INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION

A Social Security number is an important piece of identification in the U.S.  You will be asked to provide a social security number when you set up your utilities, apply for a driver’s license, open a bank account, almost anything!  The Social Security gives lots of detailed information Section should be particularly helpful

The office at 11601 Shaker Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44120 is close to CCF. You can also call them at 1-800-772-1213 for additional information.  

When you go to the Social Security office, bring your passport, any immigration or work permit documents, plus original or notarized copies of your birth certificate or other documents that prove your identity, age, and work authorization or immigration status.  

Two days after you have applied, you can go back to the office (with your passport) and get an official print-out so you can do all of the things mentioned above. The official Social Security card takes about two weeks to arrive.  

Make sure to keep your Social Security card safe at home—don’t carry it around in your wallet, just memorize the number. If this number is stolen or lost the finder can use it to open bank accounts, apply for credit, etc. This may ruin your credit. 

You will find it very difficult to achieve anything without a car, including traveling to some of your spouse’s rotations/clinics, so we recommend that you rent one until you can buy one. Leasing a car is not an option, as you do not have a credit rating in the U.S. You will have to rent a car from one of the big companies because the smaller (cheaper) companies will not rent you a car if you do not have your own insurance. Beware of hidden costs when renting. Most rental companies will try to sell you full comprehensive insurance, which may be costly and not be required. Many international residents/fellows find the best luck with buying from a private seller; just make sure you have the cash on hand for the purchase. You may see notices about cars for sale at the Cleveland Clinic. Doctors sometimes place ads on bulletin boards. You may also want to look on Craigslist. Beware though, not all people have good intentions on this website – some cars may have significant mechanical problems the seller may try to hide from you, but you may find a good deal.

After you buy a car you must get the title transferred, register the car, and get a driver’s license. Check out details in the Car Registration/Driver’s License Information section and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for more information. Next, you will need to get automobile insurance. Your driving history in your country of origin may be relevant, so have a copy of your No Claims Bonus from your previous insurer available. Be sure to shop around for the lowest insurance rates. Companies can vary by hundreds of dollars. Reputable companies include Progressive Insurance, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, and All State. Auto insurance is required by law in Ohio.

Canadians: Cars brought into the US require a letter from the car’s manufacturer to cross the border. This letter must verify that your vehicle meets US Environmental Protection and Vehicle Safety Standards. Without this letter, you cannot bring your car across the border. 

Once you have established a local bank account, you should be eligible to receive a credit card. However, we suggest that you bring your VISA/Mastercard with you from your country of origin and arrange to have the bills paid at home until you receive your new cards. If you are having trouble with getting a credit card due to no credit history, ask your bank to give you a ‘secured’ credit card, based on money which you have set aside (eg. if you have $1000 in the bank which you can afford to not touch, the bank will give you a line of credit against that $1000.) This should help build your credit history, as long as you still pay the balance on time.

You can find free English classes in some locations. One option is the Tri-C ABLE Program, which offers various courses. 

For second-hand furniture, you can buy from someone who is leaving CCF (highly recommended; see if your CCF department can help with leads), you can attend garage/house sales, find things for sale on Craigslist, or you can go to a second-hand furniture store like Re-Store, Goodwill, The Salvation Army. Try new-but-discounted household stores like Old Time Pottery or Tuesday Morning. Target and Walmart also carry home furnishings of varying quality. If you are looking for higher quality and delivery, Pottery Barn, Levin Furniture, Fish Furniture, Value City Furniture, and Restoration Hardware can be found locally. Furniture can also be rented–search the internet for furniture rental.

See the Housing section for more information. Be sure to call at least two weeks before you arrive to schedule appointments to view housing. If you will need a mortgage, ask your real estate agent to recommend a mortgage company that has experience with non-nationals. 

Dial ‘011’ then the country code; for example, to call the UK: ‘011 44 1932 55 55 55’. The regular international long distance rates through your phone company will be very high. Consider signing up for an international calling plan with your phone company, or purchase phone cards focused on your country of origin—ask other internationals for help. Definitely shop around.

To make a phone call within the U.S., but outside the area code, dial ‘1’ then the number, area code first.

Prescriptions from outside the US cannot be transferred to a pharmacy within the US. Bring enough medication to last until you are able to see a physician in Cleveland. It may take a month or longer to receive your medical insurance and prescription cards and associated information. Be patient, and expect the wait—however if an emergency arises, you should be able to still see a doctor within the Cleveland Clinic—just explain your situation.

See Nutshell section on Medical Benefits for more.

