For International Students
Immigration Status
Please see the PDF document Immigration Information for International Students to learn about the immigration regulations and procedures summarized here:
- An international non-immigrant student attending Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (WCGS) must have a current F-1 student visa.
- An I-20 document ("Certificate of Visa Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status") is necessary to apply for the F-1 visa. The WCGS issues I-20's to its incoming international students when they accept the offer to enroll in the Graduate School; the school must annually endorse each student's I-20.
- The student is responsible for maintaining legal status by keeping his/her passport valid, registering annually with WCGS, and reporting changes in status and location.
- Travel abroad requires considerable advance planning to comply with all immigration regulations. A valid passport, F-1 visa stamp, a current I-20, and an enrollment statement are generally all required.
- Optional Practical Training authorizes students to obtain paid, professional-level employment related to their fields of study for a period of 12 months. The application process involves many documents and is lengthy; please review the attached PDF carefully.
The WCGS contact for information and questions about student immigration status is:
Francoise Freyre
Assistant Dean, WCGS
212-746-6565
ffreyre@med.cornell.edu
The Social Security Number
All individuals who receive income in the U.S. are required to have a Social Security Number (SSN). The SSN allows a WCGS student to receive a stipend, enroll in the WCGS health insurance plan, and carry out other financial transactions.
Please also see the PDF document Obtaining a Social Security Number - Information for International Students.
Tax Information
Please see the PDF document Tax Information for International Students to learn about the U.S. tax system and responsibilities related to federal and state taxes.
All WCGS students have the legal responsibility to file U.S. tax returns. Because graduate student stipends are considered taxable income, federal and state taxes are withheld from students' paychecks. Many factors impact whether an international student pays annual income taxes or receives a refund of all or some of the withheld taxes—such as the student's residency status and the terms of any tax treaty his/her country may have with the U.S.
The Graduate School hosts an annual information session with a representative from the federal tax agency, the Internal Revenue Service, to provide tax advice to international students. Students have the opportunity to ask personal and specific tax questions.
The International Student Committee (ISC)
The ISC serves as a liaison between international students and the Graduate School administration and other administrative offices. International student concerns directed to the Graduate Student Executive Council (GSEC) are evaluated and addressed by the ISC independently or by working with GSEC. The ISC presents an information session for WCGS international students during orientation week, shortly after students arrive on campus for the fall term.
