The following are answers to frequently asked questions related to our international students here at Georgia Tech. While we are not able to provide legal advice, we can share helpful resources.
For support with understanding how to engage an immigration attorney, please review the Office of International Education (OIE) Legal Consultation resource online, https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/content/seeking-legal-consultation-us.
Q. As an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, what documentation must I carry with me while in the United States, including the Atlanta area?
A. United States federal law requires you to carry a printout of your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. It is also good practice to carry your I-20 or DS-2019 and a copy of your F-1 or J-1 visa (not the original).
Q. What should I do if I am approached by a law enforcement officer?
A. We encourage you to consult with a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation. In addition, there are more general supplemental resources online that you can consult to better understand your rights. As an example, the American Civil Liberties Union offers an overview of immigrant rights when interacting with law enforcement, which can be found here, https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights.
Q. What should I do if I receive notice that my F-1 or J-1 visa is revoked?
A. If you receive an email from the U.S. Department of State informing you that your visa is revoked, you are encouraged to consult with a qualified immigration attorney as soon as possible. Please also inform OIE of the visa revocation by submitting the Report Visa Issue e-form in iStart, https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/isss/istart-help.
Q. As an international student, am I restricted from engaging in political protests?
A. Georgia Tech’s values related to safeguarding freedom of inquiry and expression are available online, https://students.gatech.edu/freedom_of_expression.
Q. I am concerned about international travel and need support with questions. What is the best way to get my questions addressed?
A. The Office of International Education (OIE) offers daily advising services via drop-in hours, appointment-based advising, and support for email inquiries at info@oie.gatech.edu. Please plan to join us for an upcoming advising session. You can learn more about how to join and available times online on our International Student and Scholar Services Advising page, https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/content/international-student-scholar-services-advising. You can also review the travel information provided by OIE online, here, https://isss.oie.gatech.edu/content/travel.
Q. What should Georgia Tech employees or students do if a local, state or federal law enforcement agent requests access to non-public areas of campus, ask questions, or seeks records?
A. Guidance on how to respond in these situations is available from Georgia Tech’s Office of the General Counsel, https://generalcounsel.gatech.edu/guidance-interacting-law-enforcement-agents-campus.