The ISSS hold means that you will not be able to drop below a full course of study without permission from our office. You should be able to add classes with no problem. The purpose of the hold is to prevent you from dropping below full-time and unknowingly putting your immigration status in jeopardy. Remember as an international student you are required by immigration to maintain a full course of study each semester. Please review you requirements for maintaining F-1 status or if applicable J-1 status.

There are 6 libraries on campus that offer quiet study areas.

• Some study rooms can be reserved online or by phone in advance.
• Some carrels are open seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Some classrooms in Central Library, Divinity Library, and Science and Engineering Library are open as study space when there are no classes in session.
• Some carrels in Central library and Science and Engineering Library can be reserved at service desks.

More information is available at http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/about/quietstudy.php, and http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/services/studyrooms.php.

Please note that food may or may not be allowed in some areas. Some study areas are only open to specific students.

Copying and printing services are available by VUprint, which allows you to connect commodore cash account for automatic payment. There are many printing locations on campus, including libraries, campus labs, common areas and housing areas.

There are also printing services available at Vanderbilt University Services both on campus (268 Rand Hall) and off campus. Please visit here for more information.

1-to-1 Writing/Speaking Consultations at the Vanderbilt University English Language Center (ELC)

The English Language Center (ELC) offers free 1-to-1 Writing/Speaking Consultations that are designed to meet the speaking and writing needs of Vanderbilt University students, faculty, and scholars whose first language is not English.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/elc/programs/consultations/

A&S Tutoring offers individual, appointment-based assistance to all currently enrolled Vanderbilt students who wish to enhance their academic performance in introductory classes offered by the College of Arts and Science in the following departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and a number of Foreign Languages. Services are free of charge. Please visit http://as.vanderbilt.edu/tutoring/ for more information and appointment.

In addition, The Writing Studio offers all students the opportunity to meet individually with trained consultants to talk about any writing project or concern. Please visit http://vanderbilt.edu/writing/ for more information or to schedule an appointment.

You can find information on finding on-campus employment on the Student Employment website.  You can also go directly to www.hireadore.com to look for on-campus employment.

Be careful when looking on the job postings through Hireadore.com as not all jobs posted are considered on-campus and some jobs are only for Federal Work Study students which does not apply to international students.

If you are an undergraduate student you can find assistance with career counseling from The Center for Student Professional Development.  If you are a graduate student you’ll need to seek assistance from the career center in your school (Owen, Law School, Peabody, etc.). There are also various websites to look for career employment.  Click here for links to these websites as well as the Center for Student Professional Development.

You can find detailed instructions on the process for applying for a social security number (SSN) on our website, here.

The International Tax Office (ITO) is the entity at Vanderbilt which can help you with GLACIER. ITO has walk-in advising hours on Tuesdays from 11:00am-1:00pm in Suite 109 of the Student Life Center. Their office is located in the Student Life Center in Suite 110.

The Office of Employee Immigration Services manages all H1-B visa applications for the university.  Information can be found on their website or you can email them at: ois@vanderbilt.edu.

ISSS recommend you to plan ahead to renew your visa if you plan to travel outside the USA with the expired visa.  More information on visa renewal and visa wait times can be found on our website.

Just like travelling to any other country outside of the U.S. you will need to come to ISSS to get a valid travel signature on your I-20/DS-2019. You will want to check with the embassy website for the country you are visiting to see if you are required to get a visa. Click here for more information regarding travel. If your U.S. visa is expired when you plan your trip to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent Caribbean islands you can still re-enter the U.S. within 30 days as long as you have a valid I-20/DS-2019 and valid I-94. Click here for more information on Automatic Visa Revalidation.

ISSS can mail you a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a travel signature.  You will need to email isss@vanderbilt.edu requesting a new I-20/DS-2019 with a travel signature and let us know to what address the new document should be mailed to.  Keep in mind that ISSS will mail your document via regular post (USPS).  If you need your document faster or shipped via FedEx or DHL please check our Document Mailing Options website and read the instructions for Express Mail Service.  For additional information on travel visit our Travel page.

After speaking with an ISSS advisor about this issue, it will most likely be necessary for you to take a trip to the Nashville Port of Entry to have your I-94 corrected. The address and directions to the Nashville Port of Entry can be found here.

