Committee: Education Abroad Regulatory Practice (EA RP) Committee
Position: Consular Affairs Liaison (CAL) Subcommittee Chair and Member-at-Large
Term Dates: Two-year term, renewable for one term (maximum of 4 years)
The Consular Affairs Liaison subcommittee of the EA RP is charged with developing relationships with visa officers at foreign consulates in the United States to clarify visa and immigration procedures and to assist Education Abroad colleagues in the field of international education. The CAL subcommittee chair is responsible for advancing and monitoring the CAL subcommittee activities and goals. In addition, the CAL subcommittee Chair serves on the EA RP. This committee is charged with identifying government-related practices and procedures that affect education abroad professionals.
Position updated August 2022
NAFSA is not currently accepting applications for this position. Visit NAFSA Volunteer Leadership: Open Positions to learn about available opportunities.
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Within the framework of the NAFSA Strategic Plan, this position will:
- Lead the CAL subcommittee to achieve the goals as outlined in the EARP annual Work Plan and within the parameters of the identified in the Charge to the subcommittee. Organize CAL subcommittee meetings as necessary to review goals and facilitate projects.
- Identify and encourage relationships and dialogue with embassies and foreign consulates, consider new strategic connections
- Participate actively in the EAKC Network by prompting or responding to discussions on visas for study abroad. Act as a resource for colleagues with questions and concerns throughout the year.
- Encourage and facilitate the inclusion of content on visas for education abroad at annual and regional conferences. Develop and present sessions when possible and appropriate.
- Curate content for NAFSA web pages on education abroad visas and ensure information is relevant and current
- Collaborate with the NAFSA staff partner to achieve these goals.
Sample projects:
In recent years, this position has managed to projects such as:
- Annual and regional conference presentations and dialogues on visas for education abroad
- Online information sessions on visas for education abroad
- Advocacy with foreign consulates to clarify visa applications requirements and procedures
- Timely responses to queries submitted via the EA Visa Help platform
- Updates to the web pages on Visas for Education Abroad
Commitment
- Assure NAFSA membership through the length of the leadership term
- Serve a two-year term, renewable once for a maximum of four years.
- Devote 4 to 8 hours per month to committee and subcommittee work such as responding to network discussion posts, projects conference calls, and other responsibilities.
- Prepare for and attend subcommittee meetings throughout the year, noting that meetings are usually held online.
- Foster an inclusive environment in alignment with the NAFSA Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Qualifications
- A minimum of three years’ experience in education abroad.
- Demonstrated expertise in education abroad and an understanding of the needs of the field in practice areas related to US student visa procedures
- Demonstrated experience and leadership working with complex challenges in student visas for education abroad.
- Ability to work effectively with a team in an outcomes-based environment.
- Willingness to adopt organization-wide perspectives.