Welcome to the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics Trainee Resource Center, we’re happy to have you with us! Are you a new international student? Download the International Student Example Timeline.

This area includes information and associated links curated by VIPBG trainees and faculty and is designed to be a resource for new trainees, international and domestic, as well as include useful resources for existing trainees and faculty. This is not an exhaustive list and contains information from VCU sources as well as non-VCU sources and tips from the experiences of VIPBG trainees. We hope that this will have useful information for you across multiple domains.

Please Note: The following information does not represent the official recommendations or opinions of Virginia Commonwealth University. Instead, they represent the opinions and suggestions of graduate students at the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics.

New Trainees

    To secure housing, you can do so either before arriving to Richmond or you can do so after your arrival. It is best if you secure your housing before arrival; however, it is a bit challenging if you’re coming from a country outside of North America. There are several ways that you can secure housing.

    1. There is a Facebook Community Group for VCU students that have advantages:
      • VCU students whom looking for house/apartments, post it and look for roommates.
      • Those who have apartments also look for roommates and the apartment pictures are posted by students on this channel. One good thing about it is that you can find very cheap rents with shared apartments in this way.
      • Have video call with these people to have a virtual tour.
      • Need to promise these people.
      • This is more risky.
    2. Zillow
      • It is a website that any apartment available for rent can be found. There are pictures, price and any details that you need about an apartment are provided. You can schedule appointment for the tour.
    3. Apartments’ Websites
      • Almost all apartments have their own websites that you can directly contact with their managers and get information about the type and prices of available apartments.
    4. Alternatives
      • Stay in Air-BnB or hotel temporarily, or friends, relatives house temporarily until you secure the house.
      • Current graduate students sometimes may volunteer to host new international students.

    A few notes about rental policies:

    • Depending on the apartment, you need to give 1 to 3 monthly rent amount as a security deposit.
    • Some apartments and houses have utility included and some are not which the price of utility varies each month depending on how much you use.
    • To proof of income you can provide your admission letter from your department.
    • Some apartments/houses require co-signer if your income does not exceed their requirements. They need proof of annual gross income 2 to 3 times of annual rent.

    Neighborhoods

    There are several neighborhoods in Richmond where many current students and faculty live in and have experience with. Here are a few of the most common neighborhoods and a map to visualize where they are. To visualize safety around Richmond, you can check out this map. If you have more questions about the specific neighborhoods, please reach out to some of our students and faculty members who would love to tell you more about the neighborhoods they live in.

    The Fan

    • Housing Style: Mostly houses.
    • Rent: around $1200-2000 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment (~1000+ sq ft).
    • General Information: Within walking or biking distance from the Monroe Park Campus, close to some restaurants and shops. You could also take public transit (the number 5 bus).
    • Contact: Mallory Stephenson (Mallory.Stephenson@vcuhealth.org)

    Museum District

    • Housing Style: mostly houses, but some low-rise apartments (ex 3 stories).
    • Rent: $1200-2000 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment (~1000+ sq ft).
    • General Information: Close to several museums including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, close to Carytown (a nice commercial street with many restaurants and shops), as well as several grocery stores (Kroger, Publix, Fresh Market, and Ellewood Thompson).
    • Contact: Daniel Zhou (zhouy33@vcu.edu)

    Scott’s Addition

    • Housing Style: large apartment complexes.
    • Rent: $1200-$2000 for 1 bedroom apartment (~600 sq ft).
    • General Information: Close to several breweries and restaurants.
    • Contact: Christina Sheerin (Christina.Sheerin@vcuhealth.org)

    Shockoe Bottom/Slip

    • Housing Style: Large apartment complexes.
    • Rent: $1300 a month for 1 bedroom apartment (~500-600 sq ft).
    • General Information: very close to the MCV campus and VIPBG, also close to a lot of bars and nightlife. Located on GRTC Pulse line (express bus with stops on MCV/Monroe Park campuses).
    • Contact: Walker Rogers (rogersw@vcu.edu)

    Downtown

    • Housing Style: Large apartment complexes.
    • Rent: $1600 for 1 bedroom apartment (~800 sq ft).
    • General Information: very close and within walking distance to MCV campus, and close to some high-end restaurants.
    • Contact:

    Monroe Park Campus

    • Housing Style: Large apartment complexes.
    • Rent: a wide variety of apartment complexes are available and starting rent is from $900 for a studio and goes up to $2500 for a 3-bedroom apartment. For 1-bedroom apartment rent rent is between $1100 to $1500.
    • General Information: Very close to the James Cabell library, Cary street gym, university facilities and Kroger grocery shopping. Since it is on campus, a wide range of apartments and houses are available. There are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.
    • Contact: Saeed Farajzadeh Valilou (farajzadehs@vcu.edu)

