F-1 Regulations for Beginners

Audience: Beginning foreign student advisers with up to 15 months of experience

This introductory workshop offers participants the basic theoretical and practical knowledge and skills needed to advise international students on F-1 visa matters. The workshop begins with an overview of terminology and the visa process. It focuses on the responsibilities of a USCIS-approved school and the Designated School Official (DSO), the definition of F-1 status and maintenance of status, creating a SEVIS record and issuing an I-20, dependent visa matters, updating SEVIS records (reports, change of level, program extension), school transfer, reinstatement, change of status, employment, and practical training. The format includes lecture, exercises, and discussions.

Workshop Objectives

  • Provide participants with the basic theoretical and practical knowledge needed for F-1 immigration advising
  • Offer international student advisers, new to the profession, basic regulatory training
  • Prepare participants to accurately process the immigration forms that their students require to stay in good legal standing

F-1 Regulations: The Second Step

Audience: DSOs with more than 15 months of experience in regulatory advising.

The "Second Step" workshop is designed for U.S. Designated School Officials (DSOs) with more than 15 months of experience in the field of international student advising. Discover the subtleties of the most current F-1 regulations and procedures. In addition, the sensitive and complex issues involving DSO discretion and institutional policy will be explored in tandem with DHS regulatory compliance. This workshop specifically addresses advanced topics. Participants wishing more basic training should attend the "Professional Practice Workshop: F-1 Regulations for Beginners."

Workshop Objectives

  • Understand the role of the DSO in regards to institutional compliance
  • Understand the role of the DSO in preparing I-20s for initial attendance
  • Understand the issues relating to the maintenance of F status
  • Understand the issues relating to reinstatement, transfer, travel and reentry, change of status, and employment relative to F visa

Foreign Educational Credentials Evaluation

Audience: Admissions Professionals and Recruiters with less than 3 years of experience in foreign academic credential evaluation and placement

This twelve hour Professional Practice Workshop provides basic training in foreign credentials evaluation and placement for individuals from universities and colleges. Topics covered include: information needed to evaluate credentials, how to develop a resource library and support base, understanding the credit and grade conversion process. Note: Participants should bring a calculator.

Workshop Objectives

  • Recognize and identify status/legitimacy of institution
  • Understand basic methodology and benchmarking credentials
  • Apply basic methodology and benchmarking to credentials
  • Become familiar with available resources and create a resource library
  • Convert grades. Convert credits from credit-based, hours-based, marks-based and outcome-based credentials
  • Calculate grade point averages

Safety and Responsibility in Education Abroad

Audience: Education Abroad professionals and others interested in health and safety.

The health, safety, and responsible personal behavior of education abroad participants have always been paramount to education abroad providers. Using the document “Responsible Study Abroad: Good Practices for Health and Safety,” participants will learn how to create or identify healthy and safe overseas experiences, prepare study abroad participants to behave responsibly, work with overseas colleagues, develop a campus resource network, and respond to emergencies. The workshop examines these issues and legal concepts pertaining to education abroad from a U.S. perspective. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore these issues through case studies.

Workshop Objectives

  • Learn about best practices in addressing health, safety, and security issues in education abroad and to explore strategies for working with partners in the U.S. and overseas to identify these issues
  • Understand legal concepts involved in promoting health, safety and security in education abroad
  • Discover strategies for including information on health and safety risks when marketing and advising students about education abroad experiences
  • Understand goals for helping students exhibit responsible behavior and discuss strategies for developing materials that provide appropriate information during orientation
  • Understand the basic structure of crisis response
  • Review checklist items for implementing the "Responsible Study Abroad: Good Practices for Health and Safety"

See the Schedule of Sessions offered.