Every month the HSA Newsletter, The Pulse, will be emailed to your spouses’ CCF email. Once you join the House Staff Spouses Association (HSSA), you will also have access to our website where we post all of our monthly events. You will find great discounts for entertainment and you will be informed of all the dates the group meets for various events. It’s a very nice group to enjoy and make friends. On the 1st of every month, you will get a reminder email that it is time to sign up for our monthly events.

In order to join HSSA, you can visit our website, click the “Sign Up Here” button and complete the registration form. If you have any difficulties with this, please email our membership secretary Maggie Hadford. Please note, CCF HSSA is open to spouses and significant others of current CCF residents and fellows. You can become a member and begin participating in events once your spouse begins as a trainee, but we’re happy to be in touch and answer your questions any time! After you join, be sure to keep in contact via our Facebook and Instagram.

You may find supermarkets difficult because everything is packaged differently and is displayed in a different section. At some markets, you may not be allowed to take your cart (trolley) to the car, there will be a designated spot to leave it and it will be labeled with a number when you drive up to the pickup area. A person will load your groceries into your trunk (boot) – some grocery stores discourage tipping (Heinen’s). You will also be asked at the checkout if you want your groceries packed in “paper or plastic” bags. Many people bring their own cloth bags or return their used paper/plastic bags to aid in the recycling effort.

For those willing to travel a little farther, ‘big box’ stores like Costco and Sam’s Club offer great bargains on bulk shopping (food, clothing, household items, and furniture). These stores require an annual membership fee (for example, Costco is $60), but may be worth the drive and fee, especially if you are setting up house from scratch or have a family. They also have furniture and household items at a discount. 

There are also many grocery delivery services including: Instacart, Prime Now, and Walmart Grocery.

Multiple taxes will be deducted from your spouse’s paycheck: U.S. Government (federal) taxes, State of Ohio taxes, and City of Cleveland taxes. In addition, you may have to pay a tax for your city of residence (if it is other than the city of Cleveland) when it comes time to file your annual income tax returns (Regional Income Tax Agency or R.I.T.A.)

Most of us live in Cuyahoga County where the county tax is 8% on all items except food. Although you do not pay food tax at the supermarket, you will most likely pay a tax when shopping or dining out at restaurants—it will not be called a food tax, but it works the same way. The tax varies slightly in other counties and some cities may also impose a city tax. The price listed on an item in the shop does not include tax; this will be added at the register.

The system here is not PAL, the one you probably have in your country of origin. There is no “TV tax” here; basic TV channels are free. A good high definition antenna will work to pick up many local stations for free. Local cable/satellite companies include: Spectrum, AT&T, WOW, and Direct TV. Be careful, cable companies often advertise free installation or low rates only to add on other charges. Ask for a breakdown of what your monthly bill will be before signing up for service. Ask your real estate agent or landlord for other suggestions/options. The Cleveland Heights/University Heights and Shakers Heights libraries are a great resource for free rental of DVDs/videos—be sure to bring proof of your address (usually a drivers license and household bill) in order to receive a library membership card. 

In general, people in the service industry are paid at or below minimum wage. Tipping is customary and the usual tip is 15% to 20% for anyone who does a service for you (waitress, hairdresser, etc.) and $1 per bag for anyone who carries your luggage.

Travelers’ cheques are not always the easiest way to bring money with you from outside the country. Although they are accepted in most large department stores, and banks will accept them to open an account, it is often difficult to cash more than $100 at a time at a bank. So we suggest either bringing more cash with you or depositing your travelers’ cheques immediately in a bank account. Remember that it will take at least two working days to Telegraphic Transfer money from outside the U.S.

A good thing to do when you arrive is to buy a map of Greater Cleveland. You can find these maps in any drugstore, bookstore, or gas station and you will use it a lot while you are here. GPS apps for your phone, such as Google maps, will also help you navigate your new city.

• To change from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and then divide by 9/5.

• One mile is a little over two kilometers; multiply kilometers by 0.6 to get the miles.
• One pound is approximately one half kilogram; a kilogram is 2.2 pounds.
• One yard is just short of a meter, which is 11/10 of a yard. The U.S. yard is 91 centimeters. One U.S. foot is 12 inches, which is 30.4 centimeters. One inch is about 3 centimeters (a centimeter is 3/10 of an inch). 
• One quart is almost the size of a liter (the liter is 11/10 of a quart). Gasoline is sold by the gallon which is four quarts.
• An ounce is approximately 30 grams. There are 16 ounces in a pound. For measures smaller than an ounce Americans divide the ounce: 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, etc.