The status of foreign students is shown to have both legal and social aspects that make definitions of the subset difficult. Their legal status is that of holding a special position in immigrant law which restricts their activities, especially in economic areas. That they are viewed socially as "outsiders" is reflected in the nature of their social relationships and activities. Because of the legal and social conditions of their presence in the U.S., foreign students can be viewed as utilizing distinctive social and economic strategies for coping with American society. A number of people function in roles as brokers between foreign students and the dominant society. Many of the financial arrangements of foreign students are shown to be in extricably tied to the legal prohibitions on employment which are a condition of their presence. (Author)