International Students

Laney Graduate School is deeply committed to supporting the success, well-being, and sense of belonging of our international students. From immigration guidance to community-building programs, we partner with you at every step of your academic journey.

On this page, you’ll find direct access to the people, programs, and communities designed to help you thrive—whether you’re preparing to arrive, settling into life at Emory, or looking to connect with peers. 

Support from Emory’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

• Find your ISSS immigration advisor
• Check out this webinar from ISSS on finding housing 
• Find tips on arriving in and living in the US

Pre-arrival support

Community Chat Group & Insider’s Guide for Incoming International LGS Students 

Members of Emory’s International Graduate Student and Scholars organization, a dedicated group of upper-level international Emory graduate students, are available to answer any pre-arrival questions on a group chat in WhatsApp.

Contact  Ankita Misra at ankita.misra@emory.edu to get connected.

Current international students have also created an “Insider’s Guide to Living and Studying in Atlanta” with information and tips to help smooth your transition, and it will be shared on the WhatsApp group.  

Degree-Program Resources Contact your graduate program administrator (see list here) to see what resources they have for your cohort.  

Zoom Q&A with International Graduate Students & Scholars (IGSS) 

Date/Time: Thursday, December 10, 9 am Eastern Time (via Zoom) 

The student leadership team of the International Graduate Students & Scholars organization will be available on Zoom to share information about living and studying at Emory and to answer your questions.  

Mark your calendar now, and check your inbox for an invitation in early December.

English Language Support  

The LGS Professional and Academic Communication Support (Laney-PACS) program offers various levels of support for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who use  English as an additional language . For a list of our Spring 2027 courses and other writing and speaking support, visit here.  

• You can also contact Laney-PACS director, Heather Boldt (hboldt@emory.edu) with questions.
• We are here to help you advance your writing and oral communication skills for success in graduate school and beyond. 

Welcome Week and other LGS events in January

Let’s talk about your immigration status - required for students on F1-Visas: 

Date/Time: Thursday, January 7, 3-4 pm 
Location: White Hall, Room 200 

Required session hosted by International Student & Scholar Services, covering essential info about maintaining your F-1 visa status. Light refreshments will be served. 

Registration required: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/K2FdQaAWgR 

LGS Pop-up Café 

Date/Time: Monday, January 11, 9-11 am 
Location: The Quad

Get a great start to your first day of classes! Look for the Laney Graduate School signs on Emory’s main quadrangle - stop by for free coffee, tea, and breakfast pastries on your way to class for this great opportunity to connect with other students and your LGS student experience team.

U.S. Tax Responsibilities

New students must contact Emory’s Nonresident Tax Office for guidance on completing tax forms. First, complete the Foreign National Information System (FNIS), which determines your U.S. tax status and generates required forms. To begin, email nonresident.tax@emory.edu to request FNIS login credentials. You will receive a link, username, temporary password, and instructions. After you submit FNIS, a Nonresident Tax Specialist will review your information and email next steps for accessing, printing, and signing your forms. Important: Do not complete tax forms on the Emory Orientation website