Are you thinking about applying for or have already accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Utah? We are excited to have you as part of our research community! To help you get settled in smoothly, you can find key resources and important information below in addition to onboarding documents that will be sent to you by the Neurobiology Department administration.
Also see our "Living in Utah" section or feel free to reach out to our board members with specific questions.
Work
Authorization
International scholars should contact the Office of
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) immediately upon arrival
and before starting work to obtain the necessary work authorization.
Additionally, you must coordinate with your department to confirm the official
DS-2019 start date and receive the updated documentation.
Social Security
Number (SSN)
After
receiving your work authorization and updated DS-2019, you must apply for a
Social Security Number (SSN), which is required for payroll and tax purposes.
To apply, bring your passport, DS-2019, I-94, and a letter of employment
eligibility from ISSS to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
You can find detailed instructions at the link below.
Health
Insurance
Review and enroll in postdoctoral health insurance plans. You can
find detailed information at the link below.
University
Housing
Information on on-campus and nearby housing options by the University of Utah.
Local
Neighborhoods
Guides and websites to finding affordable housing in surrounding areas.
See also our "public transportation" section in the Living Utah page for getting around on our buses and rail lines.
First 2 years
During
your first two calendar years you are in the United States, you are generally considered a
nonresident alien for tax purposes. It is recommended to use Sprintax, an
online tax preparation software specifically designed to help international
scholars correctly file Form 1040-NR and other required documents. You can get
Sprintax discount code from UAtlas.
After 2 years
Starting
in your third year and onward, you may qualify as a resident alien for tax
purposes. At this stage, you can use popular online tax software like TurboTax or
similar programs to file the standard Form 1040.