International Student Worker Assistance Fund
HGSU-UAW International Student Worker Assistance Fund Summary and FAQs
The contract between Harvard University and the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW) Local 5118 establishes a fund of $100,000 annually to help defray the costs associated with immigration and maintenance of legal working status within the United States through reimbursements.
Visit the Benefits Overview page to learn about upcoming deadlines.
All applications will open at least 6 weeks before the deadline. Student workers may submit their application for reimbursements here.
Eligibility and Coverage
- be a student enrolled in a Harvard University degree program;
- be actively employed as a Research Assistant (but not an undergraduate Research Assistant), Teaching Fellow, Instructional Fellow, Pedagogical Fellow, or Course Assistant in at least 1 academic term in the contract year; and
- receive pay on a salaried basis OR receive pay on an hourly basis and have worked at least 280 hours either between January 1 and June 30, 2023 or between July 1 and December 31, 2023.
Administrative fees, legal fees, travel and accommodation expenses, only when necessary for obtaining or maintaining the appropriate immigration and/or legal working status, and any other legitimate expenses related to immigration processes that are necessary for an applicant to successfully conduct their work, subject to the discretion of the Finance and Benefits Committee.
Application Questions
No. For simplicity of administration, household income is self-reported.
Fund Rules - In Plain English
Section
ISWA
Scope
Administrative fees and travel expenses required to maintain legal working status in the US
Eligibility
Appointed to an eligible position in the bargaining unit at one point in the contract year covered by application (flexibility for summer expenses)
Application Timeline
Salaried workers: expenses March 1 to date at the November deadline; expenses June 1 to date at the May deadline.
Hourly workers who became eligible in the previous spring semester can get the previous year’s expenses covered at the November deadline
Benefit Structure
Pool
Determination of Benefit Amounts
Are there fixed costs/grants?
No
Are there variable costs?
Yes—administrative, legal, and travel expenses directly connected to visa applications, renewals, and comparable processes
When does household income affect reimbursement?
When eligible expenses exceed available fund amount
Maximum annual payout
$1,750
Typical documentation
Receipts, consulate appointment confirmation (necessary for travel expenses)
Applications
SmarterSelect, open from 6 weeks before next deadline
January Review; Fund Governance
Minor changes made by vote of FBC; major changes are subject to HGSU membership vote
Full Rules
For full (legalese) version of the rules, please go here. For the most granular information on expenses we cover, refer to bullet point 1 of the Section entitled “Determination of Benefit Amounts.”