I-94. No, it's not that highway in Vermont. It's just one of those extra things -- in this case, the card that confirms a foreign visitor's right to be in the United States -- that international students have to worry about in order to study at Dartmouth. Now, Dartmouth International Office director Stephen Silver said that international students might have one more concern.
Amidst a recent climate of tougher visa restrictions and other problems for international students applying to U.S. colleges, a former Dartmouth professor-turned-immigration lawyer is opening up a part-time law office in downtown Hanover "to provide immigration services for students, faculty, researchers and scientists from around the Upper Valley."
Silver, however, said that he was wary of such an operation.
"I would be very careful about somebody opening up a storefront, a shop, proclaiming to offer immigration advice," Silver said. "There are red flags all over the field here."
The Middleton, R.I.-based Pond, Harrington and Potts is opening up a law office on South Main Street above Rare Essentials that will be staffed by either former music instructor Sherry Smith Pond or a partner. The firm will be holding free open houses at noon on Fridays.
Pond served as a member the music faculty at Dartmouth for over a decade before getting a law degree. She also served as the College organist until June.
Silver said he would like to speak with Pond directly, as he is concerned that she might be trying to bypass College processes and that she might provide advice for a fee that his office gives for free. Silver contacted her office via telephone about a month ago but did not receive a return call, he said.
Some students even said that they doubted that the downtown law office was necessary even without fee because of the strength of Dartmouth's services for international College students.
"I don't see why [Pond, Harrington and Potts] would come to Dartmouth," Indian citizen and Hong Kong resident Angad Banga '05 said. "The International Office serves its purpose well. They are extremely helpful."
Banga commented on the strength of the office, particularly with regard to its BlitzMail bulletin board, which keeps students updated and helps weed out complications that could arise from negligence.
Silver added that Pond's services could also be unnecessary even in situations where international students demonstrate needs beyond the capability of the International Office.
When such situations occur, the International Office staff has traditionally recommended several law firms, including a Concord-based firm.
"We want to make sure that our international population gets accurate, honest advice," he says.
Regardless, it is apparent that the impending arrival of Pond, Harrington and Potts is an issue that will affect a considerable number of students within the Dartmouth community.
The College had some 250 international undergraduates, according to recent reports. Including graduate students, researchers and faculty, over 900 people from outside the U.S. are part of the Dartmouth community, according to College statistics.
This year 7.2 percent of the Class of 2008 is made up of international students, a record high for the College, but a percentage that places Dartmouth at or near the bottom of the list when compared to international student enrollment rates at other Ivy League schools.
Nationally, some colleges say they are having a hard time attracting international students. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported numbers that show a major drop-off in foreign enrollments following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with an increase of less than 1 percent in the 2002-03 academic year after two consecutive years of increases over 6 percent.
"There are a whole host of problems, issues and challenges that have been spawned by Sept. 11," Silver said.
Work volume at the International Office has "perhaps quadrupled," Silver said. Some of the volume can be attributed to cases in which student visas were denied due to bureaucratic folly.
Another recurring problem nationally pertains to visa delays. However, Silver said he has not had any cases of that this year.
