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Language Classes for United Nations and Consular Corps Members and their Spouses UN SECRETARIAT YWCA NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF
EDUCATION UNITED NATIONS HOSPITALITY
COMMITTEE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
AND LANGUAGE SERVICES How
to register for New York City public schools High School Students are assigned to high schools according to their residential zones. High School registration takes place at the Office of High School Admissions, 22 East 28th Street (Between Fifth and Madison Avenues), 9th Floor, from 8:30am-1:20pm, Monday-Friday, (212) 481-7034. No appointment is necessary. If you need information on high schools, please contact the Office of High School Admissions, (212) 481-7034. THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED TO REGISTER FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS
New York State Public Health Law requires that ALL children be immunized against
Recreational Activities 1. TENNIS IN NEW YORK CITY PARKS One must have a permit to play tennis on City courts. A season permit costs approximately $50.00 ($10.00 for those under age 18 and $20.00 for those over age 62 at the start of April -- proof of age is required for both). The permit can be obtained from the Department of Parks at the Arsenal Building, 830 Fifth Avenue at 64th street. The permit office is open 9:00am - 4:00pm weekdays, and from April - June it is also open from 9:00am - 12:00pm on Saturdays. You will need a passport sized photo, which can be taken at the photo machine at the Arsenal Building. Permits go on sale the last Monday in March for the season. Permit holders may bring a guest without permit for approximately $5.00 per hour. Information concerning the location of City courts (as well as general information on recreation in New York City) can be obtained by calling 1-800-201-PARKS or by going to the Arsenal Building for written information. The City has over 500 tennis courts. Some of the most popular locations to play tennis are in Manhattan in Central Part at 94th Street and West Drive, on Randall’s Island and in Riverside Park at 96th Street. The courts are open from 7:00am - 7:00pm. Call 212-280-0205 to reserve a court in Central Park (April - November, 12:00pm - 2:00pm). Tennis lessons are available at the Central Park Courts at 94th Street and West Drive for children and adults, Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm. No permit is needed for lessons. Call 212-280-0201 for further information. 2. PRIVATE TENNIS COURTS This is a list of some privately-owned tennis courts in New York City. Please note that, although we list this information for your convenience, the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps, and Protocol endorses neither these nor other private clubs. If you need further assistance, please see the Yellow pages telephone directory for your area, under “Tennis Courts-Private". Cross-town Tennis at Fifth Avenue. 14 West 31st Street. (212) 947-5780 Fila Sports Club. 44-02 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City. (718) 937-2381 Sutton East Tennis. 488 East 60th Street at York Avenue. (212) 751-3452 Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. 281 Main Street. (212) 935-0250 Tennis Club. 15 Vanderbilt Avenue.(212) 687- 3841 United Nations Plaza Hotel. 1 U.N. Plaza.(212) 758-1234 Midtown Tennis Club. 341 Eighth Avenue. (212) 989-8572 HRC Tennis and Yacht. Piers 13 and 14, East River. (212) 422-9300 Tennisport INC. 51-24 Second Street, Long Island City.(718) 392-1880 Swimming Pools/Health Clubs -- Manhattan Use of swimming pools requires club membership. As mentioned above, we list this information for your convenience, the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol endorses neither these nor other private clubs. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation 1-800-201-PARKS YWCA of the City of New York. 610 Lexington Avenue at 53rd Street. (212) 755-4500 Bally's 50th Street (between 8th and 9th) (212) 265- 9400 Crunch Fitness (212) 594-8090 Equinox 54th Street and 2nd Avenue (212) 277- 5400 New York City Sports Club 49th Street and Broadway(212) 977- 8880 YMCA Vanderbilt Branch. 224 East 47th Street (2nd/3rd Avenues) (212) 756-9600 New York Health and Racquet Clubs (4 locations) 132 East 45th
Street. (212) 986-3100 Paris Health Club. 752 West End Avenue between 96th and 97th Street. (212) 749-3500 United Nations Plaza Hotel. 1 U.N. Plaza at 44th Street.(212) 758-1234 Manhattan Plaza Health Club. 482 West 43rd Street. (212) 563-7001 Parker-Meridien Hotel. 118 West 57th Street. (6th/7th Avenues).(212) 245-5000 New York restaurants and hotels are buzzing again, quality of life has dramatically improved, and most importantly, the streets are safer. During Mayor Giuliani's term, the City experienced an historic double-digit drop in the crime rate, and Mayor Giuliani continues to make public safety and quality of life issues a top priority. New York is one of the safest large cities in the world. Still, like many cosmopolitan centers, New York is not immune to crime, and we at the Commission care about your safety. So please familiarize with some steps you can take to avoid becoming a crime victim. These helpful suggestions are extracted from a guide entitled, "Safety Tips for the Diplomatic Community", available from the Commission, or the 17th Precinct at (212) 826-3224. Here are a few tips on maintaining a safe stay in the Big Apple: Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Eighty percent of crime prevention is awareness. Familiarize yourself with your own neighborhood as well as those in which you travel frequently. Walk around and note street names and numbers, transportation facilities and times of operation, local markets and service stores. These facilities may be able to assist you in an emergency. Know the conditions during both day and evening hours. Be alert while walking on the streets. Choose well-lit, populated thoroughfares. Avoid dark alleys and buildings. Try to walk with a companion when possible. Limit the amount of money or credit cards you carry. When traveling, take only those items that you will need for the day. If you carry a wallet, you should place it in your inside jacket pocket. Handbags should be carried close to your body. The strap should be wrapped around