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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.

Free help

Need housing too?

Submit the form — we'll match you with verified buildings within 24 hours, alongside the right services for your situation.

Bundle housing + services for the easiest move-in

匹配经过认证的公寓

告诉我们一些信息 — 我们将在24小时内发送5-10个精选房源。

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