Submit Immigration-related Questions for Conference Sessions

Questions for sessions with speakers from USCIS, SEVP, CBP, and Department of State Visa Office may be submitted now. Based on feedback from international student and scholar advisers and others, Report an Issue was recently streamlined and the submittal process is much simpler. While membership is not a requirement to use IssueNet, a simple Web log-in is required, allowing the name and institution of the submitter to be auto-filled in the database. Be sure to click on “International Students/Scholars” at the top of the one-page form, so that the form is populated with the appropriate drop down boxes.

Each week, IssueNet users receive E-mails confirming that the information has been forwarded to the specific content area specialists such as the Policy and Practice Committee (P&P) and other issue point persons. For example, reports related to SEVIS go to the SEVIS Subcommittee of P&P, H-1B issues go to the H point person, and service center related issues go to the Regulatory Ombuds (RegBuds) Subcommittee of P&P. The reports are summarized, with personal information removed, and posted on the IssueNet Monthly Update, and the IssueNet users are notified when their issues have been added to the Web.

If an adviser needs case-specific assistance, the adviser can submit the case to RegBuds via Get Liaison Help, a separate online tool that was designed for case-specific immigration enquiries. RegBuds liaise directly with the service centers and government agencies on behalf of international educators in their regions.

RegBuds also interact with international student/scholar advisers via IssueNet’s Get Liaison Help to assist with case-specific immigration problems. RegBuds liaise directly with the Service Centers on behalf of advisers in their regions. Many of the cases submitted to RegBuds concerned the Application for Employment Authorization (I-765), the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (I-539), the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (I-129), and the Application to Adjust Status (I-485). Advisers turn to the RegBuds for assistance when the adjudication process results in unexpected denial, overdue pending status, additional requests for evidence (RFE), or the paperwork received from the Service Center includes errors.