International Student Resources
Support is available.
International students with questions about their immigration and visa status are advised to seek the assistance of an immigration attorney. The information below is provided by Women’s Law, an organization devoted to providing state-specific legal information and resources for survivors of domestic violence of all genders.
This is a resource to explain certain aspects of the law, but is not a replacement for legal advice.
No. Under the law, students and staff who are victims or survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence receive the same rights under Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments (Title IX) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), regardless of immigration and visa status.
For additional information and support on accommodations, please contact Kristie Damell, Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator, at kristie.l.damell@njit.edu or 973-596-3446.
Yes, for additional information on pressing criminal charges, please contact Public Safety at 973-596-3111 or your local police department.
VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act, which was passed by Congress in 1994. This piece of legislation has been reauthorized to strengthen its goal of improving criminal and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking in the United States.
Yes. For victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, there may be other visa options, including U and T Visas. For more information on requirements of the U Visa or T Visa, speak with an immigration attorney.
- U Visa
- The purpose of the U visa is to encourage victims of crime to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute crimes without the fear of being deported. The U visa doesn’t cover all crimes but it does include domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and felony assault, among other crimes.
- If you get a U visa, you will get a work permit (“Employment Authorization Document”) and the ability to apply for lawful permanent residence (a “green card”) after three years.
- T Visa
- The T Visa is for victims of human trafficking.
- A T visa allows trafficking victims to live and work legally in the United States for four years.
Yes. For more information on NJ-specific laws that might be useful for victims and survivors of domestic violence, speak with an attorney or visit this resource.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a bureau of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), offers two sites to help individuals find free or low-cost legal representation:
- The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) provides a listing of attorneys by state who provide immigration services either for free or for little cost.
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) offers an online Immigration Lawyer Referral Service that can help a student or scholar find an immigration lawyer.
- The American Bar Association provides information on finding legal services by state.
- Women’s Law also provides information on finding legal services by state.
The Office of Global Initiatives is the university's primary resource for international student services and study abroad. You can contact the office at 973-596-2451. It’s important to note that for questions regarding changes to other visa statuses, or legal options that fall outside of standard F-1 and J-1 student visas, or employer-sponsored work visas, consult a qualified immigration attorney.