Academic Advisor Resources
The Office of International Affairs is your resource in helping you to support and advise international students.
Though IU Indianapolis hosts many students originating from around the world, Office of International Affairs is mainly concerned with students in F-1 and J-1 student status. The resources you will find here are specifically tailored to meet the immigration requirements for only those student visa types.
You may find a student’s visa status in SIS Main Menu>Campus Community>Personal Information>Add/Update a Person>Visa/Permit Data (at bottom of screen). If you have questions about a student’s status and/or regulations for a different status, it is best to contact Office of International Affairs directly.
Duration of Status update for international students and scholars
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized changes to the Duration of Status (D/S) policy affecting many F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors.
September 17, 2026 update: Implementation of the expected regulatory changes that were set to take effect on September 15 has been delayed. At this time, the existing Duration of Status framework remains in effect, with no changes at this time for F-1 and J-1 students and J-1 scholars. Further information will be posted on IU Global's Duration of Status updates page as it becomes available.
Learn more about our common functions below:
Returning Students
Students who have stopped out for only one semester just need to contact iadvisor@iu.edu. Office of International Affairs advisors will collect new financial documentation and issue immigration documents after working with the student.
Students who have stopped out for two semesters or more need to follow normal returning student processes to be reinstated academically.
If the student is returning after a dismissal, advisors may be contacted by Office of International Affairs advisors to ensure that the student has been readmitted and is free to return.
Arrival Services and Orientation Program
Students receive an abundance of information from us to help prepare for their arrival in Indianapolis. In addition, our orientation program prepares students to be successful international students at IU Indianapolis.
See what we tell students about finding housing »
View our Pre-Arrival information including monthly newsletters »
Visit the Orientation Programming Page »EAP Exams/Requirements
EAP requirements and exams are administered through the English for Academic Purposes program.
See English Proficiency Requirements and EAP waiver criteria »
Enrollment and Program Changes
International students have an added layer of requirements to keep their immigration status valid. Among these include registering full-time, keeping their immigration record updated, and completing their degree before their immigration document expires.
We are here to help you interpret F-1/J-1 enrollment requirements and how different situations will impact the student. See more details on common enrollment issues for international students and how advisors can work with them.
Adjustment Issues
International students often have a hard time adjusting to Indianapolis and IU Indianapolis culture. The best action you can take is to listen and empathize. The Office of International Affairs does have some resources for advisors to help assist students with adjustment issues. We are also happy to provide specific training to you or your office, please contact us at iadvisor@iu.edu to set up your training. You can direct students to reach out to the Student Success Programming Assistants (SSPA) for 1:1 Connections for questions related to international student living.
Other helpful resources for students include other campus resources (like MAC, the Writing Center, etc).
Financial Issues
We do have some limited resources to help students experiencing financial difficulties. To be eligible for Office of International Affairs financial resources, students must have been enrolled full-time for an academic year.
For those situations where the student has been at IU Indianapolis less than a year, we have compiled some resources to assist international students on their quest to fund their education.
Employment
Whether you want to hire an international student or simply understand their employment options, we can help.
Hire an international student »
See common employment related questions you may run into>>
Learn about employment options for F-1 international students »
Learn about employment options for J-1 international students »Graduation/Completing Degree Requirements
Generally, we consider the last day of the final semester the date that a student complete's his/her degree requirements. If the student is on a thesis/dissertation option, the completion date is considered to be the day the student submits their final edits. This date impacts the student's eligibility period for other benefits.
Office of International Affairs Contacts
Meet the full Office of International Affairs team! Other helpful contacts you might find useful are:
International Student Immigration issues iadvisor@iu.edu International EMPLOYEES (full-time) ischolar@iu.edu Pre-Arrival Questions iwelcome@iu.edu
Our Advising Survival Guide is currently being updated and will be posted again once available.
