Complete departmental paperwork
Complete new employee paperwork and procedures in your Ohio State host department. Complete tax forms and paperwork for the Ohio State ID card. Determine availability of office space and supplies as well as expectations within the department.
Obtain an Ohio State identification card (BuckID, Medical Center ID or Children's Hospital ID)
Your Ohio State ID Card allows access to facilities, including libraries, recreation centers, computer labs, etc.
To get a BuckID, go to the BuckID Office, Room 3040 on the third floor of the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St., to take a photo and receive the ID. Make sure to bring a form of identification with you. (Employees at the Ohio State Medical Center and Children's Hospital follow a different procedure—please contact your department's Human Resources officer).
Attend Visiting Scholar Orientation
Fulfill the mandatory check-in requirement by selecting an Orientation Session at International Affairs in Enarson Classroom Building. Review materials and keep these materials where you can refer to them as needed.
Obtain health insurance
The U.S. government requires all J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents to have health insurance coverage that meets certain minimum requirements throughout their entire stay in the United States. If you will be using an Ohio State Faculty and Staff Medical Plan, you will need to arrange for that immediately upon arriving at Ohio State. For detailed information regarding insurance, please see the Required Health Insurance section of our website.
Get a U.S. social security card
To obtain a Social Security letter, please attend J-1 orientation within 20 days of your arrival.
Once you attend J-1 orientation and your J-1 program has been validated in SEVIS, a Scholar Immigration Specialist can create an SSN letter for you to pick up at 140 Enarson Classroom Building.
Social Security Administration Offices are accepting walk-ins, and you do not need to schedule an appointment.
Prior to going to the Social Security Administration Office, please complete the SSN application. When you complete the form online, you will be provided a control number to print off or write down and provide to the SSA when you submit your documents.
Social Security Administration Office Locations:
- 200 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215 | +1 866-964-1723
- 1051 Worthington Woods Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085 | +1 866-789-0957
- 1060 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228 | +1 866-656-0178
- 220 S Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH 43213 | +1 866-592-0733
You will need to bring the following documents with you to your appointment:
- Passport
- Printed I-94
- DS-2019
- Completed SSN Letter from the Office of International Affairs
- Control Number you received when completing the SSN application – if you do not do that step and get a confirmation number, you will need to print and bring the completed Form SS5, which might delay the processing time
Tour the campus
If you're interested, call the Admissions Office at +1 614-292-3980 and make a reservation. Guided tours of some campus buildings are provided to visitors, new students, faculty and staff. Learn more at visit.osu.edu.