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Prepare to RelocateInternationalSpouses and Domestic Partners
UNM-LA offers free English lessons and tutoring. Volunteering or joining a club is a wonderful way to get involved in the town’s activities. There are also many Los Alamos organizations to become involved with. You can learn about all the various clubs, activities, and churches at the Visitor’s Center on the corner of Central Avenue and 15th Street. If you have school-aged children, you may ask about volunteering in your child’s classroom or in the school library. J-2 visa holders (the spouses and dependent children of J-1's) may apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for permission to work in the U.S. Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, part 214.2(j)(1(v) states that, "income from the spouse's or dependent's employment may be used to support the family's customary recreational and cultural activities and related travel, among other things. Social Security Number (SSN)Do not worry if you do not have an SSN, even though it is requested on your acceptance forms. Just leave the spaces blank. LANL will assist you in obtaining an SSN or tax number when you arrive. It is not necessary to get an SSN in order to get your driver's license. Effective March 1, 2002, the Social Security Administration no longer assigns SSNs if the sole reason for needing an SSN is to comply with a state statute that requires an SSN for issuance of a driver's license. However, if you need an SSN for another reason, you can apply for a social security card by completing Form SS-5, which is available for download or you can obtain Form SS-5 by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local Social Security office. These services are free. You will also need to submit at least two documents as evidence of your age, identity, and lawful alien status. Your passport will suffice to prove age and identity. You will also need an unexpired document issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), such as Form I-551, I-94, or I-766. All documents must be either the original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. Mail or bring the application and evidence in person to your local Social Security office. You can find that office location online. Your documents will be returned to you. You should receive your card within two weeks of the date information has been submitted to process your request. If you have not received your card within this timeframe, contact the Social Security office where you filed the application and they will investigate why it is being delayed. Credit CardsIn addition to establishing an account at a local bank or credit union, it is wise to obtain a credit card. Credit cards are used for charging various expenses such as shopping and purchasing goods on the Internet, by phone, and by catalog. Most hotels require a credit card to make a reservation. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are widely accepted. Customs/ U.S. regulationsPlease visit the US Customs site to obtain information on customs regulations when entering the U.S. You will find information about bringing medications, pets, and restricted goods into the U.S. There are also some very helpful traveler's tips for coming to the U.S., including mailing goods to the U.S. Driver's licenseIf you do not have an SSN and need to get a driver's license, you will have to go to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office in Los Alamos or Santa Fe. You will need to present them with your passport with a U.S. Visa, or a passport and an original document issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), such as I-551, I-151, I-688, or I-797. You will also need to bring one official item with your New Mexico address on it, such as a rental agreement, a utility bill, an original government issued document, or a financial institution document. You may or may not be required to take a written and road test. The MVD offices are at 997 Central Avenue located by the upper parking lot of the Mari-Mac shopping center in Los Alamos, and at 2544 Camino Edward Ortiz, in Santa Fe. Online information is available for the New Mexico MVD. Embassy RegistrationNotify your country's embassy when you arrive in Los Alamos. Should a problem arise, your embassy can help you more quickly if you are already registered. To find your nearest embassy, go to the reference librarian at the Mesa Public Library, or search online. The American School SystemThe American school system consists of several levels of education. Pre-schools offer classes for children from two to five years of age. Elementary schools teach beginning subjects to children ages five to eleven or twelve. Secondary schools teach more advanced subjects to children from thirteen to seventeen or eighteen. At the elementary and secondary school levels, each year of schooling is termed a grade. Elementary school consists of seven years of education, kindergarten through sixth grade. Secondary schools include grades seven and eight at the Middle School, and grades nine through twelve at the High School. Colleges and universities and vocational schools provide education for those who have completed secondary school. Within the university system the first degree awarded is a bachelors’ degree. Colleges and universities normally consist of four years as an undergraduate, labeled freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years. For those students who continue