If you continually have problems at the Port of entry, you can use the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS Trip) to submit an inquiry. People who have gone through US-VISIT processing, can also submit a redress request to US-VISIT.

In order to drive a car, you have to get a driver license issued by the state of Tennessee – even if you have an international driver license. To obtain one, you must pass a vision test, a written test examining your knowledge of Tennessee’s traffic rules, and a road test (driving test). To help you study for the written test, the Driver’s License Manual is available online. Instructions for applying for a driver’s license can be found on our website.

When you submit your application for a driver’s license, the agency must verify your immigration status in a system called SAVE. Sometimes the system encounters technical programs or errors in a record. If you experience an issue getting your driver’s license, click here for instructions.

There are many car rental agencies in the area for you to rent a car from. It can be helpful when you’re new to Nashville and looking for a place to live. Each rental company may have their own requirements (e.g. minimum age), which you must satisfy. We suggest calling a few different companies for the best rates. You can find a list on our website.

Online search engines are a good place to start your search when looking to buy a car. Websites like www.cars.com can help you search for many different types of cars from many different sellers that are close to where you live. This way, you can compare similar cars from different locations quickly. After you find a specific car, or small list of specific cars that interest you, it is a good idea to contact the seller or dealer and visit them in person.

Email isss@vanderbilt.edu and let us know that you are not receiving our emails and provide us with a valid email address. Filling out our Contact Information form is another way to be sure we have all your most up to date information. Please remember that any address changes need to be submitted to ISSS within 10 days per immigration regulation. https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/contactinfo/

Those new to Vanderbilt will want to get a Commodore Card/Student ID Card. Your initial card is free (lost or stolen cards can be replaced for a fee). Dependents can also get an ID card for $10. You can visit the Commodore Card office to get your card. Make sure you bring your I-20/DS-2019, passport, and a copy of your I-94.  http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cardservices/.

The Academic Calendar is available online.  Please note that there are multiple calendars available because schedules vary depending on your school.

If you plan to stay on campus during a break, you will need to register with the Office of Housing and Residential Education.  Registration for break access is typically 1-2 weeks before the break.

You can request an invitation letter from ISSS if your family is coming to attend your graduation ceremony. Please check here for the form.

The Global Education Office (GEO) has resources available for you to research study abroad programs. It might be helpful to start off by discussing your goals with a study abroad advisor at GEO, who can point you in the right direction and perhaps save you some time in your search. Study Abroad Advisors at GEO have walk-in advising hours and have divided up the world by country.

The Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center leads co-curricular campus initiatives related to women’s and gender issues, creating innovative opportunities to make the Vanderbilt community safer, more inclusive and equitable.

The Women’s Center provides resources and coordinates programs on various issues including: body image and eating disorders, gender equity, online bullying, parenting, and sexual health.  More information and a calendar of events can be found on the Women’s Center website.

There are many companies near campus that offer cell phone services: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. A Social Security Number is not required to have a contracted phone with most companies. You also have the option to not have a contract. Many companies offer a list of phones as “pre-paid”, so you pay for the service in advance.

Bring your documents with you when you go to buy your phone (I-20/DS-2019, passport, I-94).
Do your research of the best plans for your needs and don’t sign a contract until you are sure it is what you want. Vanderbilt does receive discounts from some vendors: http://its.vanderbilt.edu/cellphone/

ISSS has many resources on our website to help you find Housing! Check out https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/coming-to-vanderbilt/housing/

Here are some ideas for finding a roommate:

1. Post something to the ISSS Facebook page.
2. Ask fellow students in your academic department
3. Post signs on campus bulletin boards

There are many reasons to change your name. If you have been recently married you may use your marriage certificate to notify the necessary government agencies as well as the many private institutions. This can be a difficult and time consuming process to locate all of the forms, fill them out and locating the proper offices to file them with. There are websites that can help you with this process:
http://newlastname.org/no-thank-you
http://www.namechangelaw.com/states/tn/tennesee.htm

You can find specific instructions on how to obtain a marriage license on our website at: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/living-and-working-in-us/marriage-and-divorce/.

