International Students

The Office of International Students provides advice and assistance to students from outside the United States, particularly addressing immigration issues relating to F-1 Student Status and J-1 Exchange Visitor Student category.
The office also assists students in understanding American cultural behavior and in interpreting various bureaucratic procedural requirements, including nonresident alien taxation. Every fall, the office conducts an orientation session for international students.
All information provided is intended for prospective and current international students of the Graduate Center, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and the School of Labor and Urban Studies at CUNY.
Hours of Operation
The Office of International Students currently operates according to the following schedule:
- Monday-Thursday: In-person service in Room 7200, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Friday: Remote service 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
All inquiries may be sent to intstu@gc.cuny.edu
Announcements and Alerts
More Like ThisSEVP COVID-19 Flexibilities Terminated
Effective May 11, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) ended its Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance, consistent with the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, following the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency on April 10, 2023.
Read the full announcement on the Department of Homeland Security website.
For further information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for SEVP Stakeholders about COVID-19.
- Announcement
F-1 student visas can now be issued up to 365 days in advance of the I-20 program start date
F and M student visas can now be issued up to 365 days in advance of the I-20 program start date, allowing more time for students to apply for a visa. Students are still not allowed to enter the U.S. on a student visa more than 30 days before their program start date.
Further Information about the F-1 visa application process is available at:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html
- Announcement
CDC Announces Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement from Air Passengers Entering the United States from the People’s Republic of China
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Starting at 12:01 AM ET on January 5, 2023 all air passengers two years and older originating from the PRC will be required to get a test (such as a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered and monitored by a telehealth service or a licensed provider).
More information will be made available by CDC in the coming days. For a list of authorized tests, check here.
- Announcement
COVID-19 Resources for International Students
NAFSA: Association of International Educators has assembled a library of resource links to help you navigate issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Announcement

Obtain and Maintain your Immigration Status
Read our step-by-step guide to filing for and maintaining your F-1 or J-1 immigration status and getting started as a Graduate Center international student. We also provide guidance on updating your personal information and managing status changes.
F-1/J-1 Visa InformationInternational Student News and Accomplishments
Nov 9, 2021
'One Hell of a Learning Experience': How COVID Nearly Upended a Student’s Dissertation Research
By Bonnie Eissner Graduate Center Ph.D. candidate Iris Strangmann (Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences) was preparing to collect data for her dissertation on how bilingual people switch between...
- Student News
Sep 16, 2020
A Scientist's Advice on Ph.D.s and Publishing: Start Your Research ASAP But Take Small Steps
Physics Ph.D. student Mostafa Honari-Latifpour co-authored a paper on a classically complex problem. He describes his findings and shares his insights.
- Student News
- Research News
- Faculty News
Jul 7, 2020
A message to International students from the President and Provost
We know that many of you will already have heard about the dismaying ruling of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). For those of you who haven't heard, the US Government's SEVP has declared that international students may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.
May 28, 2020
CLASS OF 2020: SALVADOR GÓMEZ BARRANCO ON SECURING A TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Gómez Barranco shares how he prepared for his new job with help from The Graduate Center's Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures Ph.D. program and what he anticipates for teaching during a pandemic.
- Alumni News