Legal Considerations

It is important for you to be aware of your rights and responsibilities at Yale and in the U.S. Violating a Yale policy or U.S. law may have negative consequences for your U.S. immigration status. At the same time, every person in the U.S. has specific rights that must be respected by legal authorities. Learn more about legal considerations such as policies and laws, maintaining your visa status, and knowing your rights on this page.

Yale Policies & U.S. Laws

Yale Policies

At Yale there are a number of university-wide policies and individual school policies that govern a range of academic activities and student, faculty and staff behaviors. A violation of University policies can negatively impact your immigration status.

U.S. Laws

While you're in the U.S., you are expected to follow laws and policies that govern a variety of daily life - make sure you know what they are!

Maintaining Your Non-Immigrant Status

All non-immigrant students and scholars have certain requirements for maintaining lawful status in the U.S. Familiarize yourself with these requirements by viewing the 'Maintaining Status' page for your visa status on our website:

Tax Filing Obligations

All international students and scholars are required to file a U.S. tax return. If you receive U.S. source income, including wages, stipend, or scholarship funds, you will have a tax liability for that income. More information on tax filing requirements.

Additional Resources

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Know Your Rights

All persons in the United States, including foreign nationals, have specific rights that must be respected by local and federal authorities.

Law Enforcement

Information about different levels of law enforcement entities in the U.S., including what to do in the unlikely event of being stopped or questioned.