This task force was formed by the Mayor and City Council to assist international students who come to work in Ocean City, MD under the Summer Work and Travel Program. The task force is made of volunteers and is chaired by Madalaine How.

Helpful Information for Students

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO CARRY WITH YOU THE NAME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF YOUR WORK AND TRAVEL PROGRAM SPONSOR. THEY ARE YOUR FIRST POINT OF CONTACT AND RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION IF YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYER ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM THAT YOU ARE UNSURE HOW TO OR CANNOT RESOLVE.

1. Getting to Ocean City From the Airport:

Depending on the time of day/night that you arrive at the airport you may have some difficulty getting to Ocean City. The following suggestions should help you get from the airport to Ocean City.

a. New York, New York JFK International

• From New York, the most convenient way to get to Ocean City is to arrange for transportation in advance with Coastal Charters by calling OCISS at 410-289-0350 or Beach Express Toll Free 866-628-7433 or 410-289-1203. You will need a minimum group of 5 to 6 students and the cost is $65-$69 per person. These two providers are reliable and have the necessary insurance and permits to transport students. There are other providers but the Task Force cannot verify that they are reliable and have the required credentials.
• If you are unable to arrange group transportation, you can catch the New York Airport Express Service Bus (located at the Express Bus Stop at each terminal) to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd St. and 8th Ave. then take the Greyhound Bus to Ocean City. The Express Service Bus departs every 20-30 minutes and the cost is $15. The Greyhound Bus only makes two trips to Ocean City at 8:00 am and 1:45 pm., so you may be spending a lot of time waiting at the Greyhound Bus Station. The Greyhound Bus fare to Ocean City is $53 plus tax.

b. Newark, New Jersey Liberty International

• Both Coastal Charters (410-289-0350) and Beach Express (410-289-1674) provide transportation from Newark Liberty International Airport to Ocean City. You will need a minimum group of 5 to 6 students and the cost is $65-$69 per person. These two providers are reliable and have the necessary insurance and permits to transport students. There are other providers but the Task Force cannot verify that they are reliable and have the required credentials.
• If you are unable to arrange group transportation, you can catch the Newark Liberty Airport Express Bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd St. and 8th Ave. Then take the Greyhound Bus to Ocean City. The Express Bus departs every 15-30 minutes and the cost is $14. You can purchase a ticket for the Express Bus at the Ground Transportation Ticket Counter located near the baggage claim area. The Greyhound Bus only makes two trips to Ocean City at 8:35 am and 2:20 pm., so you may be spending a lot of time waiting at the Greyhound Bus Station. The Greyhound Bus fare to Ocean City is $53 plus tax.

c. Washington, D.C. Dulles International (Virginia)

• The best way to get from Dulles International Airport is to arrange for transportation in advance with Coastal Charters (410-289-0350) or Beach Express (410-289-1674). You will need a minimum group of 5 to 6 students and the cost is $60-$69 per person.
• Another option is to take a taxi. The cost is $350-$400 so you will need a group of 4 or 5 students to split the fare. If you do decide to come by taxi, you need to be sure to use only a licensed cab and write down the tag number, driver’s name, and license number. Occasionally there are problems with private taxicabs.
• If you are unable to travel with a group of 4 to 6 to share the transportation cost, a more difficult way for an individual student to get to Ocean City is by Greyhound Bus. To do that, you will have to take the Metro Flier Bus to the West Falls Church Metro Station (cost $8). Take the Metro to Union Station in Washington, D.C. (cost $6). You then walk 5 blocks to the Greyhound Bus Station (which may be very difficult with luggage) or you can take a taxi (cost about $6). The Greyhound Bus fare is $37.50 plus tax so the total cost is $50 - $60. There is also a “Blue Van” shuttle that can take you from Dulles to the Greyhound Bus Station. The shuttle operates from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm and costs $25 for the first passenger and $8 for each additional person. The Greyhound Bus to Ocean City departs Washington, D.C. at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm only.
  

d. Baltimore, Maryland BWI

• Upon arrival at BWI you can make arrangements for the SuperShuttle (ticket counters located on the lower level baggage claim area) to the downtown Greyhound Bus Station located at 2110 Haines St. The ticket counters are open 6:00 am to 2:00 am and the cost for the shuttle is $19 for one passenger and $11 for each additional passenger. The Greyhound Bus departs Downtown Baltimore at 11:30 am and 5:00 pm and costs $32 plus tax to Ocean City. You can also get a taxi from BWI to the Greyhound Bus Station for about $25.
• If you are able to make arrangements in advance for a group of 5 to 6 students, Coastal Charters (410-289-0350) and Beach Express (410-289-1674) provide transportation from BWI airport to Ocean City. The cost is $60-$69 per person. These two providers are reliable and have the necessary insurance and permits to transport students. There are other providers but the Task Force cannot verify that they are reliable and have the required credentials.

