Bethel Church – Your kingdom come... on earth as in heaven

Eureka Way is downtown. If you come from the church and turn onto Lake Blvd., at the third stoplight you turn left onto N. Market. Follow that to town and bear to the left. Go up a couple of streets and turn right at the Starbucks and that is Eureka Way.

BANKING AND FINANCES Bank Hours

Generally, hours of operation for most banks in California are from 9 am to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday.

In the beginning of your stay, it is good to have traveler's checks from your home country as they are usually widely accepted. However, eventually you should open a bank account and obtain checks and a debit card (also called an ATM card), which are the most widely accepted tools of payment apart from cash.

Check Writing and Debit Cards

The most important function for a check is to pay local bills such as rent, electricity, telephone, etc. Bills are not paid at a local post office, as is the case in some European countries. When writing a check in California, you will be asked to present some form of picture identification. The most recognized is a California driver’s license or a California identification card. You can get either of these at the Department of Motor Vehicles (more about that later). Nowadays, lots of banks have online bill payment systems.

Credit Cards

The United States is the land of the credit card. Visa and MasterCard are common as is American Express. All major credit cards are widely accepted. There are also thousands of other credit card options in the U.S., many of which are tied to particular retailers and organizations, which offer special benefits for using their particular card.

If you don’t have a credit card, you’ll survive, but using credit cards for payment is a widely accepted practice. You may encounter difficulties in making certain types of reservations or bookings, for example, hotels and rental cars, if you do not have a credit card. In such cases, a credit card number is usually required to confirm your reservation. Even if you pay by cash, you may need a credit card when you reserve a hotel room or rental car.

IMPORTANT: Even if you decide not to open a bank account, Tri Counties Bank is willing to cash any check you received from Bethel Church if you bring it along with a picture ID (such as your passport or a California Driver’s License or California Identification Card).

How to Open a Checking Account:

We have found that the Tri Counties Bank on 1250 Hilltop Drive is helpful. Here is what you will need to bring with you when opening a checking account with them:

• Current passport with picture ID or driver’s license or California ID card AND a second form of ID such as a credit cards, utilities bill, or medical card. (“Utilities” refers to heating bills, for example.)

Their “Perfect Choice Checking” program is good. Checks are free. You can call the bank at (530) 223-3307 and ask for Angie, Jackie or Carlyn.

After you have opened the account with them, they will send you the ATM / Debit Card as well as personalized checks.

You will need to have $100 to put in the bank when you open your account.

Exchanging Money

It is advisable to exchange your currency at full-service banking branches, which are available in all major cities. This is a much better alternative than exchanging currency through independent shops or at airports, which tend to charge more excessive rates and commissions. You can also have money quickly wired to you through international corresponding banks in U.S. dollars to a local bank in the area that you are in. Ask your U.S. bank for all necessary information to make transfers from your home bank.

While the foreign exchange markets never rest, unless you’re carrying the currency of a country in economic crisis, you can get a fairly accurate exchange rate quotation in the business section of your local daily newspaper each morning. Most banks and currency trading offices will also give you a quote over the phone based on their current rates whether you are looking to exchange your home currency into USD or exchange your USD into another currency.

Or use a website such as http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html for a quick calculation.

If you are exchanging into USD, you should be able to get USD immediately. If you are exchanging your USD back into your home currency, then you should plan ahead depending on what your home currency is. For example, Canadian currency is usually fairly commonly available on an immediate basis, but depending on the amount of USD you want to convert into another foreign currency, your local bank may require a few days to arrange that foreign currency for you.

A UK student advises: A Dollar Account with Halifax (UK) is a good option with special exchange rates or an account with Nationwide, which provides cheaper rates than all other banks.

TRANSPORTATION Getting around Redding without a car is difficult. You will need to buy a car or get lifts. If you live nearby, you may be able to travel by bicycle.

Redding’s bus service is called Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) You can visit their website for routes, schedules and fees: http://ci.redding.ca.us/raba/rabahome.htm A monthly bus pass costs $48.25, and individual tickets are $1.50 for one zone and an extra $.75 for an additional zone. The bus system is very limited, so using the bus may not be an option for you.

Taxis

Do not plan on getting around by taxi. There are not taxi stands. You cannot flag a taxi down in the street. You have to reserve a taxi by phone. Taxis are not widely used here in Redding like they are in some countries or larger cities.

Buying a Car

If you decide you want to buy a car, be sure to ask for guidance from someone familiar with the area.

Try to have a personal referral to recommend an auto dealership or a trustworthy source. Local auto journals (found at most grocery store entrances) or the local paper (The Record Searchlight) can often offer good deals from private sellers.