the handbag, not over your shoulder or around your neck, to avoid injury should someone try to pull it away from you. If someone tries to steal your property, DO NOT RESIST! Try to remember as much as possible about the person's physical characteristics such as height, scars, tattoos, and clothing. Call 911 immediately for police and emergency medical assistance. Be aware of "confidence games" or con-artists. Newcomers to the City may be targeted by these criminals who attempt to take your money through trickery and deceit. They may work alone or in groups. They may stop you on the street, call you on the telephone, or ring your doorbell pretending to be repair persons, building inspectors, or assuming another identity. Detective Kelly cautions: "Confidence games will often target visitors. Visitors may be preoccupied by the sights of the City and can easily become distracted. Professional thieves spot this. They're trained to look for people who are distracted." You may come across people who appear to be gambling on the street. They use a temporary table or stand and attempt to entice you to play their "game," i.e. Three Card Monte or "the shell game". Although the game may look like an easy way to win money, it isn't. The con artist uses slight-of-hand tricks to win your money. Beware of friendly strangers offering goods or services at low rates or offering to share money. Be suspicious of bank officials who ask you to withdraw money from your bank account for any reason. Con artists are very effective at their trade. If you are approached by a person who you suspect is a con artist, notify the police immediately. Only yellow medallion taxis are authorized to pick up passengers on the street. They are identified by their yellow color and have a series of numbers and letters illuminated on the roof of their vehicle. Livery or "for hire" vehicles are not permitted to offer pedestrians a ride. They can only be used by calling the car company in advance. The price of their services should be quoted when you call. When you use New York City's Transit system, keep in mind the following safety tips: Do not stand at the end of an empty train platform. If possible, wait for the train near the token booth or at a designated off-peak waiting area. Always ride with other passengers. Try to ride in the car where the conductor is, usually the center car. All underground subway stations have colored lamps at the top of the street indicating the status of the entrance. A red light means the entrance is closed. A yellow light means there is no attendant on duty and a token is required for entry. A green light means an attendant is always on duty. Whenever possible use the attended entrances. If you need police, fire or medical assistance dial 911. An operator will answer the phone and ask you for pertinent information. You should identify yourself to the operator and give your exact location. However, if you are unable to, the police will be able to locate the origin of the call. If you possess diplomatic status you should tell this to the operator. If there is a language problem, translators will be summoned. It is our sincere hope that you will never be placed in an uncomfortable situation, and that your stay in our great City will be a fully enjoyable one. We offer the information below for your convenience, but we do not endorse these or any other particular day-care agencies. Some baby-sitting services may require that their sitters be driven home or given care fare at night. It is wise to try to make an appointment with the organization nearest to you first, and to call three days in advance for weekend arrangements and a day or two in advance for weekdays. Local services may be found in the yellow pages. General Pricing for Reference
(varies from agency to agency): or call the United Nations: Location: Staff Counselor’s
Office, Room S-505 All information will be kept strictly confidential Domestic violence, also known as spousal abuse, is pervasive in the United States and throughout the world. This distressing problem has been allowed to continue with little, if any, recourse. Fortunately, over the past few years, City Agencies and community organizations have taken on the problem of domestic violence with positive results. You should know that there are individuals trained to assist you and your family if domestic violence exists in your home. The City Commission has compiled a list of agencies that will assist you, should you or someone you know, be the victim of domestic violence. Or, you can contact the Mayor"s Commission to Combat Family Violence at (212) 788- 3156. Another distressing social problem that affects families worldwide is child abuse. Children can become the innocent targets of adults suffering from some form of stress. In the United States, children have rights and should and can be protected from any abusive adult (a relative, neighbor, or caretaker). Child abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, all other forms of cruelty, abandonment, or neglect. The Commission has listed agencies that can help you, if you want to protect a child. If you would like more information to help you understand child abuse and domestic violence outreach services, contact the following agencies: Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Information NYS/HRA Domestic Violence Hotline,
English and Spanish. (800) 621-4673 Hospital Locations This is a partial list of both voluntary and municipal (funded by the City of New York) hospitals. It does not include the specialized or very small hospitals. To find the hospital nearest your first check the borough and then the address and/or the zip codes. The codes used to differentiate between municipal and voluntary is M and V, respectively. New York University
Beekman Downtown Hospital [V] Bellevue Hospital
Center [M] Beth Israel Hospital
[V] Columbia-Presbyterian
Med. Center [V] Harlem Hospital Center
[M] St. Vincent’s
Hospital and Medical Center Mount Sinai Hospital
[V] New York Cornell Hospital
[V] NYU Medical Center
[V] St. Clare’s Hospital
Center [V] St. Luke-
Roosevelt Hospital Center [V] 428 West 59th Street Lenox Hill Hospital
[V] Bronx-Lebanon Hospital
Center [V] Montefiore Hospital
& Medical Center [V] Jacobi Medical Center
V Our Lady of Mercy
Hospital Medical Center V Lincoln Hospital Center
[M] Union Hospital [M] North Central Bx.
