International Student Guide to SF
Your First Month Checklist
Do these in order — don't skip the SSN step
Visa & Legal Basics
Not legal advice — just what I learned navigating F-1 and OPT
F-1 can start an LLC (but not work for it)
International students on F-1 can legally form an LLC — you just can't work for it until you have OPT/CPT. doola handles the whole setup for $297 including EIN and registered agent.
OPT = 12 months of US work authorization
Apply 90 days before graduation. STEM majors get 24 extra months. This is your window to build US work experience.
Keep your I-20 and I-94 on you
Digital copies in your phone. Your DSO can re-issue, but it's a pain. Screenshot them now.
Don't work off-campus without authorization
On-campus jobs up to 20hrs/week are fine on F-1. Off-campus requires CPT/OPT — unauthorized work can end your visa.
File taxes every year, even with $0 income
Form 8843 is required for all F-1 students. Sprintax is the go-to for nonresident tax filing.
Phone Plan
What I use for unlimited hotspot — works everywhere in SF
Visible by Verizon
What I use — unlimited hotspot, no SSN needed to sign up
Runs on Verizon, unlimited hotspot is huge for study sessions at cafes and Caltrain commutes.
Mint Mobile
Cheapest plans, 3-month prepaid packages
Good if you don't need hotspot. Prepaid so no credit check at all.
Student Loan Refinance
Escape those 11-13% Leap/Prodigy rates once you're working in the US
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Refinance your Leap/Prodigy loan and drop under 7% — even on F-1
Most international students I know got their USD loans from LeapFinance or Prodigy at 11-13% APR — those rates eat you alive. Once you land a US job on OPT (and sometimes even earlier on F-1 with a co-signer), SoFi refi can drop you under 7%. The $300 welcome bonus stacks on top. Check your rate first — soft pull, doesn't hit your credit. Saved a friend ~$18K over the life of his loan.
Banking
First real US bank account — no fees, early paycheck, bonus cash
SoFi Bank
Where I bank — high yield savings, no fees, up to $425 bonus
No minimum, no fees, early paycheck, and the savings account actually earns interest. I got $300+ back in bonuses.
Credit Card (Once You Have Credit)
Start with a secured card, then graduate to this one
Capital One Venture X
My daily card — apply once you have 6-12 months of US credit history
You'll need credit history first. Start with a secured card, then graduate to this. $300 travel credit + 10K anniversary points basically cover the $395 fee. Priority Pass lounges save you when flying home.
Start a Company on F-1
Yes, you can legally form an LLC as an international student
doola
Form your LLC as an international student — I used them for mine
Huge for international founders. F-1 students can legally form an LLC (you just can't work for it until OPT). doola handles formation, EIN, registered agent, and virtual mailbox — no SSN required, no US address required. Way cheaper than LegalZoom ($806) or Firstbase ($848).
Groceries Without a Car
How I feed myself in SF without a Costco run
Walmart+
Same-day grocery delivery at store prices — not marked up like Amazon Fresh
Students in dorms or shared housing without a car: this is how you grocery shop. Free delivery on $35+ orders, same prices as in-store, no tipping drivers.
Laptop
What I carry everywhere — works on Caltrain, lasts all day
MacBook Air 15"
What I carry — lightweight, all-day battery, big screen for coding
Use Apple's Education Store for a student discount + free AirPods at the start of semester. 18-hour battery means you never need a charger between classes.
Morning Coffee
How I stopped spending $6/day at Blue Bottle
RYZE Mushroom Coffee
How I replaced $6 Blue Bottle with something I actually like better
SF coffee is $5-7 a cup. RYZE is ~$1, takes 30 seconds — just hot water. Steady energy for study sessions without the afternoon crash. 48mg caffeine vs 95mg in regular coffee.
Cash Back
Runs in the background — especially useful for flights home
Rakuten
Cash back on things you'd buy anyway — books, clothes, flights home
Stacks with credit card rewards. Up to 19% back on Temu, Amazon, Walmart, and 3,500+ stores. I use it for flights home — sometimes 5-10% back on Expedia.
Getting Around
Muni for daily, Waymo for nights — no Uber surge
Waymo Robotaxi
No-surge rides across SF — my go-to when Uber is $40 for a 10-min ride
Fully autonomous, no driver, no surge pricing. Available 24/7 across most of SF. Way more predictable pricing than Uber or Lyft, especially on event nights.
Housing Tips
First-year survival — don't lock into a year-long lease sight unseen
- -Co-living (Tripalink, Common, HubHaus) cuts rent 40-50% and includes furniture — great first-year setup
- -Check for rent-controlled units (built before 1979) — rent increases capped at ~2%/year
- -Bring a checkbook to open houses — good units go same day in SF
- -Avoid broker fees — unlike NYC, most SF rentals don't require them
- -Tenderloin and Bayview are cheapest but research the specific block before signing
- -Outer Sunset is cheap, safe, and foggy — great if you don't mind the commute
Money Tips
Little things that save hundreds over the year
- -Don't use foreign cards in the US — 3% foreign transaction fees add up fast
- -Wise (TransferWise) is the cheapest way to move money from home to your US account
- -File taxes even with $0 income — Form 8843 is required for all F-1 students
- -Sprintax handles nonresident tax filing — some schools offer free Sprintax codes
- -Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay are how Americans split bills — set them up early
- -Keep a US address on file with your home bank so they don't flag US transactions
Explore More
The rest of the budget playbook
Some links above are referral/affiliate links. Using them supports BudgetSF at no extra cost to you — and often gets you a bonus too. Not legal or immigration advice — talk to your DSO for anything visa-related.