Advanced GESO FAQ (response to Administration)
CGEU FAQ:
Basic, Organizing, Legal
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
for International Students
Can I join a union in the United States if I am here on a foreign student visa?
Yes. The visa requirement that foreign students may only accept employment associated with the University they attend in no way compromises the right to belong to a Union that represents them in the work place. At several universities, (i.e. Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Rutgers, Wisconsin) graduate employees have unionized and signed contracts. None of these campuses have reported any complications arising from the dual status of being both a foreign student and a unionized employee.
Would being recognized as an "employee" affect an international student's visa status?
No. At all other U.S. universities where TAs are recognized as "employees" and have formed unions, no one's visa status is changed. Changes to labor law do not automatically affect changes in immigration law.
If I sign a union card, who could find out about it?
Federal labor law guarantees that Union cards are confidential. No one -- not the Immigration and Naturalization Service, nor the University, nor any future employer, nor any representative of a foreign government -- may legally have access to Union cards.
Are there any restrictions on political activity by foreign students?
The only relevant restriction on political activity by foreign students outlaws financial contribution by foreign students to political campaigns in the United States. Federal law protects your right to join a Union or any similar organization.
Even though I can legally join a Union as an international student, are there any restrictions on my ability to participate in Union actions such as picketing, rallies, leafleting, etc.?
Political activities such as picketing, rallies, leafleting, demonstrations, etc. are forms of the right to freedom of association that is protected for everyone by the United States Constitution. This holds for foreigners residing in the US. on foreign student visas just as it does for U.S. nationals. All rules regulating on-campus activities apply equally to foreign and domestic students. (The University can exercise some restraints in regulating on-campus activities to insure that the "time and manner" of demonstrations, rallies, etc. do not disrupt the functioning of the campus.)
Go to GESO Basic FAQ
Go to GESO Advanced FAQ (response to administration)
Go to GESO FAQ for Undergraduates
Also, consider the following general FAQ's out there:
- General FAQ on collective bargaining and labor law
- CGEU FAQ Collection: Basic, Organizing, Legal
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This page was last updated on: January 20, 2000 |
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Graduate Employees and Students Organization |
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