Immigration laws and regulations are briefly summarized to aid faculty members in understanding problems faced by foreign students and scholars. The objective is to enable faculty to properly advise foreign students regarding their academic programs and to recognize when a foreign student or scholar needs to be referred to the foreign student adviser for assistance. The following areas are covered: basic immigration documents and terminology, classifications of foreign students and scholars, and miscellaneous related matters. For purposes of immigration law, foreign students are classified as F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitor students, immigrants and refugees, nonimmigrants who are in the United States for some principal purpose other than study, and dependents of other aliens. Different regulations pertaining to the foreign student classifications are covered and include those regarding entering the United States, maintaining status, and employment. Foreign scholars are classified as follows: visitor for business, visitor for pleasure, practical trainee, postdoctoral student, exchange visitor, temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability, other temporary worker, other trainee, and immigrant or permanent resident. Steps to acquire immigrant status and the following miscellaneous matters are considered: institutional policy and staffing, immigration attorneys, support services, health insurance, federal and state income taxes, social security tax, federal financial aid, and expectation of scholars. (SW)