Job Details:

Company: The International Student Advisor, “Advisor”

The International Student Advisor, also known as the Advisor, is focused on meeting the needs of approximately 800 international students and scholars who fall under the F-student and J-exchange visitor categories. The Advisor’s responsibilities include providing high-touch immigration advising for F and J visa holders, with a particular emphasis on employment advising. Other responsibilities include conducting incoming student orientations, workshops, and other activities that support the success of international students. The Advisor will also serve as a liaison between the university, students and scholars, and government agencies responsible for overseeing immigration, as well as social security, driver’s licenses offices, and the local community.

Our ideal candidate for this role should have a working knowledge of immigration regulations for F and J visas and feel confident in advising on complex employment benefits for F and J visas. They should have the ability to consider various factors, such as existing and conflicting guidance, a student’s specific circumstances, institutional liability, and potential future changes in regulations, when finding solutions for students and scholars. The candidate should also possess excellent communication skills and be comfortable navigating sensitive conversations in a multicultural environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

Student Advising

– Provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive advising to approximately 800 students and exchange visitors on complex immigration requirements, benefits, petitions, and applications for up to 3 years after completing their degree.
– Offer students appropriate guidance, options, and documentation, as well as authorize specific benefits allowed by regulation, including practical training authorization, reduced course loads, changes of status, medical leave, economic hardship, and various types of employment authorization.
– Provide advising for F2 and J2 dependents.
– Determine eligibility and issue forms I-20 and DS-2019 for incoming student populations.
– Research, interpret, and apply US immigration and labor laws, considering student, institutional, and government needs and policies, with support from the Director.
– Provide timely messaging to F1 and J1 student populations regarding the maintenance of their immigration status.
– Develop and lead campus programming for international students, including orientations, cultural programming, tax and employment workshops, and other programming as needed.
– Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures for processing student requests.
– Maintain accurate student records and advising documentation in TerraDotta software.
– Update Terra Dotta Request forms and templates as necessary.
– Stay up to date on regulatory and policy changes in the field by utilizing resources from NAFSA and other international higher education organizations.

SEVIS/SEVP Reporting

– Serve as Designated School Official and Alternate Responsible Officer.
– Fulfill SEVIS reporting requirements for F1 and J1 students as mandated by federal regulations.
– Monitor SEVIS alerts and actively inform students of upcoming reporting requirements.
– Keep F1 and J1 student records updated in SEVIS and serve as a backup for J1 scholar status maintenance.
– Act as the main point of contact for federal departments, including SEVP, ICE, CBP, U.S. State Department, and USCIS, regarding student immigration status issues.

Department & Campus Support

– Develop and lead International Student Orientation and workshops focused on employment regulations and processes (CPT, OPT, AT) in collaboration with the Director and campus partners.
– Provide support to Global Education as needed for all initiatives.
– Advocate for the unique needs of the international student population through committee work.
– Collaborate with campus partners on programming and support for international students.
– Attend professional development opportunities and share key information with the team.
– Attend campus events as a representative of the ISSS unit.

Minimum Qualifications:

– Must be a U.S. Citizen.
– Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of work experience related to F and/or J visa advising, regulations, and processing at an institution of higher education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and Other Attributes (KSAOs):

– Proficient in providing reports and organizing data in various formats.
– Ability to work independently and meet changing deadlines.
– Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
– Experience with documenting communications in a legal context.
– Excellent intercultural communication skills.
– Ability to work with diverse populations at all levels of the institution, including faculty, staff, senior administrators, students, and external partners.
– Excellent organizational skills and the ability to shift between tasks throughout the day.
– Strong experience in event management.
– Proficient in providing reports and organizing data in various formats.
– Ability to work independently and meet changing deadlines.
– Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
– Excellent intercultural communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

– Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of work experience related to F and/or J visa advising, regulations, and processing at an institution of higher education.
– Experience in providing comprehensive advising for complex employment benefits for F and J visa holders.
– Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and Other Attributes (KSAOs):
– Thorough understanding of immigration regulations and policy related to F1 and J1 international students.
– Familiarity with maintaining and generating records in SEVIS.
– Familiarity with Terra Dotta and Banner.

The Colorado School of Mines consistently ranks among the top engineering colleges in the United States and is the number one public school in the state for best value colleges. Located in Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver, the campus offers a small-town atmosphere with close proximity to the cultural events, museums, theaters, and sporting venues of the Denver metropolitan area. With an arid climate and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, the area provides an ideal environment for living, working, and enjoying recreational activities. We value individuals who appreciate a diverse and inclusive community, as it enriches the educational and work experience by bringing different perspectives, experiences, and cultures together