International Student Advisor Job Description
International Student Advisor Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective international student advisor job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included international student advisor job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
International Student Advisor Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Licensing or Certifications for International Student Advisor
List any licenses or certifications required by the position: SEVP, J-1, NAFSA, F-1
Education for International Student Advisor
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the international student advisor job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Education, Communication, Faculty, Counseling, International Education, Management, Communications, International Studies, Intercultural Communication, Social Sciences
Skills for International Student Advisor
Desired skills for international student advisor include:
Desired experience for international student advisor includes:
International Student Advisor Examples
International Student Advisor Job Description
- Monitors regulatory updates and apply necessary changes to operations, forms and advisement to maintain compliance
- Responds to communications related to immigration processes and transactions from academic units, student, government agencies and the community at large
- Develops workshops and information sessions regarding international issues for University students, faculty and staff, in collaboration with various International Student Advisers
- Coordinates the assessment efforts in the immigration area of the International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC)
- Assists Assistant Director and/or other ISSC-Student teams with special projects as needed, such as Academic Foundation Program
- Have primary responsibility for success of programming
- Programming also encompasses development and implementation of trainings to assist faculty and staff with intercultural competency to help international students and scholars thrive
- Ensure collaboration with other campus units in creating and implementing programming that will enhance the international populations’ experience on campus in regards to academics, career building, social integration, cultural adjustment
- Mentor and supervise three professional staff charged with programming duties
- Excellent communications skills including writing, proofreading, editing, and grammar skills in addition to attention to detail
- Experience with or willingness to learn about information and communications technologies
- Some of the responsibilities of this position may require work outside of normal business hours such as in evenings or on weekends in support of divisional programmatic or outreach objectives
- Sensitivity to and ability to operate in a cross-cultural setting
- Knowledge and understanding of U.S. immigration laws, regulations, and agency policies
- Understanding of universal design and accessibility standards
- Assist students and scholars in adjusting to life at the university and in the U.S. including advising on campus academic and personal support resources, clubs and organizations on campus, on and off campus employment, applications for Social Security Numbers, state driver’s licenses
International Student Advisor Job Description
- Proactively monitors and evaluates data in SEVIS and Sunapsis database systems to identify issues needing resolution prior to data submission
- Serve as official liaison to federal government agencies as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO), ensuring compliance with immigration regulations
- Prepare and submit appropriate employment-based visa and permanent residency applications to federal government agencies on behalf of the university
- Develop, coordinate, market, and implement programming and events including off-campus excursions for the international student population to cultivate an inclusive community for international students and assist with their integration and success academically, socially, and culturally on campus and in the local community
- Collaborate with other campus units in creating and implementing programming that will enhance the students’ experience on campus in regards to academics, career building, social integration, cultural adjustment
- Serve as the primary coordinator of programming and events for the international sponsored student population to cultivate an inclusive community for sponsored students and assist with their integration and success academically, socially, and culturally on campus and in the local community
- Collaborate with other campus units, including but not limited to the Cultural Unity and Engagement Center, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement, Career Services, in creating and implementing programming that will enhance the sponsored students’ experience on campus in regards to academics, career building, social integration, cultural adjustment
- Coordinate sponsor site visits to the university, including arranging appointments with students, advisors, and other university officials
- Carry out all delegated international student advising processes (form issuance, educational information, travel and immigration advice, review and verification of data, authorization or recommendation of appropriate benefits, , employment), under the supervision and direction of OIS leadership
- Advise Faculty, Advisors, and Department Personnel (Graduate Secretaries, Personnel Coordinators, ) in matters related to international student or scholar processing, eligibility requirements, process issues, opportunities, problems, Serve as a college liaison for specific college populations (including students, scholars, interns, faculty, and staff)
- One year of work experience as an international student advisor (or similar position) at an institution of higher education