    Church Hill

    • Housing Style: Single houses.
    • Rent: $2000-2500 for a 2-3 bedroom house.
    • General Information: Housing becomes less expensive and you get more space, close to some trendy restaurants and bars.
    • Contact:

    Southside

    • Housing Style: Single houses and large apartment complexes.
    • Rent: small houses average around $2000-2500, a wide variety of apartment complexes are available with average 2-bedroom rents ranging from $1200-2500.
    • General Information: more options, apartment rentals can be cheaper than in the city. Public school systems are generally better than Richmond City public schools. Suburban living with ease of access to chain shopping (grocery stores, Target, Walmart, etc.). The GRTC bus system does have some lines which extend into the Southside. Good for families.
    • Contact:

    PhD Student Health Insurance

    Acquiring Health Insurance 

    Before the start of the fall and spring semesters, registered PhD students (including international students on F and J visas) will receive an email from VCU notifying them about enrollment in the health insurance program offered by the school. Students may opt-out by submitting proof of another ACA compliant insurance (ex. they may still be on their parent’s insurance) by a deadline usually by the end of the first month of the semester. Students are encouraged to opt-in (instructions found here) before the deadline, after which they will be automatically enrolled.

    Departments within the school of medicine (such as Human Genetics) will cover the costs of health insurance for their students. For other programs, check with the program directors to determine what the costs to students will be. For MD-PhD/MSTP students, health insurance costs are also covered by the School of Medicine.

    Once enrolled, set-up an account through the United Healthcare Web-Portal to be able to find healthcare services providers (see figure to the right), check claims and benefits, and print insurance ID cards.

    Common Insurance Terminology and Coverage Basics

    The health insurance currently offered to students is called United Healthcare Student Resources. Insurance details can also be found on the VCU student health insurance webpage or can be accessed through the insurance’s web-portal.

    Some common terminology include:

    • Preferred provider (PP) vs. Out-of network (OON) providers
      • Preferred providers – providers within the health insurance network for which service contracts have been negotiated. Costs are reduced to see preferred in-network providers.
      • Out-of network providers – those who are not within the insurance network.
      • Preferred vs. Out of Network providers can be distinguished with the “Find Medical Provider/Estimate Cost” tool in the insurance’s web-portal.
    • Plan deductible – the annual amount of money that needs to be paid out-of-pocket before benefits kick in:
      • $200 for preferred providers (PP).
      • $400 for out-of-network providers (OON).
    • Copays – charges paid for each medical visit that do not contribute to paying off the deductible:
      • For example, you may need to pay up-front $25 for in-person visits to a doctor (which doesn’t count towards reducing the deductible balance) and $100 for emergency visits. This is the same for PP and OON providers.
    • Coinsurance – percentage of the Allowed Amount (the amount the insurance company will pay for covered medical expenses, usually the negotiated/contracted prices for services with preferred healthcare providers) for covered medical expenses that the insurance will pay.
      • For a PP, this is 80%, meaning that if the allowed amount was $1000 for an x-ray, then the patient (you) will be responsible for paying $200.
        • For OON, co-insurance is 50% of the allowed amount.
      • Note, if you haven’t met your deductible for PP, you will first pay up to $200, which will be reduced from your deductible balance. For the same $1000 x-ray, after paying your $200 deductible, there is now $800 remaining. Now, the co-insurance will kick in so 80% or $640 will be paid by the insurance, and $160 will be paid by you.
      • Note that for certain preventive services (annual physicals, routine screenings, and certain vaccinations), there is 100% coinsurance and is completely covered by the insurance.
    • Out-of-Pocket Maximum – the maximum amount you will pay in a given insured year ($7350). If you spend beyond this amount, covered medical expenses will be paid for 100%.

