About 101 Guide:
Every student or scholar coming to the U.S. to study or work may face challenges navigating visas, entry procedures, legal status, and employment. The 101 Guide to Studying and Working in the United States (hereafter 101 Guide) was created for exactly that reason — it compiles the most essential and practical information in both Chinese and English. The contents include:
- Basic knowledge of visa and immigration status
- How to handle secondary inspection (the “little black room”)
- Key points for entering and leaving the U.S.
- SSN and OPT step-by-step instructions
- Introduction to labor unions and workers’ rights
- How to respond to immigration enforcement, and more
In today’s increasingly hostile U.S. political climate, knowing your immigration rights is the first step toward protecting yourself. Therefore, we call on everyone who reads this to join our poster distributing action — help us spread this handbook and make it accessible to more international students and scholars. You can participate in the following ways:
1. Share and Forward
Download the 101 Guide and its posters. Upload and share them on social platforms such as Instagram, Discord, Slack, and WeChat (sample captions are provided at the end of this article). You can also share the guide through college / union / student organization email lists to help more students access and benefit from it.
2. Download and Put Up Posters
Download the 101 Guide and its posters. Print and put up them on campus bulletin boards — for example, in department buildings, libraries, dorms, student centers, cafeterias, or cafés — so more people can see the guide on campus.
3. Invite More Participants
Encourage friends or classmates to join in the effort by sharing, forwarding, or putting up the 101 Guide and its posters. You can reach out via direct messages or group chats to invite others to take part.
4. Record and Report Back
Record your participation (such as putting up posters or distributing guides) and send us photos or video clips to help us showcase and amplify the collective impact.
For example, when putting up a poster, take a photo of it on-site (see Campus Photo Campaign for examples). We suggest including your school’s name/logo or a recognizable landmark in the shot. Feel free to appear in the photo! If other people are visible, please obtain their consent or blur their faces.
Once done, send your materials via:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram DM: @academic_union_network
We’ll feature selected photos and videos from different campuses on Instagram and our website to showcase collective action across schools.
5. Connect with Campus Resources (for Organization Members)
We especially encourage union members and student organizations to contact international offices, departments, or other campus groups to display the 101 Guide and its posters during orientation events, training sessions, or related meetings.
Individual volunteers are also welcome to reach out through these channels to help broaden the guide’s reach and impact.
By taking part, you’ll help the 101 Guide reach more international students studying or working in the U.S., ensuring that crucial information gets into the hands of those who need it most. You can find the resource download links below.
Resources
Posters (Aspect Ratio 3:4)
Guides
- “101 Guide to Studying and Working in the United States” (English)
- Short link: say.vc/101-guide-en
- QR code:
- “101 Guide to Studying and Working in the United States” (Chinese)
- Short link: say.vc/101-guide
- QR code:
Social Media Captions (English / Chinese)
English
📘 Studying or working in the U.S.? “101 Guide to Studying and Working in the U.S.” answers key questions: status & visas, secondary inspection, checklist for traveling outside the U.S., SSN, OPT, unions & labor rights, and what to do if you encounter immigration enforcement.
👉 Download: say.vc/101-guide-en (English) | say.vc/101-guide (Chinese)
📧 More on Instagram: @academic_union_network | Contact: [email protected]
Chinese
📘 在美国读书/工作？《美国留学、工作指南101》能帮你解答各种疑虑：身份与签证、如何应对入境二次审查（被关小黑屋）、离境美国注意事项、SSN、OPT、工会与劳动权益、遭遇移民执法该怎么办。
👉 下载链接：say.vc/101-guide（中文版） ｜ say.vc/101-guide-en（英文版）
📧 关注 Instagram 了解更多：@academic_union_network ｜ 联系我们：[email protected]
Contribute to Improving the Guide
- Can other language versions be added?
- Volunteers for translation are very welcome! Please contact us via email ([email protected]) or send us a direct message on Instagram (@academic_union_network).
- I found an error or have suggestions for improvement — how can I provide feedback?
- You’re welcome to contact us via email ([email protected]) or Instagram direct message (@academic_union_network) to submit corrections or suggestions for improvement.