The links on this page are intended for use by departments at Stanford. In designing this page we realized that we could not put everything here. We decided, therefore, to focus on those areas of our work and services that are most frequently requested or utilized by departments.
However we hope that departments will understand the totality of our services and use the rest of our web site to find out information.
We hope that this information will prove useful. However the I-Center role remains the same: please rely on our office for any and all assistance and advice when it comes to immigration issues relating to international graduate students, post-doctoral students, visiting scholars and faculty We are also delighted to come to departmental meetings.
We would welcome your comments on this page. Please send any suggestions to: sharris@stanford.edu
Update as of 1/8/07:
The construction in front of Bechtel that began in March is now complete. Our new neighbors have moved in, the landscaping is completed. The walk way between Bechtel and our neighbors is called Capistrano Way. The three houses are Rogers House, Mariposa House and Serra House and they house such offices as the Bridge, Clayman Institute for Gender Research, the Help Center and the Ombudsperson.
In terms of parking for visitors coming to Bechtel it is clear that it will a little more difficult to find "A" spaces between 10-3 most days. The "A" places are:
For current updates on this project as well as the Munger Graduate Residences, visit the website http://MUNGERHOUSING.STANFORD.EDU or leave a message at 650.615.6794
These briefings take place at the Bechtel International Center
The following are links to web sites that will provide you with information on coming to study in the U.S, obtaining a visa and entry to the U.S. The information is not specific to international students and scholars coming to Stanford but we think that it is useful information.
When you link to these web sites be sure to confirm that the information you are reading is current. The Bechtel International Center does not control the content of these sites.
•INDIVIDUAL TAX ADVISING
Most International Offices in the U.S. do not provide individual tax advice. The laws are as complex as those for immigration and involve knowledge of residency requirements, tax treaties etc. The Controllers Office can provide some basic information on tax issues. In winter and early spring quarter the I-Center does offer tax workshops and provides some web-based resources. It is our intention that these resources will allow international students and scholars to complete their tax forms.
•PERSONAL IMMIGRATION COUNSELING
Advisors at universities, who are not lawyers, have to be careful of “practicing law without a license.” This means that there are some issues that are best directed to immigration attorneys. Examples would be: U.S. citizen faculty members who marry non-U.S. citizens; students and scholars who are here at Stanford on legitimate visas but who wish to apply for the Visa Lottery program; students on F-1 or J-1 visas who are interested in obtaining “green cards ”; students who wish to bring partners to the U.S.
•COUNSELING ON INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE POLICIES
The I-Center does NOT endorse any insurance plan for international students other than the Stanford student health plan. We recommend that all international students sign up for the Stanford student plan and also purchase insurance for their accompanying family members. Students on J-1 visas have to have adequate health insurance. Often they obtain this before they travel to the U.S. The I-Center does have numerous brochures on health insurance for visiting scholars and family members.
•HOUSING FOR VISITING SCHOLARS
The I-Center has never provided assistance to visiting scholars in locating local housing. It has been Stanford practice that the host department will provide some assistance to scholars in locating resources for local housing opportunities.
•FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO STUDY AT STANFORD
The I-Center does receive a number of requests each year for assistance in obtaining funding to study at Stanford, both from prospective students and from students who are already enrolled. While there are a number of resource books on scholarship aid the cost of attending Stanford makes it very unlikely that students are going to be able to locate outside funding (other than, for example, Fulbright and Rotary grants, both of which have to be applied for before coming to the US) to cover the costs of attending Stanford. The I-Center also does not have any emergency loan funds.