International students and scholars may encounter a difficult situation in which OISSS will advise them to consult with an immigration attorney.  If a student or scholar must consult with an immigration attorney, OISSS will be able to provide them with a list of immigration attorneys that some of our students and scholars have consulted with in the past.

The links below provide some useful information to student and scholars engaged in the process of finding an immigration attorney:

• Finding the Right Immigration Lawyer, offered by Siskind, Susser, and Bland, Immigration Attorneys
• American Immigration Lawyers Associate (AILA)

The law enforcement agencies in the U.S. not only exist to enforce federal and local laws, but are here to provide service and protection nationwide and to their local communities or university campus. However, encountering a law enforcement officer can be source of anxiety for some. OISSS has provided the following resources about your rights and responsibilities when encountering a law enforcement or immigration agent. These resources have been developed and published by the (ACLU, and AILA).

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) What to do if you're stopped by Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Know Your Rights: If ICE Visits Your Home

Beginning on April 11, 2025, all non-US citizens are required by Section 264 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to register with the Department of Homeland Security and, if required, provide their fingerprints. Regulations specify that this registration is accomplished via Form I-94 for nonimmigrants (temporary visa holders) and Form I-551 (the Permanent Resident Card or “green card”) for immigrants. Most visa holders have already complied with the process if they applied abroad at a US consulate or embassy. Permanent residents also completed the process when acquiring their green card.

The majority of international students and scholars at Brown University have already been issued documentation that meets the registration requirement.  USCIS details documents that verify registration (in the "How to Determine if You are Already Registered" section).  All individuals 18 years or older must carry and have in their possession evidence of their registration at all times.  For most of our students and scholars, this means that you must carry a printed copy of your I-94 record with you at all times.

In short, who needs to register includes:

• Any noncitizen, regardless of previous registration, who turns 14 years old in the United States, must update their registration and be fingerprinted within 30 days after their 14th birthday.
  • Nonimmigrants, such as F-2, H-4, or J-2 children of nonimmigrants, who obtained their nonimmigrant visa or last entered the United States under age 14 are required to register by creating an account on the myUSCIS website and filing Form G-325R. Parents of children are responsible for ensuring their children’s fingerprinting.
  • Green card holders who obtained their green cards under age 14 are required to register by filing Form I-90, to replace their green cards, and be fingerprinted, upon reaching age 14. They should file Form I-90 instead of Form G-325R.
• All non-US citizens who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer. This includes:
  • Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration must now register if they intend to remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer; however, fingerprinting will continue to be waived for Canadian visitors.

To complete the Registration for yourself or a child, you will need to create an account on the myUSCIS website and submit Form G-325R (Biographic Information – Registration).  

Individuals who register under this requirement will receive a "certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card" and must "at all times carry and have it in their personal possession." Registered individuals must notify DHS in writing of any changes of address. 

OISSS encourages those with questions about this requirement or who are unsure if this applies to them to contact a qualified immigration attorney. 

For more complete instructions and information, please refer to the USCIS webpage for the Alien Registration Requirement.

Immigration documents are important and should be kept in a safe and secure place during the entire length of your program. Immigration documents should NEVER be discarded or thrown out. However, sometimes immigration documents can be lost or on the rare occasion stolen. OISSS has provided instructions on how to replace lost/stolen immigration documents. 

The U.S. Department of State has notified us of the following:

"Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."

See the list of required documentation that your family member will need to obtain a tourist visa.

Additional information on how your family member can apply for a tourist visa.

If after reading above, you still wish to have a letter of invitation from Brown University, you can fill in the tourist visa letter request for relatives.

All students and scholars are required to update OISSS with any change of U.S. address within 10 days of that change. See below for instructions on how to provide that update to OISSS. F-1 students are required to update OISSS with any change in their address within 10 days as well. If you have any questions about how to change the address, contact OISSS.

• F-1 and J-1 students: Update the LOCAL address in your Banner Self Service account.
• F-1 Students on Post-Completion OPT: Log into your SEVP portal account to update your residential address.
• J-1 Students on Post-Completion Academic Training, J-1 Scholars, H-1B, TN, O-1, and all others: Submit completed Address Update form. 

All students and scholars are required to notify OISSS if they will be ending their program before the anticipated end date. Early departures will require a notification to U.S. immigration. It is important for OISSS to keep a student or scholar's immigration record up to date to prevent any future problems with applying for a U.S. visa and/or entering the U.S. An early departure also affects the date by which the student or scholar must depart the U.S. Notify OISSS of any early departure by submitting a Departure Notification form. F-1 Students on Post-Completion OPT can report their permanent departure from the U.S. to end F-1 status through their OISSS Gateway portal.