    Medical Coverage at a Glance

      • Who is covered:
        • Students (primary insurance holder)
        • Eligible dependents: legal spouse, Domestic Partner, and children under 26 years of age.
      • Prescription drugs – depends on the tier of a drug (see drug list).
      • Preventative care – 100% covered for certain routine and preventative services such as annual physics, GYN exams, routine screenings, and immunizations. If it is not routine or within recommended guidelines, it will not be considered preventative care. A full list of accepted preventative care services can be found online.
      • Other medical care that is deemed medically necessary will be covered at 80% of the allowed amount (see Common Insurance Terminology section) by the insurance company for preferred providers. For out-of-network providers, the co-insurance is 50% meaning the insurance will only cover 50% of any billed costs. Medical care includes:
    • Inpatient care (going to the emergency room and/or hospital) – includes costs of hospitalization including tests, x-rays, medical and surgical treatments received while in the hospital.
    • Outpatient care (going to urgent care or other primary care clinics) –  includes costs of physician visits (urgent care clinic, family doctor, specialist (ENT, neurologist)), physiotherapy, nutritionist services, diagnostic x-rays, laboratory procedures, prescription drugs, and medical equipment.
    • Mental Health Care – includes services from licensed therapists as well as psychiatrists. For both preferred and out-of-network providers, there is a copay of $20 per visit. After that, for preferred providers, 100% of the allowed amount is covered by insurance while 70% is covered for out-of-network providers. See Mental Health Care (webpage) for more details on ways to access mental health care.
    • What’s NOT covered:
      • Routine dental care.
      • Routine eye exam, eye-glasses, or contact lenses. Exclusions don’t apply when due covered injury or disease process.
      • Cosmetic procedures (ex. treatment of keloid).
      • Certain foot care conditions (ex. routine foot care such as removal of corns, calluses, toenails, and bunions).
      • Hearing examinations, hearing aids, or other treatment for hearing deficits and hearing loss. Exclusions do not apply to hearing deficits caused by ear infection or injury.
      • Immunizations for travel or work.
      • Reproductive services (including genetic testing, infertility treatment, cryopreservation)

    For details on payment for healthcare services, see the Physical and Mental Health Resources section.

    Family Resources/Childcare

    Coming to VCU with young children

    • Tip: Waiting lists for daycares in the area are VERY long so need to plan in advance (e.g., at minimum several months).
    • Child Care Aware of Virginia is a great resource to help figure out what kind of care parents want, e.g., daycare or nanny. They are reachable via their website or by phone or email, and they can provide many resources (e.g., a checklist to choose a child care) and a personalized list of providers.
    • Information on National accreditation for child care is also available.
    • Utilize VCU family resources for a curated list of information on resources available (e.g., child care) for those at VCU.

    Expanding your family while at VCU

    For Post-docs/trainees

    • Meet with your mentor and PI and as relevant the dept chair to support planning.
    • You may be eligible for a variety of benefits but will depend on the type of role you have. Speak to your HR representative directly to find out exactly what you are eligible for. Some information relevant for postdoctoral employees is on the HR website.
    • Note: This sick leave needs to be accumulated over time.

    For VCU Faculty and Staff

    • VCU Human Resources has curated a wealth of resources on Adding to the Family along with a timeline checklist including leave options, prenatal care, changes to benefits.
    • Meet with your HR representative for further information (department of psychiatry or department of human genetics depending on home department) as benefits available will depend.

    Groceries

    In the US there are a wide variety of grocery shops and supermarkets. They differ in the quality of products and prices. Some of the grocery stores are listed below provide by average costs: low-high with associated addresses of locations close to campus and accessible by Pulse. The addresses are provided based on their closeness to campus MPC and MCV campus.

    ALDI: most economical, relatively close to VCU

    Location: 927 Myers St, Richmond, VA 23230

    Kroger: less economical but okay and has better qualities, close to MPC campus

    Location: 901 N Lombardy St, Richmond, VA 23220

    Walmart: It is a large grocery store where you shop anything from groceries, to kitchen wares, home goods, electronic and computer products etc. It is good for those who just moved to Richmond and need primary things for living and cooking. It is much cheaper compared to other stores. The prices are between Kroger and ALDI. Since it is a very large grocery store, you have many options and you can find any kind for good prices on average. However, it is farther away from both campuses, you need to have a car or take uber or bus to go to walmart if you are living in near MPC/MCV campus

    Location: 2410 Sheila Ln, Richmond, VA 23225
    Location: 5001 Nine Mile Rd, Richmond, VA 23223

    Walmart+ (Walmart Plus): It is an option that you can register to shop online from Walmart via app or website and it has free delivery if you buy more than $35. The first month is a trial and free.  Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month.

    Whole Foods: most expensive, more organic options and high quality groceries

    Location: 2024 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

    Costco: is the best option if you have a car. Because it is outside of Richmond. It has very high quality groceries for lower price. In comparison to price it is similar to ALDI and Walmart but the quality is much better and similar to whole foods. However, it needs annual membership and it is $60.

    Location: 9650 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA 23060
    Location: 1401 Mall Dr, Bon Air, VA 23235

    In Richmond there are a variety of international Grocery stores but they are not close to campus.

    Tan A Supermarket – (Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese)
    Location:     6221 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230

    Taj Halal Grocery – (Pakistani, Indian, Turkish)
    Location:     8101 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23294

    Ummah Market – (Afghan, Turkish, Persian)
    Location:     9864 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA 23060

    Royal Bazaar Farmers Market – (Indian)
    Location: 2600 Tuckernuck Dr, Richmond, VA 23294

    Laxmi Palace Indian Grocery Store – (Indian)
    Location:     3423 Old Parham Rd, Henrico, VA 23294

    El Rey Latino Market & Restaurant – (Salvadorian, Mexican)
    Location:     6006 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230

    New VIPBG members may use the information below to get started with the on-boarding process. You may need your mentor/PI to submit information for you.