In most cases you will be purchasing the car with cash, which can work in your favor. Be discerning as to when you tell the salesperson you have cash so they don’t quote you a higher price. Unfortunately, many of the low cost automobile dealerships tend to be somewhat dishonest so be very careful where you go.

There are many inexpensive but good cars available. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide. $1,800 and up is what can be expected. Don’t go too cheap as it may cost you more in the end.

Some students found that they had to first purchase their car insurance before they could purchase their car. Call the insurance company and give them the VIN number of your car (Vehicle Identification Number). This number is located on your vehicle title as well as on the vehicle itself (left or right of windshield). The insurance company can then insure your car.

Driver’s License

To get directions there, see this website: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/appl/fo_location_map.jsp

The state of California does not acknowledge the International Driver's License, but you can drive on your valid license from your country. You are not required to get a California license while you are not aresident here. If you have questions about this, please write to LTS@ibethel.org.

The state of California does not acknowledge the International Driver's License and you will be required to obtain a California driver's license in order to be able to legally drive in California.

You need to know the rules for driving in California. You can read about them in the online handbook at this link: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/driver_handbook_toc.htm
Free copies of the handbook are available at the Department of Motor Vehicles Office. 2135 Civic Center Dr Redding, California 96001

Car Leasing Option

If you do not want to buy a car but would like a long-term lease, a Bethel member has developed this option for you:

Worry Free Auto Leasing was established in 2012 and has been tailored to specifically meet the needs of BSSM students, including obtaining tags and registration and help with insurance. It has proven to be dependable and affordable transportation with many driving options to choose from. For more detailed information and to see some of the vehicles available, go to worryfreeautoleasing.com.

Motor Vehicle Insurance

If you can bring records from your own country that show that you have a good driving record and have been driving for a while, those records will help you get cheaper car insurance. You may pay a higher car insurance premium if you don’t have a CA driver’s license but having records may help keep it down.

Most places won’t insure your car unless you have a California Driver’s License, but one company that will and is reliable is Geico. You can contact them through their website, http://www.geico.com, or by calling them (once you have purchased a car and are in the U.S.) at 1-800-861-8380.

See the following website for more information for drivers from other countries: http://www.dmv.org/driving-abroad/usa.php#tz_CA

Vehicle Registration Tag

If you buy a car from another person, you will need to register your motor vehicle and transfer the title (the certificate of ownership). To do this, contact the DMV as listed in the government pages of the phone book. You may want to visit their website at http://www.dmv.ca.gov for more specific details on what is required.

If you buy your car from a professional dealership, the dealer usually takes care of the registration. Ask to make sure that this will be done.

What documents are needed to register the car?

You will need to bring with you a copy of your automobile insurance policy and the title for the car. Depending on the circumstances, you may need a Notary Public (found at most banks) to authorize the signatures involved with the transaction.

Once you have a car, you must keep your license tag registration up-to-date. There will be a sticker that goes on the license tag that is valid for one year.

Once you have a registered car, you must also pass a state-required inspection.

There is a sticker located on the lower front left-hand corner of the windshield. It has a month and a year. Pay attention to the “expiration date.” There is otherwise a large fine if you go over the “grace” period that is given by the state to have your inspection done.

The DMV website will provide addresses of local places you can go to have you car inspected. California also requires smog tests.

Most garages, car dealers, and service stations can do a safety inspection on your car. Look for a sign outside that says “Official Inspection Station.”

The station will look at your car and do a safety inspection and emissions test (a test on the exhaust of your car). After you pay for the test, the mechanic will put an inspection sticker on your windshield.

See this website for more information on vehicle registration: http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/car-registration.php#When_You_or_Your_Car_is_New_to_California

A student recommended that repairs be done at Les Schwab on Hilltop, by a guy named Nat, who knows Bethel staff members and does fair deals and a good job. Jindra’s (above) is also a trusted service and repair shop.

OBTAINING AN ITIN NUMBER All US citizens have a personal social security number that is used for income tax purposes along with other government related activities. For non-U.S. citizens without a work visa, the 9-digit number is unavailable.

You can download a form W-7 Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the following website: http://www.irs.gov. Another website that may be helpful in understanding this is: http://www.iStudentCity.com.

MAKING A PHONE CALL Once you have a phone service carrier such as AT&T, all local calls are free of charge. If you phone outside of the local area (which includes nearby towns like Anderson), you will have a charge on your landline (fixed phone). Many students buy prepaid calling cards from most local gas stations or a local Wal-Mart, grocery store or dollar store.

All U.S. phone numbers have 10 digits—3 for the area code usually written in parentheses, and seven for the number, written with 3 digits, a hyphen and then 4 digits: (530) 246-6000.

When you call a local number in Redding from Redding, you do not need to use the area code. You do not need to dial 0 first as in some European countries. You just dial the seven-digit main number: 246-6000.