- Maintain accurate records and files on international students and scholars (stay current with file updates in database), update values in relevant data systems
- Assist with walk-in advising and other “up-front” assistance (primary advisor 2x/week)
- Provide general orientation and information referral to international students, scholars, and their families in person, during appointments, via email, or other communication methods in a timely manner
- Contribute to overall office functions and assist when necessary or appropriate (walk-ins, phone calls, emergencies, interruptions throughout work day)
- Professional Development (participation in NAFSA, NCAIE, and other activities) and continuous technical training
International Student Advisor Job Description
- Liaise with SEVIS Helpdesk and the USCIS Service Centers when there are issues with an individual’s immigration or employment record
- Attend conferences, networking events and webinars
- Provide advising, counseling and immigration services to international students, scholars and dependents regarding legal
- Assisting with operations that relate to student and University compliance with US immigration laws
- Assisting with data and functionality within the Sunapsis system partnering with others in Notre Dame International to ensure integrity of the database, and facilitating timely reporting of information to the US department of Homeland Security
- Serving as the primary liaison with admissions for all initial undergraduate I-20s
- Communicating and maintaining relationships with international students and scholars on campus through daily advising appointments and walk-ins on immigration matters
- Supporting programming and other efforts undertaken by the office
- Serve as and perform the functions of a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) Student and Exchange Visitor Programs (SEVP)
- Manage office listserv
- Demonstrated knowledge of office computer systems at a level appropriate to the duties of the position
- Requires contact with other departments and university officials
- Must be a US citizen or permanent resident to establish for designation by the Department of Homeland Security as a DSO/ARO
- Must be able to work well with others and function in a fast paced, team oriented environment while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Powerpoint, Word, Excel and comfortable using other software systems as needed
- Strong oral, written and cross cultural communication skills are essential
International Student Advisor Job Description
- Facilitate document issuance and process related student requests, such as bank, Social Security, DMV letters and the like
- Develop and help implement programs to support international students
- Maintain an excellent understanding of regulations, and changes, governing the oversight of international students and scholars
- Advise international students and scholars on immigration, academic and non-academic issues
- Serve as main contact with Human Resources as International Hires Advisor – processing immigration documents, supporting the integration of international faculty into the Wheaton community
- Coordinate logistics such as housing, stipends, and cultural adaptation for Foreign Language Teaching Assistants
- Serve as one of several staff members available to serve as on-call emergency contact for international students and scholars and back-up for Center for Global Education situation protocol
- Provide interface between international students and Washington State and U
- Works with director around necessary intervention with DHS on behalf of international students should problems arise with applications
- Assist with extra-curricular activities and guidance that will enhance the personal and academic well-being of the international student body
- Knowledge base and experience with F-1 and J-1 immigration matters and laws and responsibilities that govern international students and exchange visitors preferred
- An excellent knowledge of F and J visa issues, rules and regulations
- Good understanding of current issues in the field of international education
- Demonstrated professional, collaborative, collegial work-style in dealing with students, faculty, staff, and off-campus partners
- Working knowledge of basic office, communications and data management software
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum 2-3 years experience advising international students
International Student Advisor Job Description
- Stay abreast of school policies and procedures as they affect international students
- Serve as Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
- Review, advise, and sign I-20/DS-2019 documents for travel and ISSS support letters
- Provide walk-in support and advisement to students and scholars at the front desk
- Provide advisement to students and scholars by email and phone
- Manage the ISSS advisor email inbox and respond to student inquiries and requests
- Attend regular advisors meetings and supervisory meetings
- Assesses and advise students, scholars, faculty and staff on cultural adjustment, cultural competence and differences in higher educational systems, provide additional training and resources as necessary
- Lead workshops for international students in person, on line, via social media or on video
- Create and develop events and activities under the goal of facilitating smoother on-campus integration of international students
- Bachelor’s degree required, Master preferred and minimum of two years of experience working as a DSO and/or ARO in a University setting
- By law, U.S. citizenship or a lawful permanent resident of the United States, is required for DSO/ARO
- Immigration training in F and/or J regulations, with NAFSA or another professional organization, strongly preferred
- Experience living abroad and fluency in a second language preferred
- Knowledge of laws governing F students, J exchange visitors
- Knowledge of Banner or other student information systems