Can international students join the union? Isn’t it dangerous?
Michigan law gives workers on VISAs, including international students, the right to join the union, and it prohibits anyone from punishing you for joining.
The following are totally legal, normal, common, and have not been known to cause any trouble with US immigration: joining the union, attending union meetings, serving on union committees, holding a leadership position in the union, organizing on behalf of the union, signing petitions on workplace issues, participating in well-organized, peaceful, legal protests, etc. Hundreds of thousands of international students have been doing all of this over decades (and in the past four years) without legal trouble.
The union is an independent organization, not controlled or funded by the University, the government, or any political party.
For more information on international workers’ rights click here.
What has the union done for international graduate workers at MSU?
As part of bargaining contracts, graduate workers in GEU have negotiated SEVIS fee reimbursements, codified protections against overwork, and worked to improve procedures around English language testing for international graduate workers.
The International Graduate Student Committee (IGSC) organizes on behalf of international assistants and provides a space for debrief and support and with each other. To join, contact the International Chair at international@geuatmsu.org.
SEVIS Fee Reimbursement
According to the GEU Contract, international graduate workers are able to have their SEVIS fee reimbursed if the following conditions are met:
- They paid the SEVIS fee for their graduate studies at MSU,
- They have not received previous reimbursement for the SEVIS fee (from MSU or another institution, and
- They have worked four (4) semesters as a TA (summer TA appointments count towards this four)
If you are an international graduate worker at MSU who worked 4 semesters during the 2019-2024 contract, you are eligible for a reimbursement of $200.
If you are an international graduate worker at MSU who will work 4 semesters during the 2024-2028 contract, you will be eligible for a reimbursement of $350.
To apply for this reimbursement:
- download this form as a Word Doc or PDF,
- fill it out, and
- send it with your SEVIS fee receipt to gradschool@grd.msu.edu.