Prepare to make the most of the NAFSA 2021 Annual Conference and Expo in your immigration or education abroad regulatory advising role, by registering for these workshops and attending these sessions!

Tuesday, June 1

Advanced Immigration Issues for Academic Medical Institutions

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Workshop | View the Workshop
This workshop provides an examination of immigration options and institutional policies related to medical students, short-term and graduate medical education (GME) clinical trainees, medical researchers, physician-scientists, and faculty physicians. Participants explore the implications of these options and policies for their campus or institution.

Preparing Labor Certification Applications for University Teaching Positions

1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Workshop | View the Workshop
Participants discuss essential issues in laying the groundwork for successful submission of Special Handling Labor Certification applications. Participants discuss how to properly complete critical sections of Form ETA-9141 and ETA Form 9089 and how to create and maintain a PERM audit file.

Education Abroad Visa Advising

1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Workshop | View the Workshop
This workshop provides clarity and guidance on the process of obtaining a visa for education abroad according to current requirements and limitations. Professionals from academic institutions, program providers, and travel organizations expand their knowledge and skills in navigating the complexities of visa advising in 2021. The focus of this workshop is for U.S. and international students applying for a visa from within the United States.

Wednesday, June 2

Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP): Current Issues

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Session | View the Session
This session addresses issues practitioners face regarding current regulatory, policy, and practice inconsistencies that affect the advising of students in F and M immigration status from the perspective of experienced NAFSA leaders. Attendees gain tips, tools, and resources to navigate current SEVP issues.

Poster Fair Roundtable: Advocacy in International Education

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Poster Fair | View the Poster Fair
Join presenters of this poster fair to discuss their model practices, research, and innovations. More information about the posters to be announced.

Education Abroad Visas: Critical Updates for Study Abroad Advisers

4:30 PM - 5:30 p.m. | Session | View the Session
This session provides study abroad advisers with updates on student visa procedures for study in France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries. NAFSA Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee members lead discussions for each of the country groups.

Thursday, June 3

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs: Current Issues

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Session | View the Session
This session focuses on the visa application process that international students and scholars pursue, including factors considered by consular officers in adjudicating visa applications. Presenters address current issues and anticipated developments in visa processing.

Navigating the Complex Intersections of Admissions and Immigration Advising

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Workshop | View the Workshop
Using case studies, admissions and enrollment management professionals navigate the complexities of admissions counseling and regulatory advising. Participants examine immigration regulations and admissions policies related to international students. This workshop provides participants with tools and resources to support their daily work.

Managing International Student and Scholar Services in Times of Global Uncertainty

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Workshop | View the Workshop
In times of uncertainty, international educators must build resiliency and respond to the pressures of the day. In this workshop, international student and scholar services professionals reflect on recent institutional responses to COVID-19, share model practices, develop skills grounded in the International Education Professional Competencies, and practice putting the skills into action. All participants receive the publication NAFSA's Toolkit for Managing in Times of Global Uncertainty.

Poster Fair Roundtable: Model Practices in International Student and Scholar Services

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Poster Fair | View the Poster Fair
Join presenters of this poster fair to discuss their model practices, research, and innovations. More information about the posters to be announced.

Policymaking in International Education: The View from Washington

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Session | View the Session
The session deconstructs the federal policy climate for international education and exchange and the impact of recent political activity on programs of concern to international educators, including election results, funding in a tight budget climate, immigration reform, and congressional and administration actions affecting study abroad and cultural exchange.

Listserve LIVE! Analyzing Regulatory Issues and Maximizing Resources

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Session | View the Session
Current and former NAFSA International Student and Scholar Regulatory Practice Regional Liaisons and Regulatory Ombudspersons guide participants on the processes used to analyze common questions, and they provide links to several key resources that help designated school officials' decisionmaking.

Friday, June 4

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Solutions: Collaboration with Campus Career Centers

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Session | View the Session
In this session, presenters explore a solution to making CPT more widely accessible to F-1 students through partnership with the campus career center. Join a principal designated school official, an immigration attorney, and a career services staff member to examine relevant regulations, discuss policy-building, and explore career development enhancements.

International Scholar Service Challenges: Different Models for Different Schools

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Session | View the Session
Three divergent scholar service offices describe their policies and practices in light of the current immigration challenges, including liability issues, in-house staffing expertise and qualifications, use of outside counsel, different funding models for the services they provide, and other considerations.

View-Anytime

If you're registered for the conference, you can view these sessions "anytime" from Tuesday, June 1, 2021 7:00 PM to Sunday, July 4, 2021 11:59 PM.

Processes and Policies: Alternate/Responsible Officers (A/ROs), Attorneys, and 212(e) Waivers

Anytime Session | View the Session
Keeping in mind the A/ROs' struggles to balance their roles as advisers and administrators of the J program, this session demystifies the 212(e) waiver process and explores different roles A/ROs and attorneys play (or do not play) in assisting exchange visitors throughout the process. Participants discuss these intricacies and how to develop institutional policies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Current Issues

Anytime Session | View the Session
This session focuses on the policies and procedures employed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in admitting international students and scholars into the United States, including current trends and anticipated developments for the year ahead. Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection have been invited to participate.

U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program: Current Issues

Anytime Session | View the Session
This session addresses current issues for J-1 exchange visitors and the administration of an exchange visitor program. Questions that have been solicited from the field and submitted to the Exchange Visitor Program provide the content for the session.

Responsibilities and Recommendations for the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO)

Anytime Session | View the Session
A PDSO has additional responsibilities beyond that of a designated school official (DSO), including further regulatory compliance, management of DSOs, and liaising with government bodies. The presenters discuss PDSO duties and strategies for maximizing this title and role.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Master Class: Best Practices, Common Issues, and Troubleshooting Resources

Anytime Session | View the Session
Advising students on OPT/STEM OPT applications is more of an art than ever. This session reviews the basic requirements of OPT, discusses actions for common issues (e.g., lost documents), identifies resources for tough situations, and shares best practices for communicating these concepts. The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman has been invited to participate.

Effective Advocacy in a Post-Election, COVID-19 World

Anytime Session | View the Session
International educators have seen wide swings in the political landscape over the past several years and big changes in how to communicate with lawmakers. Presenters share how the November election impacts strategies for effective year-round advocacy and how to use technology to move policies that benefit international education.