Hi,
I'm an international student on F-1 visa. While I don't plan to retire in the US, I do plan to find a job and stick around for some more year. I would like to open a Roth Ira, but I have been told I can not, because my income, produced via a fellowship (I'm a teaching fellow or Teaching Assistant as you want to call it), falls under the category of scholarships, grants, etc. and therefore can not be used to contribute toward a Roth Ira. Checking the internet that doesn't seem to be right, but I've been unable to find a definite answer.
Can you help me?

Thanks!

“Scholarship and fellowship payments are compensation for IRA purposes only if shown in box 1 of Form W-2.” from IRS Publication 590.

The other issue would be that it would be hard to find an IRA for non-resident aliens. Most of them are restricted to citizens/permanent residents/resident aliens.

My compensation is in box 1 (Wages, tips, other compensation) of my W-2.
Now, what do you mean it would be hard to find an Ira for NR aliens? If I am allowed to open a Roth, what's the other issue?

Thanks a lot for your help!

A few years ago it was difficult to find a custodian offering IRAs for non-resident aliens as there weren't many (maybe that changed). That's what I mean with being hard to find.

custodian = broker?