on after the bachelors’ degree, they are called graduate students. In graduate school, they can obtain a masters’ degree within one to three years, or a PhD within four or more years. How to Buy a CarIn the process of buying a car, you will need a valid driver's license. Buying a new car from a dealer is relatively simple, but there are no dealers in Los Alamos. In Los Alamos, a good place to look for a used car is the Lemon Lot, a parking lot on the west side of Diamond Drive between Trinity Drive and Canyon Road. In New Mexico, used cars are sold by giving the car's title (a document) to the buyer and the car's current license plate to the seller. You and the seller must each fill in and sign a form printed on the back of the title. The seller is everyone named on the title; if the title names two persons, both must sign. If the seller or you make a mistake on the title, then you both must fill out another form, a Bill of Sale, available from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). The seller then takes the license plate off the car. You may not drive a car without a plate on a public road, so you should ask the seller to (1) leave the plate on the car for a few hours or (2) sell you the car in the parking lot of the insurance agent that you have chosen. This is because, before you can register the car and get its new plate, you must buy insurance on the car; to sell your insurance, the agent must see the car Language classesEnglish is the official language in New Mexico and at LANL, even though many other languages are spoken locally. You and your family will need a good working knowledge of English to function comfortably at work and in the community. People with no knowledge of English will feel isolated. If necessary, take classes before you leave home. English classes are also offered at the local colleges and universities. The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) offers free English classes and tutors. Legal Rights in the U.S.: by Hilary T. Fraser True, Walsh & Miller Attorney at Law All persons in the U.S., including foreign nationals, have certain basic rights that must be respected by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). These rights stem from both the U.S. Constitution and U.S. laws. As a foreign national, you have the following rights: Your Right to Refuse Entry Into Your Home : You have a right to deny an INS agent entry into your home without a valid warrant. This warrant must be signed by a judge. You can refuse to open the door, or can close the door after discovering that the agent does not have a valid warrant. You also have a right to refuse to speak with INS agents or to answer any questions, or refuse to show the agent any documents, unless the agents have a warrant listing all the documents that should be shown. If INS agents enter your home by force, or without a search warrant, you should contact an attorney immediately. Your Right to Remain Silent: All foreign nationals are required to carry proof of their status upon them at all times. If you are a permanent resident, this may be shown by your alien registration receipt card (commonly known as a "green card"), or your passport may also indicate your legal status. If you are a non-immigrant alien, you have an arrival-departure card (I-94 card), a notation in your passport, and/or other proof of your status from the INS. If you are stopped or detained on the street, and either do not have your documents on you, or are an undocumented alien, you have the right to remain silent about your immigration status. There is no need to show any document. Your Rights if You are Arrested: Generally, state and local police officers do not have the power to arrest you for violating immigration laws. The enforcement of immigration laws is generally left to the INS. However, some state laws grant local police the authority to arrest persons who violate federal criminal laws, including criminal immigration statutes. In addition, a 1986 federal statute includes a requirement that state law enforcement officials notify the INS when they arrest any individual suspected of being an undocumented alien on drug charges. An INS officer is allowed to arrest you without a warrant if he believes that you are in the U.S. illegally and has reason to believe that you are likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained for your arrest. If the INS arrests you without a warrant, they must give you a form informing you of your rights. The form must note that you are allowed to speak with an attorney or other representative. The INS must give you a list of attorneys who will provide you with free legal services in the event that you cannot afford to pay for the services of a private attorney. If you ask to speak to an attorney, the INS must give you access to a telephone and at least two hours to try to call an attorney. During that time, the INS may not interrogate you, other than to obtain basic biographical information. Your Right to Refuse to Sign Any Document: You have the right to refuse to sign your name on any immigration document or to request to speak to an attorney before signing such documents. By signing a document given to you by an INS agent, you may be giving up certain rights, or agreeing to return to your country. Your Rights at the Workplace: For the INS to enter a workplace, the immigration agent must have a valid search or arrest warrant, or have the employer's permission to enter. If INS agents enter by force and arrest