MMyHomeversity
All hand-picked, all vetted

Everything you need
in your first 30 days.

Renter's insurance, US banking, money transfer, phone plans, lease guarantors, tax filing, storage, furniture, the exact tools international students actually use, picked for the best terms and easiest sign-up without a US credit history.

🤝Lease guarantor🛡️Renter's insurance🏦US banking💸Money transfer📱US phone plan💳Build US credit📊Tax filing🛋️Furniture📦Storage✈️Moving + shipping
🤝

Lease guarantor

TheGuarantors

TheGuarantors, get approved without US credit

Skip the no-credit-history wall

TheGuarantors co-signs your lease so landlords accept your application without US credit history. They charge ~5–8% of annual rent, one-time. Approved in 24–48 hours. Accepted at most major US property managers.

Why it matters: Without a guarantor, ~70% of mainstream US landlords reject international student applications outright. This is the single most common conversion blocker.

From 5% of annual rent

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Insurent

Insurent, alternative guarantor service

Same model, different fee structure

Insurent is the original lease guarantor service in the US, accepted at most major buildings. Similar pricing to TheGuarantors. Worth comparing both if your top-choice building accepts only one.

Why it matters: Some landlords have an exclusive partnership with one guarantor only. Knowing both options means you don't lose your dream apartment over paperwork.

From 65–85% of one month's rent

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🛡️

Renter's insurance

Lemonade

Lemonade Renters Insurance

From $5/month, required by most US landlords

Most landlords require proof of renter's insurance before move-in. Lemonade is the easiest option for international students, full sign-up online in 2 minutes, no SSN needed for the basic policy, and instant proof-of-coverage PDF for your lease file.

Why it matters: Without renter's insurance, your landlord can refuse to hand over keys. Skipping it also means a single fire or theft wipes out your laptop, phone, and electronics with zero coverage.

From $5/mo

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🏦

US banking

Bank of America Student Banking

Open a US bank account with no SSN

Bank of America, Chase, Wells, international student programs

All three major US banks let you open a checking + savings account on day one with just your passport, I-20, lease, and school ID, no SSN required. We point you to the specific student-friendly branches in your university city.

Why it matters: A US bank account makes everything cheaper, direct deposit for your stipend, no foreign transaction fees, and the foundation for building US credit history.
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💸

Money transfer

Wise

Wise, send money to your US bank

Up to 6× cheaper than your home bank

Wise (formerly TransferWise) gives you the real mid-market exchange rate, with a small flat fee. For a typical $5,000 first-month transfer, this can save you $200–$400 versus a traditional bank wire.

Why it matters: Banks quietly mark up exchange rates by 2–3%. On the $20,000–$40,000 you may transfer in your first year, that's $400–$1,200 going to fees instead of your rent.

From 0.4% fee

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📱

US phone plan

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile, US phone plan from $15/mo

No SSN, no contract, eSIM activation

Mint Mobile lets you sign up online with no SSN required, eSIM-activate within an hour, and choose 3-month plans starting at $15/month. Runs on T-Mobile's network, the strongest in most major US cities.

Why it matters: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile direct plans typically require an SSN and credit history. Mint is the path of least resistance for your first US phone line.

From $15/mo

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💳

Build US credit

Discover

Discover It Secured, build US credit fast

From zero to 700+ FICO in 12 months

Discover It Secured is the gold-standard first US credit card for international students. Approved with no credit history, $200 minimum deposit (refundable), 1-2% cashback, and Discover reports to all three credit bureaus monthly.

Why it matters: By month 12, you'll have a 700+ FICO score, which means no guarantor needed for your second-year apartment, and you'll qualify for premium credit cards + auto loans.

From $0 annual fee

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📊

Tax filing

Sprintax

Sprintax, international student tax filing

F-1 / J-1 / OPT tax returns, done right

Every international student in the US must file Form 8843 each year, even if you earned $0. If you worked on-campus or did CPT/OPT, you also file 1040-NR. Sprintax is built specifically for non-resident tax filers and many universities provide it free.

Why it matters: Mistakes on non-resident tax forms can cost you thousands and complicate visa renewals. Regular TurboTax does NOT correctly handle non-resident status.

From $54.95 federal

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🛋️

Furniture

CORT

CORT Furniture Rental, student package

Furnish your apartment without buying

CORT delivers and sets up a complete student apartment package (bed, desk, sofa, dining set) the day before you move in, and picks it up at the end of your lease. Saves you the headache of buying + reselling furniture each year.

Why it matters: Buying furniture costs $1,500–$3,000 upfront. Renting via CORT is $80–$200/month, with delivery + pickup included.

From $80/mo

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📦

Storage

U-Haul U-Box

PODS / U-Haul U-Box, summer storage

Store between leases or while travelling home

If you're going home for summer or moving between buildings, on-campus storage is rarely available. PODS or U-Haul U-Box drops a container at your building, you fill it, they store it for the summer, and deliver it back to your new address.

Why it matters: Cheaper than self-storage if you're moving anyway. And way cheaper than re-buying furniture every year.

From $120/mo per container

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✈️

Moving + shipping

Schumacher Cargo Logistics

International cargo shipping

Ship boxes from home country to US

If you're bringing more than 2 suitcases worth, international cargo shipping (sea or air) is much cheaper than excess baggage fees. We work with vetted forwarders that handle customs paperwork for student arrivals.

Why it matters: Shipping a 2-cubic-meter box of belongings runs $400–$900, compared to $200 per excess suitcase via airline.
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How we choose partners

Every service on this page is hand-picked because it works for international students arriving in the US, many traditional US services quietly require an SSN, US address, or credit history that you don't yet have. We earn a referral fee from some partners (it's how we keep MyHomeversity free), but we never list a partner we wouldn't recommend without payment. See our business model.

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