The F-1 Life Cycle posters presented above illustrate the three essential stages that a prospective F-1 student experiences during their journey in the U.S. These stages are broken down as follows:
- First Poster (Prospective F-1 Students):
This poster outlines the critical steps that prospective F-1 students must follow, from applying to a program at Texas A&M University to obtaining their F-1 visa and arriving in the U.S. It details the process from immigration check-in to settling into the academic environment. - Second Poster (Currently Enrolled F-1 Students):
This poster highlights the potential risks to F-1 status while students are in the U.S. It also provides guidance on maintaining F-1 status, including areas of focus such as full-time enrollment, travel, on-campus employment, and authorized activities, with warnings about actions that can lead to status violations. - Third Poster (Graduating F-1 Students):
This poster offers a concise guide on the steps graduating F-1 students must follow. It covers essential topics such as post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), extension of stay, and the responsibilities after graduation, including maintaining legal status and transitioning to further opportunities in the U.S.
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The Student Crisis Tree graphic presented above illustrates different resources ISSS offers to students in need, from both inside and outside Texas A&M. It organizes for students and stakeholders alike the multiple competencies and functions required of the ISSS office. The graphic is broken down into the following eight categories:
- Crisis or Emergency (Grey):
- Natural/ Environmental Disasters
- Armed Conflict/ Warfare
- Humanitarian Crisis
- Menta/ Physical Health Emergency
- Academic/ Employment Issues
- Crisis Management (Red):
- Involve your university's crisis management team
- Make sure internal and external policies/ protocols are equitable and consistent across the board
- Deliver clear information in a timely and transparent way
- Immigration Options (student) (Orange):
- Establish institutional policy and practice on how to assess/ advise each option
- Train staff how to evaluate hardship via compassionate advising
- Record keeping
- Immigration Options (non-student) (Purple):
- Send out timely communications
- Establish boundaries for DSOs/ AROs between advising on student status and advising on non-SEVIS issues
- Collaborate with General Council
- Bring in attorneys to discuss options
- University Options (Green):
- Evaluate options available with the Scholarship & Financial Aid office
- Identify opportunities for assistantship/ fellowship with individual departments
- Promote international-friendly on-campus employers
- University Resources (Dark Blue):
- Re-examine existing options such as Short-Term Loan and Payment Installment Plan
- Collaborate with wellbeing offices to provide support and comfort
- Fundraise to create additional opportunities
- External Resources (Light Blue):
- Outreach to non-profit support and community organizations
- Create workflow to recruit IIE Emergency Fund applications
- Partner with local attorney offices and list them as legal resources
- Advocacy (Yellow):
- Reach out to government officials via appropriate channels
- Benchmark with peer institutions through professional networks
- Voice to university leadership
- Educate the campus via townhall meetings