Safety and your rights are amongst the most important topics for international students. Different countries have very different security systems. Even the phone number to call police is different in each country and international students have to acquaint themselves with the new system. They need to know where and how to ask for help if bad things happen as well as what their rights are and how to protect themselves with the law.
This guide lists five common issues which may happen to international students when they study in the United States, and the resources where they can get help:
What should you do if you encounter a fire, a robbery, a theft , a car accident, or any life threatening situations? The first thing that comes to your mind is to call the police, right? But do you know what the emergency phone number is in U.S.? Unlike many Asian countries that have different phone numbers to call police, ambulance and fire, the United States only has one emergency phone number. It is 911. Call this number when an emergency happens. If you’re not sure if the situation is a true emergency, please still call 911 and let the call-taker determine whether you need emergency help.
Are you facing issues with your rental or having conflicts with your landlord? Maybe you requested a repair from your landlord, but s/he is not taking action to fix it, or maybe your landlord unreasonably increased the rent, or maybe the landlord doesn't return your deposit after the termination of your tenancy. What should you do? The following links will lead you to the resources that can help you understand your rights as a tenant and how to get legal assistance:
According to the reports received by international student offices at different universities, phone scam calls are increasing and are targeting international students due to their limited knowledge of the United Sates. To protect international students from phone scams, this section lists websites that inform you how to spot a phone scam and how to avoid them.
Always remember, don't share your personal info and bank account information over the phone with anyone who you don't know. Don't trust people who ask money over phone.
What is credit card fraud? And how do you keep it from happening to you?
Credit card fraud is when someone uses one or more of your cards without your permission. The thief may then use your card to buy things or to take money out of an account. Fortunately, the law limits your financial liability in cases of credit card fraud. Even so, if you’re a victim of credit card fraud, it’s important to act quickly.
From the Bank of America Website.
The following article gives you step by step instructions on how to deal with credit card fraud:
Do you feel discriminated against for your national origin in education, employment or housing? This section tells about the rights you have in Washington State and the departments that you can get assistance from if discrimination happens to you.