NEW! DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)  recently launched StudyInTheStates.dhs.gov, a clearinghouse of information aimed at helping international students and academic officials navigate the international student process.  This website is designed to help facilitate a government-wide initiative to encourage the best and brightest international students and scholars to study and remain in the United States.

LAW AND REGULATIONS:

• Federal Register: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
  Sign up for Federal Register listserve: http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/
• ICE Link to regulations: scroll down to bottom of page:
  http://www.ice.gov/sevis/schools/existing_schools/index.htm 
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators:
  http://www.nafsa.org/regulatory_information.sec

U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS):  http://www.uscis.gov

USCIS is the agency responsible for processing requests for immigration benefits.  You may obtain immigration forms here and look at the status of cases on-line.

• Forms and Fees: http://www.uscis.gov
• Case intervention:  For help with a student case send an e-mail (DSO-use ONLY) with case details to the Service Center with jurisdiction over your school.  California Service Center: CSC.Schools@dhs.gov, Nebraska Services Center: NSC.Schools@dhs.gov, Vermont Service Center: VSC.Schools@dhs.gov, or Texas Service Center TSC.Schools@dhs.gov.
• Lockbox addresses are at the end of the Resources and References section.* 
  • Lockbox Support email: lockboxsupport@dhs.gov.
• For regulatory questions: contact IETS or your NAFSA KISS-RR.  See NAFSA section below.

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (USICE): http://www.ice.gov/

ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) oversees SEVIS.

• SEVP Home: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/
• SEVIS Logon: https://egov.ice.gov/sevis/
• SEVIS Fee Information: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
• SEVIS Technical Guidance and User Manuals: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/schools/sevis.htm
• SEVIS Contacts:
  General Questions: email sevp@dhs.gov
  SEVIS Response Center (SRC) The Center is staffed by highly trained SEVP employees who are knowledgeable in a variety of issues related to the F and M visa categories. Call (703) 603-3400.
  Technical Questions (Help Desk): For technical advice only call the SEVIS Help Desk 800-892-4829 between 8 am and 8 pm EST, or send an e-mail to: sevishelpdesk@hp.com.  For urgent technical cases, contact toolbox.sevis@dhs.gov.
  I-515 questions:  sevis.i-515@dhs.gov
  I-901 Fee questions: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/
  SEVP Policy: direct comments, suggestions, concerns, and questions about SEVIS policy to sevp@dhs.gov or call the SEVP Program Office at (703) 603-3400.
  School Certification Questions: email schoolcert.SEVIS@dhs.gov
  SEVP website comments, suggestions, or questions: SEVP-Web-Suggestions@dhs.gov.
• SEVP Mailing Address for I-515s and supporting documents:

Branch Name or Job Title (Attn I-515 Processing Unit)
Student and Exchange Visitor Program
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th St. SW, Stop 5600
Washington, DC 20536-5600

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line: 866-347-2423
  

DEPARTMENT OF STATE (DOS):  http://www.state.gov

• Bureau of Consular Affairs: http://usembassy.state.gov  Help with visa denials, delays in issuance, or problems with expedited appointments: 202.663.1225 (8 am to 5 pm ET) or email fmjvisas@state.gov for F/M/J issues and usvisa@state.gov for other inquiries.  To check on the status of a security clearance (allow at least six weeks for initial processing of a security clearance) or pending visa applications that have exceeded normal processing times call 202-663-1851.
• Student & Exchange Visitor Information:
  http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1270.html
• EducationUSA: http://www.educationusa.info/students.php  DoS has student advising centers around the world.
• Exchange VisitorProgram: http://exchanges.state.gov/academicexchanges/index.html
• J1 Waiver Information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html
• Foreign Affairs Manual: http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/regs/
• DOS Cables: http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_1446.html

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION (CBP):  http://www.cbp.gov

