Compliance Management

Government Session Materials from the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo

NAFSA has made available to NAFSA members these slides from the Government Current Issues sessions at the 2023 NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Current Issues (May 31, 2023). Slides . Department of Labor (DOL): Current Issues (May 31, 2023). Slides

Health, Safety, and Security: Training Scenarios for Faculty-Led Education Abroad Programs

When working with faculty members to build successful study abroad programs, it is important to make sure that the education abroad office is offering a high level of support. This resource is a tool for supporting health and safety in faculty-led education abroad programming. With a focus on

STEM-Specific Policy Guidance for National Interest Waivers of the Labor Certification Requirement

Summary In the employment-based second preference (EB-2) category, the requirement of a job offer from a U.S. employer can be waived if an individual's services "in the sciences, arts, professions, or business" are determined to be in the "national interest." This is known as a "national interest

IE Competencies 2.0: Compliance Management; Relationship Cultivation; Risk Assessment & Crisis Management

In the fourth session of the IE Competencies 2.0 series , panelists will highlight the competencies of Compliance Management ; Relationship Cultivation; and Risk Assessment & Crisis Management . Join this conversation with your peers and discuss topics including how to: ensure activities and

Education Abroad Visa Advising for International Students

Contributors from the 2023 Education Abroad Regulatory Practice Committee (EARP) World at Large Consular Affairs Liaison subcommittee : Ian Hefele, Stoneleigh-Burham School Lisa Ho, Ohio Wesleyan University Virginia Ward, Northeastern University Jessica Walker, New York University When advising

CIS Ombudsman Corrects Tip Sheet on How F-1 Students Seeking OPT Can Avoid Form I-765 Delays

On September 18, 2023, the CIS Ombudsman posted a revised tip sheet titled How F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) Can Avoid Form I-765 Delays . The revision corrects an error in the prior (May 8, 2023) tip sheet that NAFSA brought to the office's attention. An Ombudsman's office

Considerations for Selecting a Credential Evaluation Service

Resource by Emily Grubbe, MS (Duke Kunshan University) Alex Popovski, MA (Ucredo LLC) Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert, MBA (ACEI and AACRAO) Emily Tse, MPhil (IERF and AACRAO) In the United States, there is no governmental body that accredits or approves credential evaluation agencies. Companies that offer

Digital Signing and Electronic Transmission of Form DS-2019

A Department of State (DOS) interim final rule published at 88 FR 18249 (March 28, 2023) allows digital signing and electronic transmission of exchange visitor Form DS-2019, effective April 27, 2023 . Forms DS-3036, DS-3037, and DS-7002 may also be digitally signed and electronically transmitted

DOS Raises Visa Processing Fees Effective June 17, 2023

A Department of State (DOS) final rule published at 88 FR 18243 (March 28, 2023) raises key visa processing fees, effective June 17, 2023 . For example, the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee for F-1, J-1, and other non-petition-based visas rises 15.6%, and the MRV fee for petition-based categories

USCIS Adds Basic F-1 SSR Content to USCIS Policy Manual

On February 22, 2023, USCIS added basic content on F-1 Special Student Relief (SSR) off-campus employment authorization to the USCIS Policy Manual. The new content confirms that Form I-765 code (c)(3)(iii) should be used when requesting SSR off-campus employment authorization, and that USCIS should