Committee: Education Abroad Knowledge Community(EA KC)
Position: Country Coordinator, Consular Affairs Liaison (CAL) Subcommittee
Term Dates: Two-year term, renewable once (maximum of 4 years)
The CAL Subcommittee of the Education Abroad Knowledge Community charged with clarifying visa and immigration procedures and then sharing that knowledge with education abroad professionals who advise their students on visas for study outside the United States. Country Coordinators develop relationships with visa officers at international consulates in the United States and third-party agencies charged by consulates to collect and/or process application materials to clarify visa and immigration procedures for U.S. passport holders studying abroad via NAFSA’s website and EA Visa Help platform. Country Coordinators facilitate contact with the appropriate consular staff for student visas to Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. An additional Country Coordinator manages student visa questions for the world at large.
Position updated August 2024
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of NAFSA’s Strategic Plan, this position will:
- Collaborate with the Content Coordinator, Visas for Education Abroad, to achieve the goals as outlined in the EAKC annual work plan and within the parameters of the identified in the Charge to the subcommittee.
- Initiate, sustain, and enrich working relationships with the consulates for your country group.
- Identify changes in visa policies and procedures for the assigned country and inform the country coordinator and NAFSA staff.
- Curate content for NAFSA web pages on education abroad visas and ensure information is relevant and current.
- Respond to requests for assistance from education abroad colleagues regarding student visa matters in the EA Visa Help platform and assign to the appropriate liaison.
- Work in partnership with NAFSA staff to resolve policy and procedure issues in a fashion that assists the consulate visa office and the study abroad program advisers.
- Participate actively in the online EAKC Network by prompting or responding to discussions on student visas. Act as a resource for colleagues with questions and concerns throughout the year.
- Encourage and facilitate the inclusion of content on education abroad visas for consideration at annual and regional conferences. Develop and present sessions as appropriate when possible and appropriate.
Sample Projects
- Annual and regional conference presentations and dialogues on visas for education abroad
- Online information sessions on visas for education abroad
- Advocacy with foreign consulates to clarify visa applications requirements and procedures
- Timely responses to queries submitted via the EA Visa Help platform
- Updates to the web pages on Visas for Education Abroad
Commitment
- Prepare for and attend CAL meetings throughout the year. Most meetings are virtual.
- Expected attendance on subcommittee quarterly calls and contributions to cross-collaborative projects.
- Attendance at CAL meetings at the NAFSA annual conference in May.
- Current NAFSA membership throughout the length of volunteer service is required.
Qualifications
- Ability to communicate with colleagues and government officials in a collegial and diplomatic fashion.
- Detailed knowledge of visa procedures for students studying abroad from the United States, and the country for which you are assigned.
- Institutional support for this volunteer commitment.
- Willingness to adopt organization-wide perspectives and EA KC strategic priorities
- Willingness to adopt association priorities and perspectives on volunteer development and management
Appreciation
- Volunteers in this role are recognized in a letter from NAFSA CEO
- Volunteers in this role receive a certificate of appreciation at the conclusion of their volunteer service
- Volunteers in this role are named on any resources developed by this subcommittee
