International Student and Scholar Services

Contributing to Comprehensive Internationalization

Crisis Management

Office Administration

Orientation, Retention, and Student Services Programming

Student and Scholar Advising

SEVP Broadcast Message 2003-01: COVID-19 and Potential Procedural Adaptations for F and M Students

August 7, 2020

On March 9, 2020, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) sent Broadcast Message 2003-01, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Potential Procedural Adaptations for F and M nonimmigrant students, providing guidance on potential procedural adaptations for F and M nonimmigrant students

COVID-19 Guidance from DOS ECA for J-1 Exchange Program Sponsors

July 10, 2023

ECA Guidance Directive 2023-01 (June 8, 2023) ends ECA's temporary COVID-19 flexibilities for J-1 exchange visitors and programs effective July 1, 2023, but introduces new interpretations on hybrid or virtual work and learning. Guidance Directive 2023-01 will supersede the ECA's prior COVID-19

Questions for Guiding a Holistic Response

In responding to broadening concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19), institutions must be cognizant of holistic issues affecting international education, considering not only programmatic and immigration questions, but accreditation, contractual obligations, technical and human resources, and

Advisory on Online and Distance Education Strategies in the Context of COVID-19

"The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in most schools using on-line or distance education modalities as part of their strategy to mitigate interruptions to coursework. This has both academic implications, which apply to domestic and international students alike, and immigration questions, because of the

Vetting Partners for Success in International Education

As institutions and organizations expand globally, identifying contracts, vendors, agents, and other critical partners have become a vital part of a successful international education strategy. Selecting and managing these partnerships is a critical skill for any international educator. In this live

Visa Options and Strategies for Academic Clinical Programs

One of the more complicated challenges that international offices face is providing visa options for short-term trainees, students, and visitors with patient or animal care responsibilities. This text-based Q&A session provided perspectives from a variety of institutions on managing visitors with

Global Studies Literature Review—No. 10, February 2020

Welcome to the 10th anniversary issue of NAFSA’s Global Studies Literature Review ( GSLR). This issue of the GSLR explores the historical context of many themes important to international education, while simultaneously embracing how scholar practitioners (and practitioner scholars) are building the

Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange Discusses Results of Exchange Visitor Survey

On August 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Private Sector Exchange conducted a webinar with NAFSA partners to present findings from the College and University Student Exchange Visitor Survey. The survey was conducted from May 6 – 29, 2019 to a representative, random sample of 1,560

Fee-Based Service Model Considerations

By NAFSA International Student and Scholar Services Knowledge Community (KC ISSS) 2018 Robin Catmur-Smith, Barbara Kappler, Nate Lynch, Tina Rousselot de Saint Céran Overview Regulatory compliance obligations for institutions sponsoring international students and scholars have grown significantly in

Practice Advisory on F-1 Cap-Gap Benefits

Caution! For FY 2024 F-1 cap-gap purposes, the Form I-129 petition requesting change of status and an employment start date of October 1, 2023 must still be received by USCIS before the student's OPT expires (for cap-gap extension of employment benefits) or before the expiration of the student's