[Gsoc-orga] Quick Clarification on Location and Stipend Handling for GSoC

[Simon Poole]

Hi Archit

IMHO google is really the appropriate organisation to advise on this, 
they are paying the stipend and no funds flow through the OSMF.  In any 
case we don't have any control over what is listed as your place of 
residence and in general we assume that google has checked if they can 
actually pay the stipend to you.

I'll check with my fellow organisers if they have any other input, but I 
suspect you really need to contact google.

Simon

Am 25.05.2025 um 11:06 schrieb Archit Rathod:
>
> Dear mentors,
>
> I wanted to ask a quick follow-up question regarding my situation.
>
> As I mentioned earlier, due to F-1 visa restrictions in the U.S., 
> compensated work like GSoC typically requires work authorization, 
> which complicates things for me. While I’m fully open to participating 
> as a volunteer, I also wanted to check if another route is feasible 
> and acceptable from your end.
>
> If I were to list my country of residence as India during the program 
> (my home country), I would technically still be eligible for the 
> stipend, and I would continue working on the project from the U.S. 
> quietly during my personal time. This would help avoid violating any 
> employment-related terms of my visa, while also allowing me to benefit 
> from the stipend in line with GSoC’s global structure.
>
> This is of course just a private check-in between us, and I completely 
> understand if this is not aligned with the program or your 
> expectations. I really value the opportunity to work with you and am 
> committed to giving my best to the project, regardless of the arrangement.
>
> Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
>
> Warm regards,
> Archit Rathod
>
>
> On Sun, 25 May 2025 at 03:58, Archit Rathod <architrathod77 at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>     Dear mentors,
>
>     I hope this message finds you well.
>
>     I am writing to inform you about a situation concerning my
>     participation in Google Summer of Code (GSoC) 2025. As an
>     international student on an F-1 visa at the University of
>     Illinois, Chicago, I have encountered restrictions related to work
>     authorization. Specifically, my university's Office of
>     International Services has indicated that engaging in compensated
>     activities like GSoC without proper authorization could violate my
>     visa status.
>
>     To comply with these regulations, I am planning to participate in
>     GSoC as a volunteer, foregoing the stipend. I would like to kindly
>     confirm if the OpenStreetMap Foundation would be able to provide a
>     formal letter (only if requested by university officials) stating
>     the following:
>
>      *
>
>         My contribution is completely voluntary and optional.
>
>      *
>
>         There is no financial compensation or transaction of any kind.
>
>      *
>
>         The activity is for learning purposes only, conducted
>         independently on my schedule.
>
>     This letter is not mandatory but may be helpful in the event the
>     university asks for documentation regarding my voluntary status.
>
>     I want to emphasize that I am truly excited and grateful for this
>     opportunity. I’m fully committed to contributing to the project
>     and will dedicate my time and efforts wholeheartedly to ensure
>     meaningful progress.
>
>     Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
>
>     Best regards,
>     Archit Rathod
>     MS in Computer Science
>     University of Illinois, Chicago
>
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