    Office, key, and IT supply

    • PI should submit an HR ticket through the VIPBG Support Center.
    • The ticket submission process covers: office, key, computer, and accessories
      • The eID has to be mentioned in the ticket system, but the ticket can be updated if the eID is not available.

    VCU eID (username)

    • Once you receive an email with your eID, you must “claim” it at https://myeid.vcu.edu/
      • Make sure to have your V#

    Information for VCU badge

    • The VCU Card Office will issue ID cards by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled online.
    • The VCU Card Office is 1000 East Marshall Street, Room 311.
    • The first student card is free
    • For students who need both VCU and VCUHS cards, please reach out to the business operations (they can arrange to pay for the second card)

    Time to first paycheck

    • All trainees (graduate, post-doc) are on VCU Payroll. Setting up payment is now a part of the new hire process.
    • To determine time to first paycheck, you will need:
    • Review your final/DocuSigned offer letter. This will list your effective employment date. Look for this date on the calendar and it will show the associated first payday for that start-date.
    • Tips: Be sure to download the completed docusign offer letter you will receive after you sign it. This document has really useful information on it. Be in communication with your HR person for support/assistance with any questions about the letter or paydays.

    International Trainees

      Official Documents

      Setting up I-20 and applying for Visa

      Note that the following information does not represent the official recommendations or opinions of Virginia Commonwealth University. Instead, they represent the opinions and suggestions of graduate students at the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics.

      All F-1 visa students that study in the United States need a Form I-20, which is the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Once accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, international students will receive a Form I-20 from their designated school official (DSO). Detailed steps for getting the I-20 form can be found online.

      Generally speaking, take the following steps to request your I-20 form and obtain an F-1 visa.

      1. After you have been accepted for study at VCU, you may request an I-20 for F-1 visa sponsorship. Note that citizens of Canada are exempt from the requirement to obtain an F-1 visa from a U.S. consulate.  Canadian citizens do need an I-20, however, in order to ask Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for admission to the U.S. in F-1 status (while entering the US either by land or air).
      2. To request an I-20 from Immigration Services, please send an email to GEOIS@vcu.edu (Subject Line: Request for an I-20). Under U.S. government guidelines, all of VCU’s I-20s and DS-2019s are provided to students via email only. This means you can receive your I-20 or DS-2019 quickly and without worrying about delivery by regular mail or courier service. The school’s designated official (usually from the international student office) will issue the Form I-20 after verifying your financial ability to cover tuition and living expenses. Additionally, VCU will need to validate your academic transcripts.
        1. To validate academic transcripts, a paid service may be used, such as the World Education Service.
          1. There is a $250-$300 fee for this service.
          2. WES will send your results to VCU’s global education office
          3. WES requires institutional communication, meaning the institutions from which your transcripts originated need to transcripts directly to WES, and not through you, the individual.
      3. Pay the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) I-901 fee. You can do this online and will need the receipt for the visa application.
      4. After you receive your VCU I-20, you can apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate of your home country. You will need to complete the DS-160 form and pay the visa application fee. You will need the visa in order to travel to the U.S. and ask Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to admit you in F-1 status. Apply for a U.S. student visa (F or M visa) at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
      5. After receiving your VCU I-20, students will receive their eID and vcu email.
        1. You may then register for courses for your semester.
        2. Even if you don’t have your visa, you need to register for courses. If you need to defer your semester (ex. Visa arrived late), you need to contact the department’s course director for more assistance.
        3. Some programs in the US do not allow students to defer their semesters. Check with your university.

      Social Security Number (SSN)

      In the first week after arrival, send an email to the Global Education Office (GEO) at GEOIS@vcu.edu and ask for the letter that you need to provide to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to apply for your SSN. You need to provide the following documents via email:

      • New Student Information Form (GEO will provide this form)
      • Signed I-20 (including your signature, for J-1 visa provide DS-2019)
      • Passport
      • F-1/J-1 visa
      • F-1/J-1 entry stamp in your passport booklet (if applicable)
      • Form I-94 (printed from the CBP website)
      • Employer’s SSN letter (ask your program director to prepare this letter for you)

      To get your stipend and payments from VCU payroll, you must have the SSN. Therefore, apply for your SSN  as soon as possible.

      After receiving the SSN letter from the GEO, you need to provide it with the other mentioned legal documents above together to the SSA to apply for a SSN. The SSA office is at 1834 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220.

      The GEO website has detailed information about SSN and how to apply.

