Financial Accounts & Personal IDs
Summary
This page provides information for Harvard international students, scholars, and their dependents to help set up financial accounts and obtain state-issued identification cards.
Bank Accounts & Credit Cards
- Consider the location of branch offices and automatic teller machines (ATM) locations.
- Ask about monthly fees, fees for withdrawals & transfers, minimum required balance, etc.
- Banking hours typically are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Some banks are open for a few hours on Saturday mornings or one or two evenings a week until 6:00 pm.
- Most banks offer online services that you can access after you have opened an account so you do not need to go in person.
- Speak to someone in customer service.
- Show two forms of identification, a visa document (Forms I-20, DS-2019 or I-797) and a passport.
- A local address is required.
- Checking accounts are for writing checks or making online payments to pay bills.
- Most banks offer online banking services, allowing you to pay bills and monitor your bank account online.
- Monitor your account so that you know you have sufficient funds for every check/online payment. If not, your account will be considered overdrawn, and you will incur additional charges.
- Every month your bank will send you a statement that lists all account activities during the previous month and a photocopy of all the checks you wrote in the previous month. You can sign up for paperless statements and view these online rather than receiving them in the mail.
- You cannot write checks using a savings account.
- Most banks issue a debit card with the opening of a bank account.
- A debit card looks like, and for the most part, functions like a credit card. The main difference is that money is taken directly from your bank account when using a debit card.
- Most businesses accept debit cards. Your account may be limited to a certain number of daily withdrawals.
- Most banks offer credit cards. Please take some time to research and compare your options before deciding on a credit card.
- In most cases international students and scholars will be required to have a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to apply for a credit card.
- International graduate students who are not eligible for an SSN will be able to obtain a credit card with limited credit when opening an account at the Harvard Federal Credit Union (Harvard FCU). You will need to present a Harvard ID, a $5.00 minimum opening deposit, and a valid passport. You will be asked to complete IRS Form W-8BEN. More information is available on the Harvard FCU website.
- For your protection sometimes banks and credit card companies temporarily freeze your account when they notice unusual activities such as withdrawals being made in another country. It is recommended to notify your bank and/or credit card company before you travel outside the United States so you can have uninterrupted access to your account.
If your checks, debit cards, or credit cards are lost or stolen, notify your bank and/or the appropriate credit card company immediately.
State-Issued ID
As a temporary resident of Massachusetts, you may be eligible for a state-issued ID. This section provides information on several types of IDs.
You will need to choose between getting a REAL ID, which you can use as identification for airline travel within the U.S., or a standard ID. Note that while a Real ID is acceptable for domestic air travel, we recommend that international students and scholars always travel with their immigration documents in case they are required to prove their status.
Visit the RMV website for more information and a complete list of acceptable identification documents.
Mass. Driver's License
In order to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license, you must go to a Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) office and take a written test in order to obtain a learner’s permit. You must later take a road test (driving test) in order to get the actual driver’s license. For information on Massachusetts driving regulations and application instructions, consult the RMV website.
You may find information about driving on your home country's valid license on the RMV website.
The RMV website has a list of service centers. If you need to complete an in-person transaction, you are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance. Please note that some locations only provide limited services (noted on the website). The addresses of two nearby service centers are listed below. Both of these locations are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Boston: 136 Blackstone Street
- Watertown: 550 Arsenal Street
Mass. ID Card
To be eligible for a Mass ID card, you must:
- Be at least 14 years old.
- Be a Massachusetts resident (bring evidence of residency)
- Not hold a driver’s license in any U.S. state.
- Have a Social Security number (or a certified denial letter from the SSA).
For application instructions and required documents, please see Apply for a MA ID on the MA RMV website.
Mass. Liquor ID Card
To be eligible for a Mass Liquor ID card, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Not hold a Massachusetts driver's license.
- Have a Social Security number (or a certified denial letter from the SSA).
For application instructions and required documents, please see Apply for a Liquor ID on the MA RMV website.
Application Instructions
You may begin the application process for the MA ID Card or Liquor ID Card online on the MA RMV website. In order to ocomplete the application process, you must visit a full-service RMV service center in person. You are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance.
Before going to the RMV office, you must consult the RMV website for the list of required documents to bring with you. All documents must be originals. The MA RMV does not accept photocopies. You must have separate documents to prove your residence, date of birth and signature. One document cannot be used to satisfy more than one category.
Your new MA ID card or Liquor ID card will be mailed to you. The MA RMV will issue you a temporary MA ID or Liquor ID card for 30 days. Please note that restaurants, bars, etc. are legally permitted to exercise their own discretion in deciding whether or not to accept the Massachusetts ID Card as proof of age.
For more complete information, please refer to the RMV’s website.