You can find information on filing for a divorce on our website at: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/living-and-working-in-us/marriage-and-divorce/.

All change of address should be submitted to ISSS within 10 days of any move as per Immigration regulation 8 C.F.R. 265.1. All current students should also update their address with Vanderbilt University by logging on to YES. All staff and faculty should also update their address with Vanderbilt by logging onto C2HR

Here is a list of shipping companies that ship internationally from Nashville:
Craters & Freighters, 131 Jones Boulevard, Lavergne, TN 37086, Phone 615-777-7447, www.cratersandfreightersnashville.com

Connect with students from around the world to share questions, tips, and stories about studying abroad through “Connecting Our World”, created by NAFSA” Association of International Educators.  Help spread the message about what a meaningful experience studying in another country can be!  Like the Facebook page too!  Explore International Education http://www.nafsa.org/Explore_International_Education/For_Students/

If you receive a letter from the Selective Service System.  Please complete the form marking the exemption statement that you are a “non-immigrant alien”.  Please look Selective Service System Sample for an example.

Go to the VUPD and report your item stolen. If available, you will need to provide copies and/or a description of the stolen item. You will be issued a police report detailing the incident. Don’t forget to make an extra copy of the report for your own records.
For a lost or stolen passport click here are the important steps you will need to follow.
To report a theft click here.

First, you should come discuss this issue with an ISSS Advisor. ISSS will keep your situation confidential. Then, ISSS can help you file a complaint. The Complaint Procedure at Vanderbilt is as follows: Any member of the University community who experiences harassment on the basis of his or her race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression should immediately seek assistance through the Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services Department (EAD). In addition, any member of the University community who experiences retaliation after filing or encouraging one to file a complaint of discrimination, participating in an investigation of discrimination, or opposing discrimination should immediately seek assistance through the EAD. The EAD will document the details of the complaint and will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of the allegations. The EAD will explain the process to all parties involved and notify them of the need for confidentiality to be maintained throughout. Where appropriate, the EAD will facilitate remedial action to protect the parties involved in the process. All pertinent documents will be reviewed and appropriate witnesses will be interviewed. Following an objective evaluation of the information gathered, the EAD will notify the parties of the outcome of the investigation. Where appropriate, the EAD will facilitate a resolution.

Project Safe provides resources and support for students, staff and faculty who have been affected by power-based personal violence (sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and identity-based targeting).  They can answer questions and help connect you to resources on and off campus.  A Victim Resource Specialist is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling the Project Safe Hotline at 615-322-SAFE (7233).

If you wish to file a complaint, you can contact Project Safe for assistance or directly contact the Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services Department (EAD) or Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD).

If you are in immediate danger, contact VUPD.  The phone number to use in case of an emergency is 911 or 615-421-1911.  For non-emergencies, call 615-322-2745 or 2-2745 from an on campus phone line.

AlertVU provides information about imminent threats or dangers to the Vanderbilt community, such as tornadoes or an active shooter on campus.  All Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff are automatically signed up to receive alerts via their Vanderbilt email addresses.  You can also update your information with AlertVU to receive alerts on your phone.  The AlertVU website has suggestions on what to do in case of emergencies on campus.

If you suspect that you have been contacted by an immigration scam, or if you have been a victim of a scam, you should report it immediately to ISSS.  Scams should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and they can also be reported to the state of Tennessee.  Information on how to report and common scams to be aware of can be found on the USCIS website.

The doctor you choose depends mainly on your insurance plan. You should be able to access a list of doctors from your insurance provider who take your type of insurance. They should also have a list of specialists. You should be able to find this information on the website of your insurance provider. If you need help finding this information you can ask an ISSS Advisor for help. To find a doctor at Vanderbilt click here.

Many students find it helpful to talk to the counselors at the University Counseling Center when they are homesick or have other stresses and worries.  Counselors are available to meet individually with students and also hold group discussions.  Your conversations at the UCC are confidential.  You can learn more about the various services provided by the UCC here.

 

 

You are looking for resources as a parent or for a breastfeeding welcoming space on campus?

You have a disability and need to find services?

You or someone close to you needs support after a cancer diagnosis?

You have questions about gender and identity?

You have a friend who may need alcohol or drug related help?