      Vaccination

      It is necessary to have been vaccinated to the required vaccines based on the University Student Health Services rules before coming to VCU. There is a form where you can find the list of the required vaccines and instructions regarding each vaccines.

      If you are an international student and you are coming from the outside of the United States, be sure to have all your certificates of immunizations from your childhood until now and translate it officially based on your countries’ regulations and health service policies toward providing this certificate. Otherwise, if you have missing doses, you need to get required vaccine shots and certificates before coming to the US.

      Fingerprinting

      International students are not specifically required to be fingerprinted. This requirement is based specifically on the type of work someone does that requires employees (including international student employees) while at VCU. If their role involves working with patients, participants, or deal with private protected information, for  security reasons and purposes of conducting background checks for these types of sensitive roles, students are required to have fingerprinting at the VCU Police department. The background check is for employment-related purposes. You will need to schedule an appointment and go to have the fingerprinting. Instructions and requirements for doing so are available.

      Note: because some international students will already have gone through extensive background checks and digital bio-metrics processing/fingerprinting through the US consulate for purposes of obtaining a VISA, a waiver may be possible for a VCU-specific fingerprinting if within a certain time frame. Talk with your HR representative to determine if this is an option.

      Phone Number

      The first and most important thing you need to do upon arrival in the US is to get a phone number. There are many carriers out there, each offering various plans depending on the amount of internet data and connectivity they provide. You can choose a plan based on your needs and budget. Here are some of the famous carriers:

      If you want a specific carrier but cannot find an affordable plan on their website or in-store, you can call their customer services and ask for either a specific plan or a monthly price. Most of the time, they provide plans that are not listed on their website.

      Creating a Bank Account

      Bank Account

      The second most important step after your arrival to the US is creating a bank account.

      Make an appointment online with Wells Fargo bank. Do not go in-person initially.  Wells Fargo does not require an SSN and they open an account conditionally. You must provide your SSN later. They will also ask you for your student ID card, which can be provided afterwards.

      • We recommend Wells Fargo because it has a very close relationship with VCU and the student ID card is connected with Wells Fargo bank which you can use it as a debit card on-campus.
      • Without a student ID, you will have an annual fee. Once you provide your ID, those fees will be waived.
      • After opening a bank account, be sure to report your account number and routing number to the university to avoid getting delayed on paying your stipend.

      There are also other banks such as Bank of America and Truist that you can open a bank account with.

      ** In general, when you want to open a bank account from any bank, be sure to ask enough information regarding the policies, types of accounts (checking, saving) fees, and rules and then ask to open a bank account to avoid any issues.

      Applying for a credit card

      Discover credit card does not require a credit score, so may be a good first start. Thus, it is a good option to start for those who do not have credit history. You must have SSN to apply to the credit cards. For Discover Credit Card, you need two proof of address, so you will need to secure housing first if this is important for you (you can provide a bank statement and the SSN mail card).

      Driver’s License & ID Card

      After arriving in Richmond and settling down, you can get either Driver’s License or State ID Cards (if not planning on a driver’s license); thus you do not need to carry your passport everywhere. You need to have SSN and proof of address. To get a driver’s license or ID card, you need to visit the Virginia DMV website and make an appointment. Then, you must prepare required documents such as SSN, proof of identity, and proof of address.

      • Important note: For the road test for your license, the DMV does not provide a car and you are required to bring it your own car.

      Current Trainees

        Miscellaneous Administrative Help

        Maintaining student documentation (for International Student specifically)

        You must read the letters from the VCU GEO (Global Education Office) and make sure you complete all requirements of your visa. For J1 visas you will need an up to date copy of the DS2019 document. This document is also known as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. And whatever stamps in your passport that may be required by your country of origin.

        F1 visa holders must update their information once per year. J1 visa holders can sometimes have authorization that lasts up to 5 years.

        You can contact the VCU GEO at GEO@vcu.edu or 804-828-8471.

        You may also start by asking the VIPBG Business Operations Team for assistance.

        Travel Outside the US (for International Students specifically)

        The I-20 document is crucial for your return entry into the US. The I-20 may need to be renewed each year in order for it to be valid. Instructions for doing so are available from the GEO.

        Award Management

        If you are a graduate student with funding either from the NIH (ex. F30 or F31 awards) or through a foundation grant (ex. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), you will be responsible for reporting the progress of your research as well as a financial report. If you need help with filling out the financial report document, someone from the The School of Medicine Office of Research Administration may be able to help you out with this.

        Problems with your Stipend

        For issues with your stipend, contact the VIPBG Administrative team for assistance.

        Lost Keys

        If you are locked out of the office with no key, either find an administrative person who is in the office, reach out to another student with a key, or call VCU police.

        Reimbursement for Conference Attendance and other Approved Expenses

        This includes travel and other expenses from conferences and training/workshop attendance. Ask the Business Operations Team for assistance in establishing pre approval for travel and submitting for expense reimbursement.

