Immigration Advice and Resources
Cornell offers many resources to support our international community. On this page, you'll find answers, advice, and allies for your immigration-related concerns, including campus resources for internationals, immigration emergency aid, university statements of support, and more.
Learn about how the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs advocates for Cornell's international community.
Monthly Immigration Update
Updated February 19, 2024
Full-Time Enrollment Required
F/J students: You must stay enrolled full-time during your Cornell degree program. Failure to maintain full-time enrollment could impact your immigration status and ability to remain legally in the U.S.
- Undergraduates: You must take at least 12 credit hours per semester in the fall and spring.
- Graduate students: Full-time enrollment is defined by your degree program. Check with your department, school, or college to make sure you meet enrollment requirements.
- Students in the final semester of study: You may enroll less than full-time if fewer courses are needed to complete your course of study. You may not enroll in additional courses that are not required to satisfy the requirements for completion of your program or take additional courses for administrative purposes, personal reasons, or to delay graduation.
Contact us to discuss your situation if you need to drop below full-time or take a leave of absence. To learn more about maintaining your status, visit About Your F/J Student Status and Maintaining Your F/J Status.
Internships and CPT
Hoping to land an off-campus internship this summer? Visit Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to see if you meet the F-1 requirements for off-campus employment authorization.
It’s important to start planning well in advance of your anticipated employment start date. Remember that International Services for Ithaca students or Student & Academic Affairs for Cornell Tech students must approve off-campus employment on your I-20 before you begin employment.
If your CPT is approved based on course credit, make sure to complete the course requirement by the following semester, or you could be in violation of your F-1 status. Check with your college or program to confirm your enrollment. Cornell Tech students should contact Student & Academic Affairs for enrollment details.
If your internship is on campus, consult On-Campus Work. Be sure to confirm you’re eligible for on-campus employment before applying. If you’re registered for summer classes, your work time may not exceed 20 hours per week.
Applying for F-1 OPT
Graduating? If this is your last semester of enrollment and you want to work in the United States, you can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) as early as 90 days before your program end date. You can only apply for OPT while you’re in the U.S. You do not need a job offer to apply. Watch our videos about how to get started and complete your application.
Work Visa Extensions for Faculty and Staff
Many Cornell-sponsored work visas (J-1, H-1B, O-1, etc.) have summer end dates! If your work authorization is ending soon and your Cornell employment will continue, connect with your hiring department now to submit an extension of your status.
Changing Jobs at Cornell?
J-1, H-1B, O-1, and other Cornell-sponsored employees: Be aware that your employment eligibility is specific to the job at Cornell that you were hired to do. Moving to a new location or different position at Cornell is not possible without approval from International Services—and in H-1B or O-1 cases, may require a new petition to USCIS. Read Change in Employment to learn more.
Upcoming USCIS Fee Changes
USCIS has announced new adjusted fees for the first time since 2016 to support more timely processing of new applications. Most fee changes will take place on April 1, 2024. You can use the USCIS fee calculator to verify current fees before filing an application.
Marijuana and International Travel
Although medical and recreational cannabis is legal in many U.S. states and Canada, cannabis sale, possession, production, and distribution remain illegal under U.S. federal law and prohibited on Cornell’s campus. Be aware that crossing the border or arriving at a U.S. port of entry in violation of this federal law is very risky for international students and scholars! Possession may result in denied entry, fines, or arrest.
International Services Student FAQ
Find more answers to questions about student travel, visa status, employment rules, and more.
Support at Cornell
International Services
Cornell’s Office of Global Learning International Services is here to help students and scholars from around the world thrive at Cornell. Talk with International Services staff about general immigration information, including visas and jobs, finding your niche in Ithaca, campus resources, and more. Get advice from International Services.
Emergency Assistance
If you are a current student, faculty, or staff member experiencing an immigration-related emergency, find out how to get the help you need at any hour on International Services' Stopped at the Border page.
Legal Assistance
Cornell Law School Clinical Programs provide free immigration legal advice and/or referrals for Cornell students on specific issues such as asylum and naturalization. Income guidelines may apply. Reach out to the clinical faculty team by email at immigrationhelp@cornell.edu or call the clinic at +1-607-255-4196.
Cornell Law’s immigration clinic handles immigration cases for the Cornell community. Contact Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer, associate clinical professor of law, by email to discuss your case. In addition, the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School publishes free online law materials to help people understand the law.
Resources for undocumented and DACA student support can be found on the Student and Campus Life website.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Belonging at Cornell provides diversity, equity, and inclusion resources, including anti-racism resources, resources to combat Antisemitism and Islamophobia, and other biases due to religion, to the university community.
University Statements of Support (select)
-
Our Core Value as a Community of Belonging, President Martha Pollack (Sept. 15, 2022)
- Statement on the shooting in Buffalo by a white supremacist, President Martha Pollack (May 15, 2022)
- Standing against hatred and bias, President Martha Pollack (May 26, 2021)
- Statement on Anti-Asian violence, President Martha Pollack (March 17, 2021)
- Condemning the events at U.S. Capitol, President Martha Pollack (Jan. 6, 2021)
- Update on racial justice initiatives at Cornell, President Martha Pollack and Vice Provost Avery August (Sept. 4, 2020)
- Additional actions to create a more just and equitable Cornell, President Martha Pollack (July 16, 2020)
Explore the complete archive of university statements.
Guidance and Counseling
- Part of Cornell Health, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) includes the Let’s Talk program. Talk confidentially with a trained healthcare professional and find support for stress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, adjustment challenges, relationship difficulties, questions about identity, managing an existing mental health condition, or other issues. Call CAPS at +1-607-255-5155 to speak with a staff member.
- Cornell's Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives offers general advising on personal and academic support, as well as planning for academic and professional aims and referrals for undocumented students as part of the trailblazers program.
- Cornell's Office of Graduate Student Life serves the Cornell community in many capacities: discussing student concerns, providing available resources and services, and sharing options for handling difficult academic and personal situations. Contact Janna Lamey to identify appropriate resources.
- The staff in the Dean of Students office is available for support, advice, and guidance in navigating various circumstances. Contact the office by email or call +1-607-255-1115.
- Cornell's Faculty and Staff Assistance Program offers free, confidential guidance and support to benefits-eligible employees and their partners to address issues that may be affecting their personal lives and job satisfaction or performance. This resource is part of Cornell's broad commitment to foster and support the mental health and well-being of the campus community.
Housing in Ithaca
- If you're an international student concerned that visa issues will limit your ability to travel to your home abroad during university breaks, on-campus housing may be an option. Send an email in confidence to find out more.
- International Services provides general housing information on its website. Visit Your First Week and Student Resources.
Support from Off-Campus
Hotline to Combat Coronavirus Hate Crimes and Xenophobic Rhetoric
New York's Attorney General Letitia James created a hotline to report hate crimes and bias-based incidents. The hotline comes in the wake of rising reports of harassment and assaults, as well as rhetoric against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The attorney general urges those experiencing hate crimes and bias report an incident by email or by calling +1-800-771-7755. Learn more about the initiative.
-
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides updates on official government policies related to immigration into the United States.
- Informed Immigrant offers important resources for immigrants and allies.
- American Civil Liberties Union provides information and resources to help defend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
- Miller Mayer, an Ithaca-based immigration law firm, provides immigration policy news and free webinars on legal topics.
- Tompkins County Immigrant Rights Coalition is a network for immigrant community empowerment.