.
- Mail your notarized document(s), $15 payment (per document), and self-addressed stamped or pre-paid envelope to the mailing address provided on Form 2102.
- Please allow at least 25 business days for processing your request. You can check current processing times here.
You will receive an apostille if your home country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention. If not, then you will receive an authentication certificate. You can find a current list of member countries here.
Please go to the Texas Secretary of State’s website for more information.
Banking Information
Chinese Diploma Conversions
Attention Chinese nationals: To obtain a diploma conversion of your Tarleton diploma, follow the steps below, as outlined on the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange’s website:
- Gather the following application materials:
- Official Tarleton diploma
- Passport(s) used during your program
- F-1 visa
- I-94 Travel History
- Passport-style photograph
- Consent letter (download the foreign general version here)
- Official Tarleton transcript
- Apply and pay application fee online.
- Allow approximately 10-20 business days for processing.
- Receive your evaluation results online.
Credit Cards and International Students
- How to Get a Student Credit Card without an SSN – MoneyGeek.com
Enrollment Verifications
If you need to obtain an enrollment verification to send to your home country’s government, please email your request and government form (if applicable) to registrar@tarleton.edu.
Entertainment
Finances
Guide to Personal Finance and Support for Undocumented Immigrants – https://www.moneygeek.com/financial-planning/support-and-resources-for-undocumented-immigrants/
How to Build Credit as an Immigrant – https://www.moneygeek.com/credit-cards/resources/building-credit-as-an-immigrant/
How to Buy a House in the US as an Immigrant or Foreigner – https://www.moneygeek.com/mortgage/resources/immigrant-guide-to-purchasing-a-home/
North Central Texas Weather
Owning a Car in Texas
Texas Drivers License
Tips and Resources for Recognizing Scams
- NEVER divulge personal, immigration, or financial information to unknown callers.
- SEVP officials will NEVER contact students requesting credit/debit/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers.
- SEVP officials will NEVER contact students asking them to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
- If you are unsure about the validity of a call from an SEVP official, please report the call to International Programs – Immigration.
- Students: Read These Tips to Avoid Scams
- Students: Watch Out for Scammers Using SEVP Phone Numbers
- Beware of ICE Imposters
Transportation Information (Fort Worth and Waco)
Transportation Information (Stephenville & Surrounding Area)
Boaz Bikes: Quick. Safe. Affordable. Available 24/7. Download the app to sign up.
City and Rural Rides (CARR): provides FREE shuttle services for Tarleton students, faculty, staff, and the public in Stephenville. CARR offers frequent stops both on and off campus. Available Monday-Friday. Closed holidays and non-school days. View Routes and Schedules
A government-subsidized transportation service in Stephenville and the surrounding area, C.A.R.R.. provides rides anywhere in the area by calling to make a reservation two business day in advance. For more information call 800-710-2277 or visit CARR’s website.
LYFT: Lyft matches drivers with passengers who requests rides through the smartphone app. Passengers pay automatically through the application as well. For more information, please visit the Lyft website. Note: There are very few Lyft drivers in Stephenville, so we recommend using the schedule option to schedule a ride in advance.
TAXIVILLE: Taxiville is a 24-hour taxi service for Stephenville and the immediate area in Erath county. They also provide shuttle services to the DFW International Airport. For more information call 254-434-8998 or visit Taxiville’s website.
Texas Shuttle is a 24/7, door-to-door shuttle, SUV, and car service. For reservations: texasshuttle.com or 817-403-6196.
Off-Campus Housing Information
Common Apartment Abbreviations
- AC/H = Air Conditioning and Heat
- BR or BDR = Bedroom
- BA or BTH = Bathroom
- 1/2 BA or BTH = Bathroom with no shower or bathtub
- Util. = Utilities, which could include gas, electric, and water
- TH = Townhouse
- W/D = Washer/Dryer; W/D CONN = Washer/Dryer Connections (washer and dryer can be used in the apartment
- Dep. = Deposit (A deposit is typically an extra month’s rent or less. It is a security deposit to ensure you pay for any damage done while you live in the apartment. If you leave the apartment the way that you found it, you should be refunded your deposit after your lease is finished.
- First/Last = First and/or last month’s rent is required as part of the deposit.
- 3/2 = 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. In an apartment ad, when you see two numbers separated by slashes, the first number always indicates the number of bedrooms, while the second number always indicates the number of bathrooms.
- Sq. Ft. = Square Feet. The size of apartments is usually given in square feet. 1 square foot = 0.09 square meters; 1 square meter = 10.76 square feet. Websites such as Metric Conversions and Inch Calculator can help you convert between feet and meters.