• Ports of Entry: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/
• Deferred Inspection Sites:
  http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/deferred_inspection/
• DHS TRIP (Traveler Redress Inquiry Program) http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1169676919316.shtm
  Use to file a complaint about any POE issue (i.e., flags, repeated trips to secondary, lookouts) the complaint will be addressed by Program Managers assigned to the POE where the incident occurred.
• Inspector’s Field Manual: http://shusterman.com/pdf/cbpinspectorsfieldmanual.pdf
• FAQs: https://help.cbp.gov/
• What CAN be fixed at Deferred Inspection sites: electronic record errors, name, DOB, passport#, visa, classification errors, status errors on I-94, missing stamp on I-20.
• What CANNOT: POE, Inspector #, country of citizenship, Admission #, carrier, flight #.  If the I-94 was lost, the I-102 must be filed; if no I-94 was issued in the first place, contact your local Deferred office to see if CBP can issue one.
• Where to mail an I-94 that should have been turned in upon departure from the U.S.:

DHS-CBP SBU
1084 South Lauran Road
London, KY 40744

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS): http://www.irs.gov

• IRS PUBLICATIONS: Publication 15: (Circular E), Employers Tax Guide; Publication 519: U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens for use in preparing [Year] Returns; and Publication 901: U.S. Tax Treaties are available at: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/lists/0,,id=97819,00.html
• Tax Guidelines for Federal Filing (NAFSA):
  http://www.nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/default.aspx?id=18787
• Geared toward students: http://www.utexas.edu/international/taxes/; http://www.internationalstudent.com/tax/
• GLACIER Nonresident Alien Tax Preparation System (replaced CINTAX): http://www.arcticintl.com/glacier.asp

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA):

Information for international students about how to apply for a social security number can be found at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov

SSA/Dept of Motor Vehicles problems related to F-1 issues: dmvssa.sevp@dhs.gov

FINANCIAL DOCUMENT EVALUATION:

• For currency conversion:  OANDA, http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic
• For information about per capita income 
  • CIA World Fact Book:
    https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
  • Wolfram Alpha website:
    http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=GDP+Per+capita

LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL NAMES: this is the guide that the government is currently using:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40396167/ROCIC-Law-Enforcement-Guide-to-International-Names

LIST SERVES:

• NAFSA Knowledge Communities – Links to Discussion Forums: http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/international_student_3
• Individual Regional NAFSA list information is available in the “Region” section on NAFSA’s website.
• inter-l@yahoogroups.com:  To subscribe go to www.yahoo.com.  Select “Groups” from Connect list on left side of page.  Select “Colleges and Universities”.  Search for “Inter-L”.  To join the group you will need to sign up for a Yahoo id first, if you don’t already have one.  It’s free.

MAILING DOCUMENTS OVERSEAS:

eShip Global: partners with schools to allow students to prepay for their immigration documents to be shipped overseas.  No cost to school, just set up an account.  http://www.eshipglobal.com/

NAFSA: ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS: http://nafsa.org/  Their website abounds with professional development information for members.  1307 New York Ave., N.W., 8^th floor, Washington, D.C. 20005-4701. Phone: 202-737-3699.

• IssueNet:  http://issuenet.nafsa.org/
  Use Get Liaison Help when you need help with a specific case; a Regulatory Ombud will follow up with you by email.  Submit information to Report and Issue when you see disturbing policy trends, spot a change in practice that may be inconsistent with regulations, or encounter a case you feel warrants DOS or CBP HQ’s attention; this will alert ISS-Regulatory Practice Subcommittee members on a national level. 
• NAFSA Adviser’s Manual: http:/nafsa.org/am
• Regulatory Information: http://www.nafsa.org/regulatoryinformation/default.aspx
• Liaison call summaries: http://nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/default.aspx?catId=451616
• Knowledge Community for ISSS:
  http://nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/international_student_3

ONE TO WORLD: http://www.one-to-world.org/

One To World offers programs and services to international students and scholars affiliated with colleges and universities in the greater New York City area. One To World’s professional Network membership is made up of over 90 academic institutions and constitutes the single most valuable forum in New York for the exchange of ideas and best practices among international education professionals.

HELPFUL UNIVERSITY WEB SITES:

• Binghamton University Office of International Student and Scholar Services: http://isss.binghamton.edu
• Columbia University International Programs and Services:
  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/
• New York University’s Office for International Students and Scholars:
  http://www.nyu.edu/osl/oiss/index/index.html

*LOCKBOX MAILING ADDRESSES FOR I-765 and I-539:

To ensure that a student’s application is mailed to the correct address, please visit the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov.

• Click on the “Forms” button located at the top left corner of the home page.
• Click on the application to be submitted.
• Follow the mailing instructions specific to that form.