Location

ST. LOUIS, MO 63130



Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The International Student and Scholar Advisor supports the academic and research mission of WashU by advising and providing services to international students, scholars, and their dependents on immigration compliance. The advisor ensures institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations, promotes successful integration into the University and collaborates with campus partners.

This role requires adaptability, meticulous attention to detail, a highly collaborative working style, sound professional judgment, and the ability to prioritize and manage a high volume, fast paced workload.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Immigration Advising and Compliance

• Provides individualized advising to international students, scholars, and dependents on a full range of immigration matters, including maintenance of status, enrollment and employment requirements, extensions, travel and reentry, program changes, and dependent issues.
• Interprets and applies regulations and guidance from the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor, including SEVP, USCIS, DOS, and DOL policies, to complex academic and employment situations.
• Serves as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO); updates and maintains SEVIS records accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring institutional compliance and readiness for audits and site visits.

Immigration Document Preparation and Case Management

• Prepares and processes immigration requests and associated documentation for university sponsored F‑1, J‑1, H‑1B statuses, etc., including initial sponsorships, extensions, transfers, and changes of status.
• Determines appropriate visa classifications and benefit eligibility (e.g., CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, Academic Training, J extensions) based on individual circumstances, legal requirements, and institutional policies.
• Reviews, verifies, and evaluates supporting documentation; exercises sound professional judgment in identifying deficiencies, requesting additional evidence, and ensuring the integrity of institutional records.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and well‑organized electronic and/or paper files to support federal regulations, institutional reporting and compliance audits.
• Follows established office protocols for responding to inquiries, including using approved email templates and guidance to ensure clear, consistent communication and adherence to OISS and institutional policies.
• Adheres to office expectations and timelines for responding to email inquiries and immigration related requests, prioritizing cases based on regulatory deadlines and institutional needs.
• Recognizes that certain peak periods in the academic and immigration cycles may require limited evening and/or weekend work.

Student, Scholar Support and Referral

• Contributes to and participates in the ongoing development and delivery of OISS resources including, but not limited to, online courses, in-person orientations, webinars on a range of topics including immigration regulations, employment authorization, travel guidance specific to visa type, and other topics specific to international students and scholars.
• Consults with OISS senior advisors and/or associate directors on complex issues affecting international students and scholars, including enrollment, leaves, academic standing, and employment.

Professional Development and Continuous Improvement

• Stays current with changes in immigration regulations and best practices by participating in professional organizations (e.g., NAFSA), trainings, and conferences.
• Contributes to initiatives, process improvements, and policy development to increase efficiency, accuracy, and quality of service.

Performs other duties as assigned in support of OISS and university goals. Works on special projects as assigned.

Working Conditions:

​Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table.
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations.

Equipment

• Office equipment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications

/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

International Advising (1 Year)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Per U.S. federal regulations, must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and provide proof of status.
• Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) within six months of start date. OISS will provide training.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex regulations and to communicate them clearly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience serving as a DSO and/or ARO, with hands on SEVIS experience.
• Experience working with F 1 and J 1 students and scholars and familiarity with J scholar and H 1B processes.
• Experience living, studying, or working in another country and/or working with a highly diverse international population.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex regulations and to communicate them clearly.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. immigration regulations related to F 1, J 1, and H 1B classifications and related employment authorizations.
• Cross cultural communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to convey complex or adverse information in a clear, empathetic, and professional manner.
• Proven ability to manage multiple cases and projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and accountability in data management and record keeping.
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort working with ambiguity; ability to exercise sound judgment in situations with significant consequences for individuals and the institution.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications

/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Employment Visas, Immigrant Visas, Managing Ambiguity, Multitasking, Prioritization, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Visa Administration, Visa Applications, Working Cross-Culturally

Grade

G10

Salary Range

$49,700.00 - $82,100.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.