International Student Advising “For Dummies”

1. International Student Advising“For Dummies” Presenters: Molly Heidemann Senior International Student and Scholar Advisor Miami University Sarah McNitt Study Abroad Advisor Miami University Charles Schwartz Senior Admissions Officer University of Cincinnati

2. Introduction • Who are we? • Who is our audience? • Why International Student Advising for Dummies?

3. Visa Types • F-1 Visa • Eligibility: • An alien having a residence in a foreign country • No intention of abandoning their home country • Full-time student • Entering the US temporarily and solely for the purpose of studying • At an established academic institution or language training program in the United States, • F-2 Dependent: An alien spouse or minor children following to join the F-1 student

4. Visa Types • J-1 Visa • Part of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961 • "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges." • Eligibility: • An alien having a residence in a foreign country • No intention of abandoning home country • J-visa category of visitors most common in higher ed: • Student (Non-degree, Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, Intern) • Scholar (Research, Short-Term) • Professor • Specialist • Physician • Other Categories: Teacher, Au Pair, Camp Counselor, Government Visitor, Summer Work/Travel • J-2 Dependent: An alien spouse or minor children following to join the J-1 exchange visitor

5. SEVIS • What is SEVIS? Student and Exchange Visitor Information System

6. SEVIS • SEVIS is the internet-based system by which P/DSOs and A/ROs interact with ICE, process F-1 and J-1 records, and track changes • P/DSO = (Principal) Designated School Official – for Fs • A/RO = (Alternate) Responsible Officer – For Js • Managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) – a unit of ICE (which is a unit of DHS) • Became fully operational in 2003 • Used to process I-20s and DS-2019s, and track changes in students’ personal, financial, and academic information • Requires a password to log in • SEVIS II: Coming soon!

7. Immigration Documents • I-20/DS-2019 • Passport • Visa stamp • I-94 card

8. Immigration Documents • I-20/DS-2019 • Issued by host institution • Student should keep this document withtheir passport

9. Immigration Documents • Passport • Issued by home country government • Should be valid for at least 6 months in the future when entering U.S. • Must be kept valid

10. Immigration Documents • Visa stamp • Issued by US Consulate/Embassy • Stamped into passport • Entry documentonly (can expire)

11. Immigration Documents • I-94 card • Filled out on plane by student • Stamped by US Customs & Border Patrol at Port of Entry • Stapled into passport • Shows visa status and how long they can stay (duration of status)

12. Admission and Document Issuance • An I-20 or DS-2019 does not automatically grant a visa; it is more like a “certificate of eligibility” to obtain F-1 or J-1 status

13. Admission and Document Issuance • I-20 Issuance • To issue an I-20 to a school must: • Be approved by DHS to admit F-1 students and be enrolled in SEVIS • Receive a written application from the student for admission • Receive and review the applicant's academic credentials for admission • Accept the student a full-time program • Assess the student's ability to meet all expenses during the course of study, and specifically examine documentation showing finances for at least the first year of study

14. Visa Application • School issues I-20/DS-2019 • Student pays SEVIS fee and schedules visa interview • If visa interview results in approval, student receives visa and can travel to the US

15. Visa Application • Required at visa interview: • I-20/DS-2019 • Passport valid for at least 6 months • Proof of proficiency in English (if necessary) • Proof of financial resources to cover the cost of education and living expenses in the U.S. • Proof of SEVIS fee payment • Admission letter • Evidence of ties to home country

16. Entering the U.S. • U.S. Customs & Border Patrol officer checks documents • Passport is valid • I-20 is valid • Visa is valid • Ask for purpose of entry • U.S. Customs & Border Patrol official stamps I-94 card, which is stapled into passport

17. Maintenance of Status • Attend the school listed on the I-20/DS-2019 • Pursue a full course of study (12 credits for undergrads; institution-specific for grads) • Make normal progress toward completion • Report changes of address within 10 days • Don’t work without authorization • Follow proper procedures for extension, change of level, transfer, etc. • Abide by grace periods • Keep passport valid

18. What else does an International Student Advisor do? Orientation • Challenges: • Erratic arrival times • Motivation • Range of communication skills • Goals: • Provide info that US students already have • Provide tools for finding info on their own • Provide basic understanding of US and Academia • Key Concepts • Practical matters • Housing • Transportation • Communication • Recreation • US Academia • System Structure • Student expectations • Student services • Cultural Adjustment

19. What else does an International Student Advisor do? Programming • Examples: Friendship programs, conversation partners, film series, city tours, etc. • Goals: • Long-term awareness • Transition to campus and American life • Entertainment • Personal, professional, and cultural needs

20. What else does an International Student Advisor do? Cultural Adjustment • Intercultural Communication • D.I.E. • Description: “what I see” • Interpretation “what I think about what I see” • Evaluation “what I feel about what I see and think” • Obstacles: • Assumptions of similarity/difference • Language/communication • Ethnocentrism • Anxiety • Be a Bridge • Listen to the person • Through the accent • Allow them to finish • Ask clarifying questions • Ask how it works at home/explain how it works here • Be directive, inclusive, personal

21. Questions & Answers