The Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Office of International Affairs seeks an International Scholar Advisor who is committed to scholar success and professional excellence. 

Job ID 307037 – jobs.iu.edu

 As part of the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) unit, the International Scholar Advisor interprets complex US immigration laws, regulations, policies and procedures as applied to individual international faculty, researchers, staff and visitors at IUPUI, IUPU-Columbus, IUFW, and IU Regional Medical Education Centers in order to enable departments and scholars to accomplish their hiring goals. Exercises professional judgment to advise and counsel departments and individuals on all immigration aspects of employment (or visit) in the United States and at IU, while also ensuring that IUPUI complies with federal filing, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Actively participates in the development, maintenance, and growth of staff expertise in the laws and regulations governing international employees and visitors (OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, and PR visa types) and in promulgating IU policies and procedures that ensure ongoing compliance. This position also provides support to international scholars during their initial hiring offer period, orientation, later adaptation, and through the maintenance of status or move to other university positions. 

Advise and train hiring units

Utilize expertise and professional judgment to advise and educate IU hiring units across all IUPUI campuses and IUSM medical education centers on complex US immigration regulations and legal considerations related to employing international scholars. Assist departments in choosing an immigration path for newly recruited international hires and visitors to campus. Advise individuals and hiring/host departments on available courses of action.

Effective case management

• Ensure that immigration documentation needed to maintain legal status of international scholars is prepared accurately and efficiently. Prepare H-1B, O-1, H-4 petitions in compliance with regulations and the latest professional guidance. Monitor casework and professional networks to inform changes to procedures or new regulatory considerations. Develop and maintain Scholar Services procedural and policy documentation.  Serve as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for IUPUI’s J-1 Exchange Visitor program through the U.S. Dept. of State and the Scholar Services team lead for the J-1 Scholar program. Monitor international scholar records in IU systems and SEVIS via IU’s SUNAPSIS application to ensure accurate and timely reporting of international scholar immigration data to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Department of State (DOS).  Serve as liaison to appropriate local, state, or federal agencies in the processing of legal work involved in visa applications/labor condition applications for foreign faculty and staff.   Resolve problems related to visa status by contact as necessary with foreign embassies as well as DHS, DOS, Department of Labor, and US consular offices abroad.  Provide visa permit and citizenship data for the HRMS e-doc system on all non-U.S. citizens hired at IUPUI. Monitor and advise Conrad waiver recipients. Provide advisory services through e-mail, phone, and appointment for scholars and sponsoring departments trying to understand processes and navigate systems. Prepare departmental billing records for all cases billed by IUPUI.

Provide transition and support services to facilitate scholar success

• Ensure the provision of a variety of transition services to assist newly arriving international scholars with pre-arrival preparation and post-arrival acclimation needs that contribute to successful acclimation to IUPUI. Following international scholars’ arrival in the US, advise and educate international faculty, researchers, staff and visitors on all aspects of their stay at IU, including employment, financial, medical and mental health, accessing local resources, acclimation to US culture, and any other personal or professional challenges that arise while at IUPUI. Develop and conduct orientation sessions for newly arriving international scholars. Act as a campus health insurance resource to scholars making appropriate referrals to HR or to student insurance at IU-B as needed for the maintenance of the program. –
• Coordinate with ISSS staff as needed to provide cultural support and programming for scholars and international hires throughout the year. Maintain familiarity and assist departments and scholars in navigating the policies and procedures that affect international students and scholars, such as obtaining a social security card, driver’s license, and filing tax forms. Act as liaison with these local government agencies on behalf of the scholars as necessary. Contribute to ISSS website updates and communications for constituents including departments, scholars and students.

Training and strategic initiatives

• Contribute to ISSS trainings for constituents including departments, scholars and students. Take on lead role for a portfolio of services and programs provided to international scholars and hiring departments.    Take on lead role for a portfolio of services and programs provided to international scholars and hiring departments.  May be assigned special responsibility areas (lead and/or back-up roles) within Scholar Services and other sections of the ISSS unit to ensure stability of unit operations, cross-training and professional development.  Participate in on-going professional development related to responsibility areas and OIA strategic priorities, including but not limited to ISSS, international education, sustainable development, and racial justice. Join unit-wide and office working groups to meet larger ISSS and OIA strategic goals and to improve the incorporation of technology solutions into our business practices. Plan and execute projects as requested by OIA leadership and other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Minimum qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferably in related field. Experience: 2 or more years of international advising/service experience. Combinations of related education and experience may be considered.

Preferred qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in International Education, Intercultural Communications, Higher Education Administration, or other related field. Experience: At least three years of previous experience in immigration advising or administrative experience in a university setting or related field.  Combinations of related education and experience may be considered.

As one of seven Indiana University campuses, IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) is Indiana’s premier urban research and health sciences institution and is dedicated to advancing the intellectual growth of the state of Indiana and its residents through research and creative activity, teaching, learning, and community engagement. IUPUI offers more than 450 programs through 17 academic schools and awards degrees from both Indiana and Purdue universities. Its nearly 30,000 students represent 140 countries. IUPUI pursues its strategic planning goal of becoming a global campus in a global city through building effective international partnerships, creating international opportunities, and graduating students able to operate in a globalized world with skill, wisdom, and responsibility. The IUPUI Office of International Affairs is a comprehensive office of international education that coordinates and serves as a catalyst for a broad range of international activities, including international student recruitment and enrollment. The OIA’s service responsibilities include the main IUPUI campus in downtown Indianapolis, affiliated extension campuses in Columbus and Fort Wayne, and the IU School of Medicine statewide