International Student and Scholar Services | Immigration Basics for International Students & Scholars
As an international student or scholar in the U .S. you are subject to complex federal regulations that govern your ability to maintain your status and to remain legally in the United States. The U.S. government places upon your shoulders the responsibility of knowing these regulations and complying with them. The consequences of violating your status can carry severe penalties for you and any accompanying dependents such as a spouse or child under the age of 21. The information on this website should assist you in understanding these complex immigration regulations. This information does not cover all of the regulations that may affect you and your dependents. We encourage you to consult with Director of International Student and Scholar Services n the office of International Student & Scholar Services for any concerns related to the U.S. Immigration regulations.
Most international students at SAIS enter the United States using either F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor (J-1) visas - student category. The majority of scholars are here under J-1 exchange visitor visa - research scholar or short term scholar category. Since a studentÃ_s academic career or scholar research activities can span several years, we encourage you to keep copies of all immigration-related documents related to your stay. This includes copies of your passport, I-20s, DS-2019s any applications and correspondence submitted to the government for immigration-related benefits, etc.
Terms and Concepts
Before discussing the actual regulations governing your stay in the United States, it is important to understand the legal terms and concepts we will be using.
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