Off-Campus Housing Options
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Apartment
- Closeness to your Tarleton Campus: “Closeness” has just as much to do with the physical distance that you will travel to campus as it does with the time that it will take you to travel that distance. For example, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, you may spend less time driving from a place that is located on a highway farther from campus than you would if you drove from a place located closer to campus but would require driving on city streets. However, the farther you are from campus, the more money that you will have to spend on gas. Additionally, some roads in Dallas-Fort Worth are toll roads. Therefore, if you plan to use the toll roads, you will have to consider this cost over time when considering where to live.
- Cost of the Housing: In the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, apartment rents vary greatly depending on factors such as the complex’s proximity to a city’s center or other desirable locations, the neighborhood in which it is located, the complex’s age and condition, and the amenities that it provides to its tenets. Typically, the closer you live to either downtown Fort Worth or downtown Dallas, the higher the rent will be.
- Resources for Children: If you will be bringing your children with you to Tarleton, you may wish to consider what resources will be available to them when deciding where to live. Most children start attending school at age 5, and where you live will determine to which public school your children will attend. Private schools usually do not have attendance zones. However, they charge yearly tuition, whereas public schools are tuition free. Some apartment complexes and neighborhoods have playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, and basketball courts, but others do not.
- Neighborhood Characteristics: People from all over the world call North Central Texas home. Although they are scattered throughout the area, there are also neighborhoods where people of similar ethnic backgrounds tend to congregate. It is in these neighborhoods where you may find resources and services similar to the ones you have back home. Additionally, some neighborhoods may feel safer than others. Therefore, it is a good idea to visit a proposed apartment complex at different times of the day and night to see if you feel comfortable there.
The Leasing Process
- Rental Application: Once you decide on a place to live, you will have to complete a rental application and submit it to your apartment complex with your application fee. Only take this step if you actually intend to live in that complex because it can be difficult to receive a refund of your application fee. If your landlord rejects your application, he/she must return your application fee. However, they may not refund it if you are approved and then decide not move in.
- Guarantors: Some apartment complexes may require a guarantor if you do not meet their financial requirements. A guarantor must be a US citizen and give the landlord his/her employment, financial and credit history, and contact information. The guarantor is as equally responsible for rent payments as you.
- The Lease: If your rental application is approved, you will then need to sign a lease. The lease should define in writing exactly what is included in your rent and who is responsible for what in the arrangement. Verbal agreements are difficult to enforce in US courts. Additionally, American courts generally rule in favor of what is in a written agreement over verbal promises implied or inferred from the landlord. Read your lease carefully and completely before signing it! Do not assume that all leases are exactly the same.
- Security Deposit: Most apartment complexes require a security deposit to offset damages or unpaid rent. Information and conditions for the return of your security deposit will be outlined in your lease. Be sure to keep a copy of your security deposit check.
- Inspection of Residence: Thoroughly inspect the properties you are considering before taking possession. When you are looking at apartments, ask to see the actual apartment you will be renting. You may be shown a model apartment that is beautifully furnished and well maintained, but the apartment you actually end up renting may be of lesser quality. Also, if you are shown a model, make sure that the apartment you are renting is the same size and floor plan. You may be shown a model that is much larger than the one that you will be renting. DO NOT move into your apartment if it is not in acceptable condition.
Basic Leasing Principles
- If you make any agreements with the manager or landlord, put them in writing and ask the manager to sign them.
- Keep copies of all documents and correspondence with your manager, including lease contracts, apartment inventory forms, canceled checks, agreements, repair requests, letters, and notifications.
- If you break your lease, you may be held liable for the full amount of the rent for all of the months remaining on your lease.
- If you rent with a roommate(s), all names should be on the lease. Some apartment complexes will not do this or will not alter a lease if a roommate moves in later. Additionally, most non-student apartments will not rent separately to roommates. In other words, if one person moves out, those remaining would still be responsible for the full amount of the rent. In these events, you may be held liable for the full amount and terms of the lease.
- Each person whose name appears on the lease is equally responsible for the terms of the lease. If you bring in a roommate after the lease is signed, and that person’s name is not on the lease, you may be held responsible for that person’s actions, including the full amount of the rent, and damages that person inflicts on your apartment or the complex.
