Tools and Resources

The Scholar Resource Guide is given to all new scholars and is a guide with various information about Ohio State.

Services available to Ohio State faculty, staff and students includes information regarding bookstores, computers, copy services, The Lantern, libraries, recreational sports and beauty services.

Bookstores

There are several bookstores along High Street and on campus that sell textbooks, school supplies and Ohio State merchandise. All of these locations accept BuckID.

Barnes and Noble at The Ohio State University
1598 North High Street (South Campus Gateway)
614-247-2000

College Town
1770 North High Street
614-294-0688

BuckID Card

The BuckID card is available for children and spouses of Ohio State faculty, staff and students. It may be used in various places, such as the RPAC (recreation) facility, the COTA bus, the Ohio State libraries or as a debit card in many stores and food venues around campus.

For more information, contact:
BuckID Office
3040 Ohio Union
1739 N. High Street
614-292-0400

Computers

The Office of the Chief Information Officer manages technology resources at Ohio State.

Wi-Fi on Campus

There are many Wi-Fi hotspots near and on the Ohio State campus where you can connect your wireless-enabled computer to the internet. Across campus, Ohio State faculty, staff and students can connect to OSU Wireless network with their name.# and password. Some visitor locations on campus also offer free AT&T Wifi Hotspots.

Computer Help

For computer set-up, assistance and questions, Ohio State faculty, staff and students can visit the BuckeyeBar inside Thompson Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Purchasing Computers

If you are interested in buying a computer, Ohio State has prime supplier agreements with Dell, HP, Lenovo and IBM to sell computers to faculty, staff and students at a discounted rate. Apple, Inc. also offers discounted computers and software for university faculty, staff and students. These computers can be purchased on campus at Tech Hub.
For more information, please visit:
Tech Hub
2059 Millikin Rd
614-292-8883

The Department of Homeland Security offers emergency response to aviation and border security.

DHS = Department of Homeland Security.

DOS = Department of State, the overseeing department of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

DS-2019 = The immigration document for students and visiting scholars in J-1 status.

Form I-797 = After an H-1B petition is approved by USCIS a Form I-797 H-1B approval notice (Notice of Action) is issued and sent to OIA. This document indicates the H-1B employer and the dates of the approved H-1B status.

I-20 = The immigration document for students in F-1 status.

I-94 Card = This small white arrival/departure card shows that the status held is H-1B and indicates the current end date of the H-1B status. (The H-1B approval will include a new I-94 card.)

SEVIS = Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a database administered by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USICE.

USCIS = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a branch of Department of Homeland Security.

USICE = United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of Department of Homeland Security.

As an international scholar, it is important to know and follow U.S. laws and regulations. Please review the legal resources in this section for more information.

Ohio State Legal Affairs

The Office of Legal Affairs provides legal advice and representation to The Ohio State University, to its constituent units and affiliated entities, and to its trustees, officers, employees and student leaders while acting on the university's behalf. Their services include advice and counsel on all matters having legal significance for the university, contract review, legal workshops and educational programs. The Office of Legal Affairs provides oversight of all litigation including cases assigned to special counsel appointed by the Attorney General for the State of Ohio. For specific advice, visit their website or contact them at 614-292-0611.

Selecting an Immigration Attorney

You may wish to visit the American Immigration Lawyers Association website to select an attorney who has the expertise you seek. Please note that this information is provided for personal immigration matters only. All immigration filings on behalf of Ohio State are handled either by the Office of International Affairs or the Office of Legal Affairs. An employee or student may not retain an attorney to represent the university with respect to the filing of an I-129, I-140, labor certification or other employer-based filing. No one may sign an I-129, I-140, or labor certification application on behalf of the university without prior approval from either the Office of International Affairs or the Office of Legal Affairs. If you have questions about this policy, please contact the Office of International Affairs at 614-292-6101 or the Office of Legal Affairs at 614-292-0611.

Select an attorney early in the process

Immigration procedures can be very slow and time consuming. Therefore, you select your legal advisor early in the process. Do not wait until a few weeks before your deadline. In order to present your application in the best possible manner, you should allow sufficient time for your lawyer to do a thorough job of researching your case.

Consult others concerning the immigration process

Before you contact an attorney, consult family members, friends or associates who have been involved with the immigration process. They may be able to share with you their experiences with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), their legal costs and recommendations concerning attorneys with whom they worked.

Begin your evaluation of the attorney when you make your initial call

Once you have selected a prospective attorney, you should call to make an appointment to discuss your case. This call should be an important part of your evaluation of the attorney. You should begin the call with a short description of your situation and the immigration problem you wish to address. You do not have to give all the details at this time. You should merely describe in general terms the nature of the issue and you should include any deadlines you are facing. You may wish to contact several attorneys to compare their answers to these questions. Once you have identified a lawyer who you may wish to hire, you should schedule a meeting to discuss your case in greater detail.

The first meeting

It is important to remember that at this meeting, you are still evaluating the lawyer. If you are not confident that this person can do the best job for you, you may decide to seek another legal advisor. You should be prepared to give a concise statement of your situation and the goals you would like to achieve. You may save time by writing a short chronology of your experiences and contacts with USCIS. Be sure to bring with you your passport (including visa stamps), copies of correspondence with government agencies and other immigration documents.

Harassment and Discrimination

The Ohio State University is committed to providing a working environment free from sexual harassment and discrimination. The Office of Institutional Equity, Title IX's website contains information and resources regarding harassment and discrimination. The university encourages employees to report concerns and complaints so that prompt corrective measures can be taken to stop harassment and discrimination whenever it occurs. If you experience misconduct, there are several ways to report the incident, as well as available resources to help you cope