Welcome from the Bechtel International Center

Summer 2008

Dear Incoming International Student,

The Bechtel International Center staff welcome you to Stanford University! With over 5000 international students and scholars from over 124 countries, as well as students, staff and faculty from all around the United States, we know you will find Stanford University to be a diverse and stimulating community. We look forward to meeting and getting to know you upon your arrival on campus. Meanwhile, you can find important information for new international graduate students on our website.

The Bechtel International Center (also known as the I-Center) is responsible for the general welfare of international students and scholars at Stanford University, and we hope that you will feel comfortable coming to us with your concerns. Staff at the I-Center are experts in immigration regulations and knowledgeable about Stanford and community resources. They are widely traveled, have lived in different parts of the world, and understand what its like to move half way across the world to a totally new culture and environment.

The I-Center will be your source of immigration related information throughout your stay at Stanford. Please check our web site regularly for updates about changes in immigration policies and procedures, as well as workshops and social programs. In addition, the I-Center will send out emails with news updates on a regular basis. Please make sure to read these emails as they may contain important information regarding your immigration status.

We have planned an exciting Orientation program for you, which runs from September 15 through September 23, 2008. Please join us for a mandatory "Maintaining your Legal Status" session, which will be offered at least once daily during this time. The Orientation will give you the opportunity to not only find out about Stanford's academic environment and campus resources, but also to join other international students for a wide variety of fun social events, and make new friends! Details of the Orientation Program can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

We encourage you to take advantage of the popular Homestay program offered by volunteers at the Community Commitee for International Students (CCIS). Homestay is one of CCIS' oldest programs, dating back to 1953. Local families welcome international students, and sometimes their families, to their home for a three to five day stay prior to moving into their University residences. The host families help the students make the transition to life in the U.S., and many lifelong friendships are built from this experience. Students applying for Homestay are matched with participating families in late summer as the students arrive just before the start of classes in the fall (late August to early September). If you would like to participate in this rewarding and enriching program please contact the Homestay chairperson at any time (Homestay@CCISstanfordU.org).

There are more than 200 student groups on campus, including 40 international student organizations. Some of these groups may have information of interest to you. Please check out the student organization web site.

Another handbook of interest to incoming students includes the "Guide to New Graduate Students” which can be accessed here.

We look forward to meeting you upon arrival at Stanford University.

Safe Travels!

Bechtel International Center Staff