International Student Advisor

Amherst College•Amherst, NY

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Amherst College invites applications for the International Student Advisor position. This is a full-time, three-year term position. The International Student Advisor serves in an administrative and advisory capacity within the Office of Immigration Services. Reporting to the Director, the International Student Advisor assists international students in F-1 and J-1 status with immigration-related issues, manages and maintains student records, serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), crafts and delivers informational resources to students, and supports institutional compliance with federal regulations and policy relating to non-immigrant students.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
1-3 years of progressive experience working in an administrative, compliance, or advising capacity
An equivalent combination of education/experience in lieu of the minimum education and related experience
Unwavering attention to detail and interest in learning the intricacies and application of federal regulation
Cross-cultural awareness and competence, and effective communication, both verbal and written
Strong interpersonal, customer service, time management, and organizational skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Suite
U.S. federal regulations pertaining to SEVIS require that a Designated School Official (F-1) and/or Alternate Responsible Officer (J-1) must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
An acceptable criminal offender records information (CORI) check
Successful completion of required reference and background checks

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in International Education, Higher Education, or a closely related field
Knowledge of a non-English language and/or experience living outside of the U.S.
Knowledge of SEVIS, and F-1 and J-1 visa regulations, U.S. laws and regulations affecting international students’ visas, student status, on- and off-campus employment, taxes, and Department of Homeland Security concerns

Responsibilities

Serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
Translates complicated immigration regulations into institutional policy and individualized advising content
Provides reliable immigration advice and support to incoming and current international students in F-1 and J-1 status (on topics such as: travel, employment, enrollment, status maintenance, change of status, visa applications, and more)
Meets with students individually and in groups, and in virtual and in-person settings; provides clear advising verbally and in writing
Serves as liaison to immigration-related federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State
Serves as liaison to immigration-adjacent state and federal agencies, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration
Participates in regular professional development opportunities both regionally and nationally to develop and maintain skills, knowledge, and best practices
Keep accurate records of advising encounters and help to maintain immigration status records of non-immigrant students
Ensures compliance with institutional policy as well as federal immigration regulations and guidance relating to non-immigrant students
Updates and monitors multiple databases, including Workday (institutional), SEVIS (federal), and participates in the implementation of a new batch integration software
Support existing and assist in developing new processes to monitor and ensure data integrity
Works closely with the College’s Student Employment Coordinator to ensure students’ compliance with institutional tax status and exemption policies
Reviews and revises OIS communications
Generates new and maintains existing OIS resources
Manages physical mail received on behalf of international students
Manages space reservations and offers programmatic support for OIS-led events and offerings
Collaborates with campus partners and serves as a resource hub for students seeking support across the College