<p>Hi, I'm a new international student at UW. I just wonder if I'm eligible to purchase the U-Pass. Where can I purchase it? Thx</p>
<p>The U-pass is a RFID-enabled chip in your UW student ID (husky card) that you can scan on most public transports in the Seattle area. It will activate automatically at the beginning of each quarter if you are registered for classes. It is not active currently for you unless you are taking summer courses right now.</p>
<p>But, you have to activate it right away. If you just don’t use it until halfway through the term then you won’t get to use it ever. It activates 7 days before your first day of class on campus, but ONLY if you tap it to a scanner on the bus or train. Don’t forget…</p>
<p>No, I don’t think that’s true Xavi. I walk to class and almost never take the bus. I took the bus for the first time about seven weeks into the quarter and my UPass worked fine.</p>
<p>And I just looked here - [UW:</a> FS: Commuter Services: Activating your New Husky Card and U-PASS Powered by ORCA](<a href=“http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/commuterservices/u-pass/orca-seattle/activate]UW:”>Getting to UW | Transportation Services)</p>
<h1>1, that link is not for students. That’s for employees.</h1>
<h1>2, as per that link the card must be activated “…within 60 days of purchase…”</h1>
<h1>3, [U-PASS</a> Powered By ORCA | U-PASS](<a href=“http://www.washington.edu/u-pass/]U-PASS”>U-PASS | Transportation Services) is the site for students.</h1>
<h1>4, as per that link the card must be activated within 60 days.</h1>
<p>So, basically as long as you use the card by Thanksgiving you’ll be fine. (Assuming we’re talking about Fall Quarter)</p>
<p>@“DevilMouse”: It should come as part of your automatic student fees.</p>
<p>^^
You do not do the activation work, the school does. If you go to your my UW page it will tell you whether it’s activated or not. I used my U-pass during the last week of school without any problem(never used it before but it says active on Myuw). Also, because the U-pass is mandatory and everyone pays for it, it will be unreasonable(and even illegal) if the school does not let you use it.</p>
<p>I believe it’s not the school’s condition, it’s a condition of the ORCA system. Even if you don’t use your regular ORCA for over 60 days, it becomes inactive and you have to reactivate it.</p>
<p>In other words, to activate U-pass, you simply use your Husky card on a bus or train within 60 days?</p>
<p>Yep.
10char</p>