        Taxes

        Please see the attached Student Tax Reference Guide provided by VCU’s Payroll Services, visit their website.

        Existing resources

        • H&R Block: you can file your own tax form or have a professional prepare it for you (starting at $85)
        • Turbo Tax
        • If you are an international student, some of these services will not be able to file the correct tax form (1040-NR) for you (see below), and you will need to use software tools that can.

        Note: T32 trainees receive STIPENDS that are not taxed. As a T32 trainee, you will need to set up estimated tax payments or save throughout the year, because you will owe taxes when you will be doing your returns.

        International students

        • International students are usually considered non-resident aliens for tax purposes. The correct tax form to fill out is 1040-NR. One tax-software able to file the 1040-NR form is Sprintax. Other tools like Turbo Tax are not able to file this specific form.
        • Note that students on F-1 visas do not need to pay social security taxes and are exempt from paying FICA taxes. If these have been taken from you, you can reach out to payroll services (see link above to their website)..
        • VCU works with Sprintax and offers promo code for discount on Sprintax fees for tax forms preparation to international students and scholars who need to file federal and state taxes.
        • Students will receive their code and information about Sprintax in an email.
        • Note: The code does not cover the cost of filing state taxes. This requires an additional fee.
        • State taxes can be filled via H&R block or other online tax program
        • Note that F and J student visa holders are considered resident aliens after five calendar years in the US where they pass the “substantial presence” test. When this happens, you will need to file taxes using the 1040 form, the same one that US citizens use. You will no longer be exempt from FICA taxes.
        • At the beginning of the year (January) and sometimes during the beginning of the fall semester, Payroll Services will send out an email to international students about a “Tax Clinic” where you and an administrator will review your documents and confirm your tax status. Be on the lookout for these emails and contact Payroll Services if you have questions (804) 828-0740, payroll@vcu.edu).

        For any questions about international policies:

        See also information regarding taxes: https://global.vcu.edu/students/immigration/taxes/

        How to See a Doctor

        Doctor’s Office, Urgent Care Clinic, or Emergency Room

        There are 3 major ways individuals typically seek out medical care and the choice of which one to use depends on the severity of the medical issue.

        • A Primary Care Doctor’s office is your first choice for non-emergency medical issues. You could go to VCU’s Student Health Services, though they actually do not accept health insurance and many services will need to be paid out-of-pocket (see below: University Student Health Services), or find a primary care provider yourself through the health insurance website (see below: How to use seek medical services outside of University Health Services).  Examples of medical services typically provided at primary care doctors’ offices include :
          • Check-ups
          • Preventative medicine (ex. vaccines)
          • Treatment for chronic conditions (ex. Diabetes, hypertension).
        • Urgent care/walk-in clinics are usually used for non life-threatening issues that cannot wait for an appointment with your primary care provider. Again, you could go to VCU’s Student Health Services, but there are significant limitations. Alternatively, there are several Urgent Care/walk-in clinics in Richmond that are in-network and are considered preferred providers so the insurance can be used there (ex. Patient First). Examples of medical services typically provided at urgent care clinics include:
          • Small cuts that may require stitches
          • Sprains and possible ligament tears (ex. Torn ACL), broken bones in hands or feet.
          • Abdominal pain
          • Significant fever, infections, or headache.
        • Emergency room visits should be taken for life-threatening or limb-threatening emergencies. Costs will be much higher than urgent care. Examples of when to go to the emergency room include:
          • Heart attack
          • Broken bones
          • Strokes
          • Seizures

        University Student Health Services

        • Information can be found on the University Health Services website.
        • All VCU students are eligible to access this service. Full-time students are automatically billed at $120 fee for each of the fall and spring semesters. If you want to use health services during the summer, an additional one time $80 fee is required.
        • Services covered (at no cost to students) include:
          • examinations, consultations and minor procedures by Student Health nursing, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physician staff
          • laboratory tests associated with acute illnesses ordered by Student Health staff.
        • Services that are NOT covered include prescriptions, referrals, some laboratory services, imaging tests, emergency room visits, etc. A more detailed list of charges is available online.
        • Importantly, VCU Student Health Services does not accept health insurance, so it’s up to the student to pay for any additional charges out-of-pocket. Students may then submit receipts to their insurance providers for reimbursement as applicable. However, note that VCU is not part of the UnitedHealthcare Student Resources network and all bills will be considered out-of-network.

        How to use seek medical services outside of University Health Services:

        Use the UnitedHealthcare Student Resources web-portal to search for providers and medical services.

        Step 1 – click the Find Medical Provider/Estimate Cost option

        Step 2: select UHC Choice Plus to find in-person providers and services, or consider using telehealth options which are 100% covered by the insurance (no cost to you!).