you, you should remain silent and demand the right to speak to an attorney. Remember: any information that is given to INS agents before speaking to an attorney may endanger your case. Other Rights at the Workplace: All workers, regardless of their legal status, must receive at least the minimum wage for full-time work. If you work more than 40 hours a week in certain jobs, the employer should pay you one and one-half times the regular hourly rate. All workers are entitled by law to work in a place free from hazards likely to cause serious harm or death. Employers must provide safety equipment and remove hazardous materials from the workplace. Your Right to Send Your Children to Public Schools: All children deserve an education. A U.S. court case in Texas upheld the obligation of public schools to admit all children, regardless of their immigration status. Public schools should not ask for your or your children's immigration status, and generally do not ask. For more details about your rights, you may want to read "The Rights of Aliens and Refugees," written by the American Civil Liberties Union and published by Southern Illinois University Press, P.O. Box 3697, Carbondale, IL 62902-3697 (second edition 1990; $7.95). Passport(s)Everyone planning international travel needs a passport from his/her country of citizenship. Your passport should be valid for six months beyond the intended length of your stay in the U.S. If your passport expires while you are residing in Los Alamos, you will need to contact your nearest embassy or consulate. You might be required to appear in person to renew your passport, which would mean a trip out of the state. Post Office and Mail ServiceThe U.S. Postal Service delivers mail to homes and businesses on Monday through Saturday. Mail is not delivered on Sunday or legal holidays. Special delivery and express mail is delivered seven days a week. When mailing a letter in the U.S. make certain to use the zip code as this will speed delivery. The current postal rates can be found online. The Post Office, is located on Central Avenue across from Starbucks. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 am-5:00 pm, and Saturday 8:00 am-12:30 pm. Phone: 505-662-2153 TaxesInternal Revenue Service (IRS) began assigning Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to non-citizens who need to report income for tax purposes but who are not eligible for SSNs. To apply for an ITIN, you need to contact the IRS and ask for Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). You can contact IRS by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-829-1040; or online. Yvonne Deshayes at LANL can give you information about tax treaties between the U.S. and other countries. She can be reached by email, or (505) 665-7287. TransportationSince there is virtually no public transportation, we recommend that you get a car while living in Los Alamos. Don't worry about bringing your car with you. It is easier to buy, lease, or rent a car here than to import a car from your country. The U.S. has many strict regulations on imported cars, and importing is expensive. Useful websites: Travel ArrangementsWhen you return your signed offer letter, you will need to make travel arrangements through your group office who will help you determine when to arrive and make the reservations for you. Please keep in mind that you might need some extra time to get your visa processed. VisasWhen your postdoctoral appointment is offered, you will also receive a form to be filled out regarding your visa history. This form should be completed and sent in with your signed offer letter. This information assists staff in the Internal Security (ISEC) Office to better determine the most appropriate visa status to sponsor in conjunction with your postdoctoral offer and your current visa status and to complete the necessary State Department and/or Immigration and Naturalization Service forms. Upon your acceptance of the postdoctoral appointment, the HR office staff will contact you and start processing your visa paperwork. While in the U.S., you must monitor your immigration status carefully. It is in your very best interest to remain totally and continually cognizant of your status and to monitor progress being made on any changes to or extensions of that status. Please allow sufficient time to get and renew your visa, and inquire about what is needed to maintain your visa. For more details or for questions, please visit the LANL Immigration and Visitors page. ClearancesForeign Nationals do not receive clearances. This means that there are areas at LANL that you are not allowed to enter, even if your group is in a "restricted area" or "behind the fence." If paperwork is properly submitted, you can be escorted to meetings and other events in restricted areas. You will also not be allowed access to any sensitive information. |
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A spouse (wife or husband) that is not working outside the home and dependent children of foreign nationals in Los Alamos are often faced with an experience
quite different from the postdoc. The postdoc who is working is usually quite
busy and away from the home all day. This can be a lonely, isolating experience
for the accompanying spouse and can be a difficult situation for everyone.
The situation however can be improved if the spouse is able to participate
in activities on his or her own. There are a number of possible activities
in Los Alamos, even if your spouse is not able to work.