International Student Resources
Government Resources
Financial & Insurance Resources
Academic Resources
- The Academic Catalogue
- Academic Advisor(s)
- Center for Academic Success
- The Writing Center
- ESL tutors
- Courses for International Students
Whether or not you are earning an income in the US, you will be required to file a tax return each year. The Union University International Student Office is neither qualified nor permitted to give individual tax advice. Students with complicated tax situations may wish to consult with a tax preparation service, professional tax accountant, or tax attorney who is knowledgeable about nonresident tax law.
However, the sites and links below contain information that may be helpful in answering some additional tax questions.
Sometimes local accountants offer their tax preparation services to Union University international students. Please contact your International Student Advisor for more information.
You may also go to the Jackson IRS office, 109 S. Highland, Jackson, TN 38301, or call (731) 423-2441. The office is open Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
You may download any tax forms you need from their website by using the "Search Forms and Publications" function -- or click on the form below:
If you need assistance completing your taxes, Union has partnered with Sprintax for the 1042-S form. They offer support for the 1040-NR & form 8843 that is required for F-1 visa holders to complete each year. If you do not want to use this software, you may purchase Glacier Tax Prep (Arctic International LLC) software to assist you in completing your tax forms. This software is only intended for those who are classified nonresident aliens for tax purposes. (Students in F-1 status). Note: There is a fee to use both software programs.
As of October 13, 2004, F-1 students may only obtain a Social Security number if the student is working. This is a Social Security Administration regulation. For more information on F-1 students and Social Security numbers.
An F-1 student must submit the following as part of the application process:
Once these documents have been gathered and completed, you may proceed to the Social Security Office where you will apply for a social security number and if approved will later receive a card in the mail.
The Social Security Office in Jackson is located at 415 CHEYENNE DR., JACKSON, TN 38305
The office is open MONDAY - FRIDAY: 08:30 AM - 03:30 PM (except holidays). The office can be reached by calling (731) 660-3384
International students are allowed to obtain a Drivers License during their stay in the U.S. For information on scheduling a driving test.
International students should wait at least 10 days after arriving in the United States before they apply for a Drivers License. When you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - the common name for a state government office that issues driver's licenses - remember to bring all your paperwork. For Tennessee, the paperwork includes these documents:
There are many different banks in Jackson; a few of them are walking distance to campus. If you need suggestions on a good bank to choose, just visit the ISO.
If you deposit a check for a large amount of money, the bank will usually hold your check for five days. They will not let you spend that money for those five days until they are certain that the source of the money is safe. This is a precaution against fraud. During that time, your bank account may appear to have a negative amount, but that is because they are holding your check. Your debit or check card may also not work at that time, so be sure to keep some money with you.
Int. Student Health Insurance Enrollment Form
All Union University F-1 International students are required to maintain insurance that covers healthcare and other unexpected expenditures, including emergency medical care in country and medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and non-health related emergency evacuation (political unrest, natural disaster, etc.), through the duration of their academic program.
Students will automatically be enrolled in international student health insurance through a Union University approved insurance provider for the 10 month academic term. Students not traveling outside the United States during the summer vacation terms will then also be enrolled in international student health insurance during the summer. The insurance premium will be billed to my student account at Union University at the start of each academic or summer term.
Students will receive a copy of their insurance card and insurance policy each academic year they are enrolled at Union University. Please keep this information with you and please contact your International Student Advisor if you have any questions or concerns about your coverage.
Union's Academic Catalogue — published annually — is a comprehensive resource for Union University policies, procedures, and programming. It is a written guide for students to reference as they manage their programs of study. Academic advisers, Union's Academic Center and Registrar's office, and others will reference "the Catalogue" when talking about majors, minors, core classes, etc. It is available online at: uu.edu/catalogue/. It is important to remember that, as you access the Catalogue, you access the version published the year you began at Union. So, for example, if you began in the fall of 2024, you should reference the 2024-2025 Academic Catalogue. Also, note that there is an undergraduate and graduate one as well.
Your academic advisor is the faculty member who overseas your course schedule. Your advisor will help you plan which classes you should be taking each semester at Union. If you have any registration or class questions, please feel free to contact your advisor by email or request a meeting to discuss your course of studies.
The Center for Academic Success (CAS) provides assistance to advance student learning and the academic process by offering a comprehensive range of services and programs to include: supplemental instruction, discipline specific study labs, free peer tutoring, academic counseling, study skills and strategy quick links, test proctoring. The CAS offers three programs to ensure academic success: Keystone, Resiliency, and Undecided Freshman Advising.
The Writing Center coaches Union students to improve their own writing by employing a better writing process. Help is provided with any kind of writing project at any stage of the writing process.
If you need ESL (English as a second language) assistance, visit the Center for Academic Success to meet with one of their highly qualified tutors.
International Orientation is designed specifically for new international students to help ease the transition into both life in the US and study at Union. You will hear from speakers that provide both practical and formative information about your new role as student at Union. All in-coming freshman and transfer student orientations will be offered in addition to the International Orientation.
The International Student Union desires to cater to the needs of the individual members and to bring them together by providing an on-going network of encouragement, fellowship and understanding among members; provide a friendly, welcoming and tolerant home away from home where students from different countries can express their difficulties or concerns and find support while here in the United States; and promote awareness and appreciation of international cultures. The ISU also holds various events throughout the school year, such as a Chinese New Year Celebration, Coffee and Conversation Hour, and the annual International Food Fest.
Union's Health Services is the place to go if you get sick. The clinic is staffed by a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner who sees students on a walk-in basis in the mornings from 8-10am and then by appointment from 10-4:15pm.
The Office for Disability Services offers reasonable accommodations designed to provide equal access to academic and social opportunities at Union University for students with disabilities. Students must provide documentation of a specific disability and how that disability impacts academic performance and/or the student's ability to participate. The Director will work with the student to formulate accommodations specific to the student's disability. The Director is also available to help students with disabilities with time management and study skills and assist students in utilizing additional resources on campus.
The Residence Life works with international students on check-in/out dates due to flight schedules and summer storage options. Please check with your RD for more information.
In the United States, the phone number you dial in case of emergences is 911. Only serious emergencies warrant a call to 911, such as a car wreck or a medical emergency.
For lesser emergencies, Union provides a 24-hour security service. Safety and Security provides a secure campus environment for all students, faculty, and staff. It is a good idea to put their number in your cell phone: 731-394-2922.
The majority of people get around Jackson in their own vehicles; however, there is also a bus service. Visit ridejta.com for more information.
If you need a taxi, call 731.423.TAXI (8294) for Affordable Taxi Service. Call anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Megabus is an economy bus service that runs all over the country. The closest Megabus stops are Memphis and Nashville. This is a safe, reliable, and inexpensive way to travel.
The closest international airports to fly into are:
Union University has students from over 40 states and 25 countries! Because of the distance between our campus and their home, several students must travel by plane to get here. The Office of Residence Life can arrange transportation to the Memphis airport for a cost of $75.00 per ride. (If more than one person needs a ride, they can split that cost.) Reservations are required one week in advance. However, students are encouraged to first utilize the "Union Ride Board" group located on Facebook.
McKellar-Sipes (Jackson) Regional airport, (an easy 10 minute drive from the UU campus), offers flights from Jackson to Atlanta. To check out current rates or to schedule a flight, go to flyjacksontn.com. The University does not provide transportation to the McKellar-Sipes or Nashville airports.