Hospital [M] Albert Einstein Hospital
[V] Brookdale Hospital
Medical Center [V] Interfaith Medical
Center [V] SUNY Health Science
Center at Brooklyn [V] Methodist Hospital
of Brooklyn [V]. Brooklyn Hospital
[V]. Kings County Hospital
Center [M] Coney Island Hospital
[M] Lutheran Medical Center
[V] City Hospital Center
at Elmhurst [M] Long Island Jewish-Hillside
Medical [V] Catholic Medical Center
of Bklyn & Queens La Guardia Hospital
[V] Flushing Hospital
and Medical Center [V] In the United States, it has become necessary to take our insurance coverage for a variety of contingencies. This Commission feels that every member of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and the Secretariat should have adequate insurance coverage at all times. Such insurance can be costly, but the medical or legal fees associated with any problem said insurance will cover would be significantly higher. Some kinds of insurance, such as automobile liability insurance, are mandatory and required by law. Other insurance, such as health, is optional, but it is advisable to take out as a protection against the enormous expenses and losses that occur as a result of emergencies. For information about Automobile Insurance and Home Owner Insurance contact the insurance representative or Seabury & Smith at the United Nations Room 544, every Tuesday from 10:00am - 4:00pm at (212) 963-7073 There are five important Health Insurance plans which have group and individual coverage for NY State Residents only. (Proof of residency includes NY State address or utility bill.) They are as follows: 1) GHI (Group Health Insurance). Tel:501-4GHI (501-4444) 2) AETNA Life and Medical Insurance. Tel: 457-0700 3) HIP (Health Insurance Plan). Tel: 630-5000 4) Empire. Tel: 476-7111 This Commission does not endorse any of the above companies. Please call the New York State Insurance Hotline or visit their Website for more information. Tel: 1-800-342-7376 Eligibility
For Work Permission For Dependents And Not all dependents and spouses of UN Mission, Consulate, and United Nations personnel are eligible to receive permission to work in the USA. UN Missions: Please check with your Mission's Administrative Officer, or the designated person for guidance on work permission. If necessary, please contact Ms. Maureen
Guiney, Host Country Advisor (for UN Missions only) Consulates: Please check with your Consulate Administrative Officer or the designated person for guidance on work permission. Diplomatic
Tax Exemption Information Social Security
Card Information Driver's License Information Obtaining a Driver's License All officers of a diplomatic mission or a consulate who wish to operate a vehicle in the United States, or who wish to have a U.S. driver's license for identification purposes, must obtain one from the US Department of State. As eligibility of non-officer staff varies, those members should consult with OFM before applying. US citizens and permanent resident aliens are excluded from this program. In order to obtain this Federal driver's license, the applicant must submit a completed US Department of State Driver's License Application (form DS-1972), two color photographs, and a photocopy of his/her current valid license to OFM's New York Office. If the applicant does not have a United States Social Security Number, he or she must ask OFM for a letter verifying this. If testing is required, OFM will return the approved application and direct the applicant to the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. OFM will provide directions to the testing facility. Applicants must study the New York State Driver's Manual before taking any necessary tests. The manual may be obtained at the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol.. The Manhattan Office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles administers the written test for the diplomatic community each Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. A $10.00 fee is charged: payable by either cash or check to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants must be prompt. No one will be allowed in once the exam has begun. Be sure to bring the OFM approved application and some form of ID such as a diplomatic passport for date of birth and proof of signature. Persons who wish to take the test outside of the Wednesday morning schedule may do so any time between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with the general public. (The lines tend to be shorter in the early morning.) Should a road test be required (for those persons who do not posses a current valid license from a reciprocating country) the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will schedule the test at an appropriate time. Once all necessary testing is completed, the Manhattan office will send the documentation to OFM, so that the license may be issued. All applicants must take a vision test. The vision test will be administered prior to any written test or road test. OFM can administer this eye test in its offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The eye exam also may be administered at the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The applicant may also choose to have his/her eyes examined by a licensed ophthalmologist for a fee. If the applicant chooses to go to a licensed ophthalmologist, he/her must be sure to obtain a New York State Visual Acuity Report (form MV-619) which must be submitted at the time of the written exam. If the applicant is applying for a duplicate license, a letter must accompany the application explaining the need for one. In order to obtain a renewal, the applicant must apply before the license expires (or shortly after) by submitting a DS-1972 form, two photos, a copy of US Department of State Driver's License and a passed vision test. Licenses are issued at the Office of Foreign Missions in New York and are valid for five years. Licenses issued to dependents under the age of 21 are valid until the 21st birthday. When a dependent reaches the age of 21, he or she must apply for a driver's license from the appropriate state motor vehicle agency (New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut). Upon request, OFM will provide the dependent with a letter certifying his or her eligibility for a local license. Dependents older than 21 who have obtained "justified student status" from the Department of State as full-time students may have their State Department license extended up to their 23rd birthday. |