Office of International Programs Homepage

Calendar of Events

For International Students and Scholars:
 • For New Students
 • For New Scholars
 • For Current Students and Scholars

Study Abroad:
 • General information
 • Study-Abroad Guide (51-page PDF)
 • Approved Programs
 • Summer Programs
 • Nairobi Exchange Program
 • BMC Study-Abroad Application Form (80K Word document)

Basic Information

The College recognizes that all non-citizens in its employ have the difficult task and responsibility for researching, understanding and following all applicable United States government immigration regulations. These regulations are complex and subject to frequent revision. We therefore offer you this information sheet on immigration and on tax liabililities, which outlines your responsibilities and provides basic references to government information sources.

Some definitions

Alien : An individual who is not a citizen of the United States is, in the terminology of immigration law, an alien. The term alien carries no pejorative connotations in this context. Immigration law distinguishes between immigrant aliens and nonimmigrant aliens.

Immigration status or classification defines an alien's legal status in the United States and describes the alien's primary purpose for being in this country. Immigration status is technically different than a visa.

Visa is the stamp placed by the Department of State consular officer on a page in the alien's passport.

N.B. The term, "visa" is frequently used incorrectly to describe the legal status and permission to remain in the United States. In fact, a visa only indicates that a United States consular officer has determined that an alien is qualified to apply for admission to the United States in a particular immigration classification.

Social security number and card : A social security number is assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States, citizens and aliens alike. It is required to receive a paycheck and to file tax returns.

Requirements for employment

1. Immigration status:
For an alien to be employed at Bryn Mawr, she or he must have valid immigration status and must maintain that valid immigration status throughout the duration of the appointment at the College. The Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security (particularly Citizenship and Immigration Services), and the Department of Labor are the three major government agencies involved in admitting a foreign national to the United States and determining that person's right to work in this country.

2. Visa:
For an alien to be admitted to the United States, she or he must have a valid visa. As noted above, the visa is a stamp placed on a page in an alien's passport by the United States Department of State consular officer. There are two categories of visas for those coming to the United States: non-immigrant and immigrant. Non-immigrant visas are for foreign citizens who come to the United States for a particular, temporary purpose (e.g., as tourists, students, or temporary workers). An immigrant visa (for permanent residence, commonly referred to as a "green card") is for those who have the right to reside permanently in the United States.

Visa application procedures and processing times vary from one United States consulate or embassy to another. Applicants are advised to check with the office where they plan to apply to determine the documentation they need to support their application for a visa. A list of United States embassies and consulates world-wide may be found at http://travel.state.gov/links.

The web site http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ provides an overview of United States visa policies and procedures. See, too, information on other United States government web sites:
Department of State : http://travel.state.gov
Department of Homeland Security : http://www.dhs.gov
Citizenship and Immigration Services http://www.cis.gov
Department of Labor : http://www.dol.gov

3. Social Security number and card
For an alien to be employed at Bryn Mawr College (or anywhere in the United States), she or he must have a social security number and card. For information on how to obtain a social security number and card, see http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html.

Tax obligations

Everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status, must pay taxes on income. There are three layers of taxation: federal, state, and local. Depending on your salary, your place of residence in the United States and your home country, your taxes will differ and affect your "take-home" income. Federal tax status for aliens is determined by immigration status and by home country of residence. For detailed information about federal tax status, see the Revenue Service's Publication 519, available at http://www.irs.treas.gov/publications/p519/index.html. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has an income tax rate of 3.07%; for information see http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/. Lower Merion Township, where the College is located, currently assesses a tax of $10 per year on all employees. The income tax rate for those residing in the city of Philadelphia currently is 4.4625%.

At Bryn Mawr College, federal, state and local income taxes are deducted from your salary payments as "withholding tax."

Please refer to Visa Information for Temporary and Permanent Employment at http://www.brynmawr.edu/oip/visainfo.html for an overview of the most common immigration classifications at Bryn Mawr.

At Bryn Mawr College, the Office of International Programs is designated as the official signatory for the three documents required for employment (i.e., immigration status, visa, Social Security card). All immigration documents representing the College must be reviewed and signed by the Director of International Programs. She is available for individual consultation and to make recommendations on the available immigration options during the proposed period of employment.

Prepared by the Office of the Provost
May 2004

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the role of the Director of International Programs?

The Director of International Programs is the College's representative for all immigration matters to the United States. Department of Homeland Security and to all other government agencies involved in bringing foreign nationals to Bryn Mawr (e.g., Department of State and Department of Labor). Any immigration document issued by or on behalf of the College must be signed by the Director or her designee.

The Director will work with the Provost's Office and the individual to make certain that all documents are in compliance with all federal laws and regulations prior to the individual's commencing employment. The Director is available to discuss the details of a particular case, make recommendations, and then to help you follow through with the preparation and submission of the immigration application.

2. What are the factors that determine the non-immigrant status for which I should apply?

The following considerations help determine an individual's non-immigrant status:

• nature and duration of the initial appointment;
• amount of time available before the individual is to take up the position;
• individual's U.S. immigration history;
• long term plans of the College and the individual (Is the nature of the employment likely to change? Will the candidate wish to remain in the country?);
• possibilities of employment for the spouse;
• tax implications;
• international travel plans

3. How quickly does the Office of International Programs process the request for a visa document?

The Office of International Programs will send out the DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, within three working days of receiving your completed documents. For the H-1B Status, Temporary Worker in Specialty Occupation, the petitions need to go through both the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security/Vermont Service Center. The Department of Labor petition process takes about two weeks to complete. The Department of Homeland Security/Vermont Service Center takes about three months to adjudicate H-1B petitions (see the Vermont Service Center's processing dates at http://www.cis.gov/). However, with premium processing, the Vermont Service Center will adjudicate the petitions within 15 business days. For the TN Status, Professionals under the North American Free Trade Agreement, you do not need any documents issued by the Office of International Programs, although the Director is available for consultation regarding other documentation.

4. What do I do after I receive the visa document form?

Once you receive your visa document, you must present it to the United States Consulate or Embassy with supporting documentation (i.e., your appointment letter from the College) to apply for an entry visa. Additional details about applying for a United States visa are available from the Department of State at http://travel.state.gov/.

If you are in the United States when you receive your visa document, please consult the Director of International Programs directly for more information.

5. Do I need a United States Social Security number to be employed by Bryn Mawr? If so, how do I get a number? How about my family members?

You need to have a valid Social Security number prior to the start of your employment. To apply for a Social Security number, you need to visit one of the local Social Security Offices with a completed Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5, available in the Office of International Programs or on-line at http://www.ssa.gov/), passport, I-94 card, evidence of permission to work in the United States (i.e., DS-2019 or I-797), and a letter from the Office of International Programs. The number ordinarily is issued to you within three weeks.

Unless your family members are authorized to work in the United States, they are not eligible to apply for a Social Security number. They can, however, apply for the Individual Tax Payers Identification Numbers, issued by the International Revenue Service, for tax purpose. For more information, check the Internal Revenue Service web site at http://www.irs.gov/

6. There is a tax treaty between my country and the United States. How do I claim the treaty benefit?

The College does not permit nonresident aliens to exempt themselves from United States income tax withholding under an income tax treaty benefit. You should claim the tax treaty benefit when filing your United States. income tax return.

Prepared by the Office of International Programs
May 2004