The Grey Hound bus travels from New York, Newark, Washington, Baltimore, and Salisbury to Ocean City twice a day. Click here for the current schedule.

2. Arrival in Ocean City:

After you arrive in the US, it is very important that you contact your program sponsor and register with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to provide them with your local address once you have secured housing and where you will be employed. It usually takes 7 – 10 days for your information to be updated in SEVIS. That update is necessary for you to get a Social Security Number.

3.Welcome to Ocean City:

A Welcome Booklet that provides students with some basic orientation information is available at the Greyhound Bus Station and on some of the local buses. Some of the local churches offer welcome meals and coffee house fellowships to welcome students to ocean City. A schedule for these meals will be available at the Grey Hound bus station and at City Hall during the scheduled Social Security application days.

4. Social Security Card (SSC):

A week after you have registered with SEVIS the first thing you need to do to work in almost any business is to apply for your Social Security Card (showing your Social Security Number). To apply, you will have to go to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Salisbury (27 miles away.)

Information about transportation to Salisbury is available in the hand book published by the Seasonal Workforce Committee. The hand book can be found in a box at the bus station when you arrive in Ocean City. Also the International Student Services on 304 South Baltimore Ave will have the hand books and additional travel information.

When you apply for your Social Security card, you must bring with the following original documents:

1. Your passport with J-1 Visa
2. I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
3. DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status

Your cards will be distributed to you on Fridays, beginning the last of May, at City Hall in Ocean City, MD. Ask for the projected date of distribution when you apply.
It is necessary for you to give your employer a copy of the letter stating you applied for a Social Security Card (SSC). You may begin working before you receive your SSC; usually it takes about a week for your card to arrive. Your employer can use a provisional number until your SSC arrives. Be aware that some employers may try to hold your paycheck until you get your social security number. This is an unlawful practice according to Department of Labor regulations. Also, the employer may not keep or copy your Social Security Card.
To check on the status of your SSC you may call the US SSA without charge, 1-800-772-1213 or visit their website at www.ssa.gov.

5. Housing:

There are some simple rules that you need to remember when you are renting an apartment and before you sign your lease:

a. Rental prices. Usually students pay for their apartments once a week. Regular price per person for a week goes around $80 - $90.

b. Security deposit. In most places in Ocean City you must pay a security deposit before you move into an apartment (in case you brake any piece of furniture, burn something or make a real mess before you move out). Usually it’s about $100 - $150 per person. Sometimes the lease states that you can’t move out before the end of your lease period otherwise you lose your deposit and in some cases are responsible for paying the remaining weeks. So, before you sign your name on a lease/contract and pay your security deposit, check the unit with the landlord for anything broken, leaks, etc. Put all this in your contract so at the end of the season there won’t be any misunderstanding and you should get all your deposit back without any problems. Don’t forget to inform your landlord 15 days in advance of when you are leaving to arrange a meeting to inspect the unit. This is one of the legal requirements to get your deposit back. In most cases, everyone on the lease must be out of the unit before the security deposit is refunded.

c. Lease. After you and the landlord have agreed upon the weekly rental amount, security deposit, move in and move out dates, and move in condition of the unit, you should check that the lease agreement includes all of this. You want to be sure that the lease specifies whether utilities (electric, air conditioning, TV, etc,) are included in the weekly rent. Ask for an explanation of anything you do not understand in the lease. A lease is giving you protection against misunderstandings latter and protection from wrongful eviction. Also, the landlord must give you prior notice before entering the unit and may not enter the unit anytime they want. You should also know that the landlord cannot keep any of your documents (passport, etc.) as a requirement for signing the lease only copies of them.

You should also know that the landlord cannot keep or copy any of your documents (passport, I-94, DS-2019) as a requirement for signing the lease. They may only review to verify the validity of the documents.

6. Transportation:

During the summer you can get around the city on the Ocean City bus. The bus runs 24 hours a day, every 10-15 minutes from Downtown all the way up to the Delaware State line (142TH street). It will cost you $2 a day (exact change is required), or you can buy a book of 10 tickets for $15 in several places in OC (City Hall, any transfer stations, Convention Center).

There are also several places where you can buy a bike for the summer. One place is Ocean City International Student Services (OCISS). OCISS has different types of bikes for a reasonable price, so you just have to choose which one is the best for you. You can return your bike along with the original Bill of Sale at the end of the season and get half of the price back. Usually the price for a bike is from $35 - $60. Remember, when riding a bike in Ocean City you must obey the rules of the road such as not riding facing the traffic and using proper hand signals when turning and changing lanes.

The Greyhound Bus has scheduled transportation to Salisbury, Baltimore, and Washington DC. Other independent transportation providers that can take you to various cities and to the airports. There are also many local taxi cab companies that can provide transportation in Ocean City. Be sure that the taxi has the required black circle permit displayed in the left lower corner of the rear windshield. Also, you want to be sure that your fare is charged according to the meter and not by the taxi driver telling you a certain amount so that you don’t pay more than what is necessary.

