International Student and Scholar Services

Contributing to Comprehensive Internationalization

Crisis Management

Office Administration

Orientation, Retention, and Student Services Programming

Student and Scholar Advising

Regulatory Perspectives: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

NAFSA members joined NAFSA staffers David Fosnocht and Steve Springer for a discussion of F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the CPT regulation and agency guidance on CPT, and an overview of NAFSA’s agency liaison on CPT. What are common institutional approaches to CPT? What are the

Courtney Jacobson

Courtney Jacobson is currently the Director of International Student and Scholar Services at Northern Arizona University, where she works with international students, scholars and employees. She has worked in international student and scholar offices at small, medium and large universities, both

SSA Guidance Incorporating DHS and DOS Policy on Electronic Signing and Transmission of Forms I-20 and DS-2019

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to recognize DHS and DOS policies that allow DSOs and ROs to digitally sign and electronically transmit Forms I-20 and DS-2019. However, SSA has not updated its policies requiring letters supporting F-1

The Department of Commerce Presents the Market Diversification Tool for International Education

The Department of Commerce presented a live virtual demonstration of a powerful new data dashboard, the Market Diversification Tool for International Education. This interactive dashboard brings together six sector-specific datasets to help international education professionals identify and compare

Sarah Habtemariam

Sarah Habtemariam is an International Student Counselor and Designated School Official (DSO) at Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma. She is a driven, passionate, and outgoing international education professional. She is an Eritrean and African American with Native American roots. Sarah grew up in a

Brianne Faber

Brianne Faber is the Assistant Director at the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Bachelor's in English Literature from the University of North Texas, and a Master's in Education with a concentration in Adult Development and Curriculum from Strayer University. Brianne is a member of

USCIS Policy Manual Guidance on F and M Students

November 26, 2024

On November 26, 2024, USCIS updated the USCIS Policy Manual section on F-1 Absences from the United States with a “technical correction” that removed a troublesome study abroad paragraph that appeared in the August 27, 2024 revision to the Policy Manual, replacing it with: “For information about

Katrina Knudsen

Katrina Knudsen is the Student Advising Manager for the International Student and Scholar Services Office at the University of Maryland, College Park. In her role as student advising manager, she oversees the team providing advising services to F-1 and J-1 international students, including those on

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NAFSA's Resident Immigration Expert Talks Shop: Q&A, Part I

December 4, 2023

David Fosnocht, NAFSA’s immigration regulation expert and director of immigration practice resources, sits down with the NAFSA blog team to talk about the NAFSA immigration resource suite. Read on to learn how you can elevate your expertise as an immigration adviser with our toolkit of practice

SEVP Guidance: Impact of Labor Strikes on F-1 Nonimmigrant Students

On November 6, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) published Impact of Labor Strikes on F-1 Nonimmigrant Students, a fact sheet and FAQ that interprets and applies F-1 regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(14) regarding the effect of a DOL-certified strike on students on optional practical