International students have the same legal right to join a union as American citizens. The visa requirement that students on F-1 and J-1 visas may only accept employment associated with the University they attend in no way compromises the right to belong to a Union that represents them in the workplace. Furthermore, political protest and public demonstration are protected for international students as forms of free speech and free assembly in the American constitution.

However, as we see a rising concern for the preservation of the most fundamental civil rights in a post-9/11 world and its stringent security measures and screenings for non-citizens, GSOC and Local 2110 have been active in lobbying for fairer visa-renewal and granting procedures for international students. We co-sponsored a visa reform petition along with a number of academic and national labor unions. Click here to read and sign the visa reform petition.

From the webpages of the UMASS Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW):

Can I join a union in the United States if I am here on a student visa? Can I join without any fear of repercussions?

YES. It is against the law for the university (or any other employer you might have in the U.S.) to discriminate or retaliate against you because you are a member of the union or active in the union. Graduate employees have formed unions and bargained contracts at many schools in the United States over the past 30 years. Often international graduate students have been in the leadership of these unions. There are no visa requirements or rules that affect international students' rights to join a union.

Even though I can legally join a union, are there any restrictions on my ability to participate in union activities such as picketing, rallies, leafleting, etc.?

Within the union you have the same rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association as U.S. nationals. Political activities such as picketing, rallies, leafleting, demonstrations, sit-ins, etc. are forms of expression and free association, which are protected for international students in the U.S. who have student visas.

Will my union membership or union activity affect visa application I might make in the future?

NO. It is against the law for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to ask you questions about your union membership, your legal union activities, or to take them into account in considering your visa application. IT IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ALL ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH YOU BELONG. THIS IS ASKED ON OUR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION AND UNION MEMBERSHIP IS INCLUDED; IT CAN'T BE USED AGAINST YOU OR TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BUT IT IS ASKED.