When you phone another state, you dial 1 for the United States, followed by the 3-digit area code, followed by the seven-digit main number. You can find area codes in the phone books. Bethel church’s number is 530-246-6000.

Most public phones or phones located in hotels will be accompanied by a yellow pages and possibly also a white pages phone directory.

The yellow pages directory is a subject and category-based listing of various services and enterprises in the local area – so you can find restaurants, hotels, lawyers, travel agencies, and more. Yellow pages may be oriented towards consumer services (business to consumer pages directories) or towards other businesses (business to business page directories).

The white pages directory is typically an alphabetical listing of all local commercial and residential addresses and phone numbers, listed by the name of the business or the last name if an individual’s residence.

It is cheaper to make calls from a public phone usually compared to calling from a hotel or motel which many times have much higher rates for local as well as long-distance and international dialing along with added fixed per call charges. To make a local call you can enter the 7-digit number.

CHEAP International Telephone Calls U.S. telephone companies charge high rates for international calls unless you ask for a cheaper plan. In many cases, this will add only $3.00-$5.00 extra per month to your phone bill. If you are living with a family, ask if they have an international calling plan. If not, make arrangements with them to get one added. It can save you up to 80% off of the rate being charged. Calling internationally from a cell phone or to a cell phone (even calling Canada) is really expensive.

The biggest long distance phone service carriers are AT&T, MCI WorldCom, and Sprint PCS. All of these companies offer international calling plans at reasonable rates.Here are services that can be used for long distance calling through your high speed Internet connection.

http://myvoiplab.com/aboutus.php

http://www.skype.com

CELL PHONES The major companies for cell phone service here in Redding are Verizon Wireless and AT&T (formerly Cingular). Stores for either company are located all over Redding: in the Redding Mall, in Discovery Village (also on Dana Drive), to name a few. Best Buy is offering a discount on cell phones to Bethel students. View the ad here.

Either of the companies will want to run a credit check on you before they sign you up for a contract and sell you a phone. However, for a credit check, you would need a Social Security Number. Don’t worry though; either company is also willing to charge you a security deposit instead so you could still sign up for a plan and purchase a phone. Normally, you have to sign up for two years; a one-year contract is more expensive.

You can bring your own cell phone, sign up with a service provider such as AT&T (formerly Cingular) and get a SIM card in the USA and have a local phone number. Your phone has to be unlocked to use it. If a SIM card from another network doesn’t work in your phone or if it asks for a code, it is locked. You can request your phone’s code from the phone’s provider before you leave your country.

AT&T will run a credit check on you. You will not need a contract, but depending on your credit, your deposit will be anything from $150 to $750. Rachel Hibbert, who works at AT&T Mobility on 1150 Dana Drive, Suite A4 can help you. Her phone number is (530) 222-4333.

The store manager at one of their offices has worked with some of our students and is happy to help us.

His name is Reginold Atwood. The store is on 961 Dana Drive, Redding, CA 96003. Here is the website: http://www.metropcs.com

Some students have been happy using T-mobile: http://www.t-mobile.com.

A new company, Consumer Cellular, is another one that does not require a contract. You can have a cell phone with them for the duration of your visit and there are some inexpensive plans. It would be really expensive to phone your country, but you can text and you can phone there with a phone card. For more information, please see their website: http://www.consumercellular.com/Cart/Plan

INTERNET AT&T also has a reliable service for high speed Internet access that costs about $20 a month if there is service in your area. See http://www.att.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=3308. Another recommended provider is http://www.charter.net.

For more information about the U.S. educational system, please see: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-map.html

To attend Bethel Christian School, fill out an application, and send in current academic assessments with explanations of the system in English, a current school reference, pastoral reference, copy of immunization record. After your child is accepted, the school will sent you an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Status) form to fill out.

For more information about Bethel Christian School, please contact Darla Mayberry at darlam@ibethel.org.

AFTER SCHOOL CARE There is after school care at Bethel Christian School for children enrolled in the school only.

Many of the local public schools have after school care until 6:00. Those who live west of the Sacramento River attend Redding School District; east of the river is Enterprise School District; those in Anderson attend Cascade School District; those in the north attend Gateway School District. Of those, all but Gateway have after school care programs until 6:00 pm.

A Christian daycare center serving infants through mid-teens has space for one more infant and up to six children. It is called Randol Family Childcare and it is located on 1765 Sterling Drive in Redding. Their phone number is (530) 221-8833. Owners are Serena and Bob Randol. They are only ten minutes away from the church.

A former student recommends renting from Country Properties. Please see http://www.country-properties.net. It is owned and managed by Christians. Tell them that you are a BSSM student.

For more information on any topic covered here or questions about living in Redding, please e-mail Pam Spinosi at LTS@ibethel.org