November 18, 2025

The International Student Resource Center is proud to announce its official launch, marking a major step forward in providing reliable, timely, and comprehensive immigration information for international students and scholars in the United States.

The International Student Resource Center is a first-of-its-kind national organization dedicated to helping international students and scholars navigate the complex landscape of U.S. immigration laws, regulations, and policies. Its mission is to ensure that the more than one million international undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in the United States have access to clear, accurate, and up-to-date information. 

Through its online platform, internationalstudent.us, the International Student Resource Center will provide:

• Comprehensive guides and short videos addressing F-1 and J-1 visa questions, work authorization, and post-graduation options;

• Policy updates and analysis explaining changes in immigration policy and regulations, and how those changes impact international students and scholars;

• An indispensable newsletter highlighting developments that affect students and scholars;

• An expert Help Desk, where students can submit questions and receive timely, informative responses from qualified professionals; and

• A referral list of immigration attorneys well-experienced in international student and scholar issues, for those who require urgent,  individualized legal representation.

“The International Student Resource Center was created to complement and support the critical work being done every day by international offices and Designated School Officials (DSOs) across U.S. campuses,” said Robin Catmur-Smith, the Center’s new Managing Director. “Every year, international students enrich our campuses, laboratories, and communities. Our goal is to provide clear, accessible information that supplements what students learn from their institutions and helps them make informed decisions with confidence at every stage of their journey.”

A key component of the International Student Resource Center will be its Help Desk, which is staffed by specialists in international student issues who will provide written, informational responses to inquiries not already addressed by the Center’s extensive website content. These professionals will help ensure that international students and scholars receive timely, accurate information that supplements traditional university advising services.

Visitors to the website of the International Student Resource Center, internationalstudent.us, will find accurate and timely information about U.S. academic immigration regulations and policies, along with comprehensive updates and analysis of pending or implemented changes. 

The goal of the International Student Resource Center is to ensure that all international students in the U.S. have access to information about their current and post-graduation options, reducing uncertainty and fostering a sense of agency in navigating their immigration journey. To this end, we are partnering with leaders and practitioners within international education, including senior representatives from NAFSA: Association of International Educators; American Council on Education; Association of American Universities; Association of Public & Land Grant Universities; Graduate Research & Development Coalition; National Postdoctoral Association, and others. 

“Our vision is simple,” said Catmur-Smith. “Every international student in the U.S. should have access to accurate immigration information and support, whenever they need it. We believe that empowering students in this way strengthens not just their futures, but America’s unique role as the top destination for global talent and innovation.”

The International Student Resource Center is being launched by the Talent Mobility Fund, a program of Renaissance Philanthropy, with generous support from Coefficient Giving, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Dana Foundation, the Lasker Foundation, and additional individual funders. Their support makes possible this first-of-its-kind national resource, ensuring that international students and scholars have access to the tools and information they need to thrive.