          • Telehealth medical services are accessed through the HealthiestYou application.
            • Offers both medical and mental health services.
            • Talk to a licensed physician anytime 24/7 over your phone or laptop
            • Helpful for minor illnesses like allergies, sore throat, earaches, pink eye, etc.
            • No consultation costs (ie. no co-pay, or deductable)

        Step 3: If you are looking for an in-person provider, search for a specialty (ex. dermatology) or facility (ex. Patient First) in the search tool-bar or one of the options in the Browse for Providers section to find a provider/facility to check if they are in-network and make an appointment.

        • Note – you will not be able to find a psychiatrist through this tool. See Mental Health Care webpage for details on how to access mental health services.
        • When you make an appointment, be sure to print your health insurance ID card and bring it with you:

        Payment

        • After going to see a medical care provider, the clinic will send their bill over to the insurance company to get reimbursement.
        • If the service is covered, the insurance company will pay for all of, or part of, the costs (depending on the service and if the provider is a preferred-provider). Note that the clinic will bill the insurance a cost that may be much higher than what they actually pay. This is because insurance companies have negotiated with the clinic to establish “allowed amounts” for specific medical services.
        • The health insurance will then issue an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) which can be accessed through the web-portal. This is not a bill. You will receive a bill from the clinic with any remaining costs that were not covered by insurance.
        • Note, sometimes the clinic will bill for something mistakenly, or the insurance company may make a mistake (ex. A service was coded wrong). As such, it is always recommended that you review our medical bill and contact either the clinic or the insurance company if there is an issue.
        • Below are two examples of explanation of benefits:
          • Claimed amount is the amount the clinic billed the insurance company.
          • Ineligible are services that are not covered by insurance, or for which there has not been a negotiated price.
          • Discount is the amount that will be taken off of the claimed amount (due to negotiations)
          • Total covered is the remaining amount that needs to be paid to the clinic.
          • Co-pay is the amount the patient needs to pay per visit.
          • Policy deductible is any amount that the patient needs to pay, until they meet their yearly quota ($200 for services from preferred providers).
          • Total benefits indicate how much the insurance will cover.
          • Patient balance: total covered – (copay + policy deductible + total benefits) + co-pay

        Mental Health Resources

        The United Healthcare Student Resources insurance covers mental health services (such as therapy and psychiatric medication management) at a rate of 100% of costs from preferred providers and 70% of costs for out-of-network providers. Note, that there is a $20 co-pay for each in-person visit (but no co-pay for telehealth/virtual visits). Mental health services can also be accessed through VCU University Counseling Services (see below), though they tend to provide more short-term services.

        How to Find A Mental Health Provider Through Insurance

        Step 1 –  Log-on to the insurance web-portal and select “Find Mental Health Resources” in the dashboard.

        Step 2 – Choose between Telehealth or In-Person Providers.

        Step 3.1 – Selecting a Telehealth Provider – Answer a few screening questions and then select a provider of your choice. Click on the phone or video-call icons to schedule an appointment.

        • Telehealth providers can be accessed through the HealthiestYou app.
          • Therapy is 100% covered by the insurance and there is no limit to how many sessions you can book (ie. unlimited therapy!). The therapists are usually licensed clinical social workers or psychologists.
          • You can also access psychiatrists though what they can prescribe is significantly limited. Here is a statement from the HealthiestYou app: “Our psychiatrists cannot prescribe any controlled substances or medications for the treatment of schizophrenia or substance abuse treatment. A limited number of medications are available for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Prescriptions for any drugs not available through a Teladoc psychiatrist require in-person care and ongoing monitoring. You can use our services for therapy or to obtain other medications, but if you are currently taking any of the listed drugs, we cannot prescribe refills.”
          • The following medications cannot be prescribed through telehealth psychiatric visits:
            • Controlled substances:
              • Adderall
              • Ativan
              • Concerta
              • Klonopin
              • Librium
              • Neurontin
              • Ritalin
              • Tranxene
              • Valium
              • Vyvanse
              • Xanax
            • Bipolar disorder treatments:
              • Lithium
              • Tegretol
            • Schizophrenia treatments:
              • Latuda
              • Risperdal
              • Seroquel
              • Zyprexa
            • Substance abuse treatments:
              • Revia, Vivitrol (Naltrexone)
              • Campral (Acamprosate)
              • Antabuse (Disulfiram)
              • Suboxone (Buprenorphine)

        Step 3.2 – Selecting an In-Person Provider. After selecting United Behavioral Health (UBH) providers, you will be redirected to another webpage. You can either search for a specific provider, keyword, or leave it blank.

        Step 4 – Select filters to narrow down your search.