Roommates
Sharing a living space with another person is often a good way to cut expenses, divide household chores, and find a friend. However, you may find yourself living with someone with different cleaning standards, sleeping habits, and lifestyles. Get to know your roommate. Be frank and open about your preferences and expectations. Come to clear agreements about such things as the division of expenses and household chores, the use of shared spaces, and guest policies. It is highly recommended that you use a Roommate Contract. The Roommate Contract is a legal document that prescribes in writing each roommate’s responsibilities and obligations. It can be used in a court of law if one roommate moves out, leaving the other to pay all of the rent and other expenses. The Roommate Contract is also a good way to find out about your roommate and come to an agreement about arrangements so that do not become problems in the future. Advice on how to write a Roommate Contract can be found here. Most non-student apartment complexes will not rent separately to roommates, so each roommate is responsible for the total expenses of the apartment. Thus, if one roommate moves out, the other roommate(s) will have to provide the missing portion of the rent and utilities. Additionally, if one roommate’s name is not on the lease, that person cannot be held legally responsible for the rent. Therefore, make sure that all roommates are listed on and sign the lease.
Immigration Attorney Resources and Contact Information
In accordance with applicable university regulations, International Programs – Immigration does not provide specific attorney referrals.
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a U.S. federal government agency aimed at protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. One of their strategic goals is to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. The FTC’s Consumer Information website (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/) contains a significant amount of helpful information related to both preventing and responding to incidents like financial scams, immigration scams, identity theft, and many other consumer complaints. ISS encourages all international students to review the information at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ so they are better informed and prepared to identify issues. If you believe you have been subject to any form of scam or identify theft, ISS strongly recommends you review the information at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ in detail and take the action(s) recommended by the FTC. Some of the most relevant FTC webpages that may be of interest to international students include the following:
- Immigration Help https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0142-immigration-help
- FTC Complaint Assistant https://www.ftc.gov/media/71268
- Identity Theft https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/identity-theft and https://www.identitytheft.gov/ (managed by the FTC)
- Buying & Owning a Car https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/buying-owning-car
- Renting & Timeshares https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/renting-timeshares
- Limiting Unwanted Calls & Emails https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/limiting-unwanted-calls-emails
- Online Security https://consumer.ftc.gov/identity-theft-and-online-security/online-privacy-and-security
- Protecting Kids Online https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/protecting-kids-online
- Scam Alerts https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts
10 Tips on Hiring an Immigration Attorney
- Ensure that the attorney is experienced in immigration law and that he or she devotes a majority, if not all, of his or her practice to immigration matters.
- Interview a minimum of two attorneys before making your decision—be weary of attorneys who will not take the time to meet with you before taking your case.
- Ask friends and colleagues if they have suggestions or experiences with the attorneys you are considering.
- Discuss the fee up front and in detail; do not hire an attorney that will not provide you with a detailed, written, fee agreement.
- For immigration matters, it is usually customary and preferable to negotiate a fixed fee for service.
- Be concerned if the proposed attorney fee is too low as it may indicate that the attorney may not be providing all necessary and customary services.
- Remember that you are hiring the attorney and that you have the right to ask questions about his or her professional credentials and practice experience.
- Hire an attorney that communicates with you well on both a personal and professional level.
- Avoid making your decision based on cost alone—the best attorneys will generally not charge the lowest fees.
- Prepare for your initial interview in advance & be punctual: bring your immigration documents; a list of questions, and prepare a written narrative of your situation (the narrative should be fact-based, clearly indicate in the body that is intended for communication with your attorney).
10 Questions you Should Ask When Hiring an Immigration Attorney
- How many years of experience does the attorney have practicing immigration law and what percentage of his or her practice is devoted to immigration cases?
- Does the attorney have specific experience with your type of immigration case?
- Is the attorney Texas Board Certified in immigration law?
- Is the attorney a member of the America Immigration Lawyers Association?
- What is the attorney’s Martindale peer review rating?
- Does the attorney charge by the hour or by a fixed fee; how much will he or she charge to take my case; is the entire fee or a percentage required up front; does the fixed fee include an appeal if my petition is denied by USCIS?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case and what are the chances of my success?
- Will my case be delegated in whole or in part to a paralegal or an associate attorney?
- How long does the attorney estimate it will take to resolve the case?
- How will the attorney and his or her support staff communicate with me about the status of my case?
Resources for Finding an Immigration Attorney
- U.S. Department of Justice List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
- American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Immigration Lawyer Search Tool at: www.aila.org.
- The American Bar Association (“ABA”): https://www.americanbar.org/.
- Martindale database of legal professionals www.martindale.com
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) (search “Finding Legal Advice”).
- Immigration Advocates Network https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/
- State Bar of Texas: www.texasbar.com.
- The Texas Lawyer Referral Service: 1-877-9TEXBAR.
- The Yellow pages: www.yellowpages.com (search: “Immigration Attorney”).
- Ask your friends or colleagues.
- Ask respected professionals in the community such as accountants, attorneys practicing in other specialties, ministers, doctors etc.
Contact International Programs
Email: internationalstudents@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254-968-9632