Sometimes foreign students buy or rent cars. If you are going to be driving a car in Ocean City, a valid driver’s license from your country along with your passport will allow you to drive up to one year in Maryland. However, if you are driving someone else’s car or renting a car, then you need to check with their insurance company to be sure that there are no restrictions regarding foreign driver’s licenses. Should a foreign student want a State of MD driver’s license, all needed information can find on the web site: www.marylandmva.com.

7. Opening a Bank account:

Many foreign students don’t trust or use banks. Without a local bank you will have to pay some percentage/fee to cash your paychecks. You may also risk being robbed of your summer earnings if you hold onto your checks thinking it is safe. Also, there may be a limited number of days in which you can cash your check then it will expire. Many of the local banks such as BB&T and Bank of America have interpreters who can assist with opening bank accounts.

8. Legal issues:

The Quality of Life Task Force and the OCISS may be able to help you if you get into trouble with the police or put in jail. However, it is best that you stay out of trouble. Remember some basic rules:

a. Drinking: You must be at least 21 years old to get into bars or nightclubs, or to purchase or drink alcohol. Have your ID (passport, state identification card or state driver’s license) with you when you go. All bars and nightclubs serving alcohol will check your photo ID for age, and without this document you will not be able to enter. You will also be asked for your ID before you can purchase alcohol. Drinking any alcoholic beverage in public is illegal. This includes any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, beach, and parking lot, as well as in any vehicle in these areas. Possessing an open container of any alcoholic beverage in public is not allowed.

b. Excessive noise is forbidden. Ocean City strongly enforces its ordinance. Disruptive noises between 12 midnight and 7 am that are plainly heard at a distance of 50 feet from its source are strictly prohibited. Parties with loud music/noise and public drinking and drunkenness may result in you being evicted from your housing and being prosecuted.

c. Over the last several years in Ocean City, there has been an increase in shoplifting (stealing), especially during the summer. The United States has the same laws as your motherland country about stealing. It may look like you can take anything you want and leave the store because nobody’s watching you. But the situation is completely different – each store has video cameras that are hidden from customers so you can’t really see many of them. Also, in the big markets some employees are walking around as customers and watching you. If you get caught don’t ever try to bribe the police officer or employee of the store because it is illegal and gets you into even more trouble. Many students go to jail for some time before the trial. You can spend up to 1 month or more in jail waiting for your court trial; or pay from $1,000 or more to get out on bail. Then you still need to go to court where a judge will decide what to do with you. By committing any crime while you are in the US, you are closing the door to reentering this country again.

9. Taxes:

As a J-1 Student, you are responsible to pay federal and state taxes. These federal and state taxes will be deducted from your pay. Your employer is required by law to send you W2 tax forms by January 30th. The W2 is necessary so that you can file a tax return for a refund of the state and federal taxes that were deducted from your wages. You should provide your employer with a valid address where to send the W2 tax form at the end of the year. OCISS can assist you with filing your income tax return so that you can receive a refund of the taxes that were deducted from your pay. There is a fee for this service.

Your employer should not deduct Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid or Unemployment taxes from your pay. If your employer is deducting Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid or Unemployment taxes, OCISS can provide the information about exemption from these taxes. OCISS may also be able to assist you to get a refund of these taxes if they are deducted but you must attend to this before you leave the US.

10. Medical Problems:

Before you arrived in the US, your program sponsor secured health/medical insurance for you. They should have provided you with a health/medical insurance card that you should carry with you at all times. You need to find out from your sponsor what the insurance covers in case you are in need of medical/health services while you are in the US. If you get sick, have an accident or have a medical emergency, you should seek medical assistance at one of the local medical centers or at Atlantic General Hospital. It is very important that you have your medical/health insurance card with you. Atlantic General Hospital will usually accept your insurance as payment, other medical centers will require you to pay first then you will have to seek reimbursement through your insurance provider. Ocean City Youth Health Center is another place where you may receive medical services for a small fee/donation. If you are hurt on your job you should report it immediately to your employer/manager as they should have insurance to get you medical treatment if necessary. It is better to get the medical treatment you need rather than ignore it and cause yourself serious problems later.

11. Phony Jobs:

If when you arrive in Ocean City with an employment contract/offer but when you get to the employer you are told that there is no job, report this to the Quality of Life Task Force. This is the type of thing that the Quality of Life Task Force is trying to eliminate. Be prepared to share as much information that you have about the program sponsor, partner, employer, etc. to help the Task Force help you.

You can contact the Seasonal Workforce Committee (Quality of Life Task Force) at seasonalworkforcecommittee@gmail.com. Please leave name, sponsor, information needed, and a means of contacting you -- phone, employer, email. You will have a response within 24 hours.

12. Recreation and Education:

Through out the summer OCISS and other groups offering services to the students will schedule various trips to places such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Niagara Falls. The costs for these over-night trips are very reasonable and provide an excellent recreational as well as educational experience.

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