        • You can filter by license type (ex. LCSW or MD), specific service, and many more options.

        Step 5 – Call the contact information for the provider and make an appointment.

        VCU Resources

        University Student Health Services

        VCU has a mental health resource hub with a wealth of information and resources

        VCU University Counseling Services (UCS)

        • Service is available for all enrolled VCU students and is available at no cost.
        • You can make an appointment with a clinician (licensed psychologist) who may provide therapy, access to skills-groups, and support groups. However, most services are short-term.
        • If your needs require greater support, they will support students by connecting them with community providers and resources. Case management services take into consideration a student’s access to health insurance (or lack thereof), transportation, and clinical need.
        • Two clinics are available, one at MCV and the other on Monroe Park Campus

        VCU’s Center for Psychological Services and Development (CPSD)

        • Please see the official website for the CPSD for details.
        • Offers individual and group counseling services to the Richmond Community on a sliding fee scale. No referral is needed.

        Survivor Support Services

        • Non-therapeutic support after experiencing sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking. Refer to the Survivor Support page for more information

        Substance Use Resources

        There are multiple options for students seeking support for substance use concerns, specifically the RecWell Health Promotion program (offers free self-assessment with anonymous feedback, brief screening and intervention with a health educator or clinician from UCS) and the Rams in Recovery program (a peer driven recovery support service for students in recovery, referral to resources for students, recovery coaching, and other supports).

        Social Groups/Activities/Sports

        Richmond has endless amounts of activities but it can be difficult to find these and learn about the area. Sometimes it is helpful for newcomers to have some guidance or planful events. Some options are listed below based on different types of interest.

        Activity Meetup Groups

        Sports/Exercise Options

        The VCU Recreation and Wellness program (RecWell) has a lot of information on numerous available options. They offer exercise classes/groups, outdoor activities (ex: rock climbing), club sports, and equipment rentals (e.g., canoes, squash and pickleball paddles/balls, squash rackets/balls).

        Parks

        There are numerous parks in the Richmond area, with different recreational options. This is not at all an exhaustive list, but some of the larger parks are listed

        • Bryan Park: frisbee golf, playground, tennis and pickleball courts, walking paths
        • Byrd Park: walking paths, athletic fields (e.g., tennis/pickle ball courts), picnic tables, dog park, playground
        • Libbie Hill Park: beautiful views of the city, benches
        • Monroe Park: paved walking path, fountain, hosts city events
        • Forest Hill Park: playground, walking paths and trails (many shaded),
        • Battery Park: sport courts and fields, play equipment, recreation center, public swimming pool

        Gyms

          • There is a VCU gym on the medical campus in the Larrick building
          • For those who would like gym options outside of VCU, the Richmond area has numerous gym chains, often with multiple locations. Some options (although not an exhaustive list) are provided below:
            • Gold’s Gym

        Other Community Sports and Activities

        Numerous other options are available through VCU and the community. The options are endless, but some common ones available and often used by VIPBG trainees and faculty are listed below.

        • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu where VIPBG faculty and trainees have been going for years (also have Muay Thai Kickboxing):
        • Squash: The Larrick Student Center/MCV Gym on Turpin St. has a squash court along with equipment rental

        VCU Wellbeing Resources

        VCU has curated useful Wellbeing Resources. For more information about resources available to the entire VCU community, check out RamStrong. This comprehensive resource for VCU faculty, staff and students promotes eight dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, financial, intellectual, occupational, environmental and social well-being.

        VCU’s Ram Pantry mission is to ensure food security, human dignity and well-being on campus by providing in-need VCU students with food. To this end, Ram Pantry collaborates with university and community partners to research and implement innovative approaches to food security and community health. There is a Student request form for anyone who needs support.

        Parking & Transportation

        Parking & Transportation

        VCU Parking & Transportation provides safe and accessible parking for students, staff and visitors across VCU and the VCU Health System. Students and employees have unlimited access to local, park-and-ride, and Pulse routes. Be sure to sign up for real time text alerts to stay informed!

        VIPBG HPC Guide

        VIPBG HPC Guide

        General usage of the HPC cluster can be found on the VIPBG wiki. Follow the instructions on the New Users tab to establish an ssh connection with the server.

        Once you have made a connection with the server, you will most often be loaded into the log-in machine and within your personal directory. Here, you can navigate through your files and folders and perform basic operations like copying, pasting, and creating new directories of files. The server is Linux-based. Here is a great tutorial on how to use Linux commands and here is a list of commonly used Linux based commands for researchers at VIPBG.

        For any real computational job, you will need to submit a job in the form of an executable script (ex. R, bash) using PBS. A tutorial on how to create a PBS job, as well as a template, can be found on the wiki.

        For any issues with the cluster, contact Helen Wang at huan.wang@vcuhealth.org.