International Student and Scholar Services | ISSS Office Information

Overview of the Office

The primary mission of the ISSS is to support SAIS’s internationalization and to facilitate the integration of international students & Scholars into SAIS community. In that, ISSS serves as a resource for international student and scholar and faculty in obtaining certificates of eligibility for visa processing. Moreover, ISSS seeks to assure that this population has a thorough understanding of their responsibility of maintaining proper status while studying and/or conducting research at SAIS.  In conjunction with the above stated mission, the ISSS aims to assist international students and scholars in a myriad of corollary activities which encompass the following:

• to serve as an advocate and voice for the international student & scholar when issues that affect their interests require articulation to the administration of the University;

• to act as a sole authority to submit immigration status application on behalf of SAIS to federal agencies, to track and report international student and scholar data as mandated by federal and state law, and to improve and monitor compliance with state, federal and University regulations governing immigration services.

• to assist faculty, staff, and research scholars who have immediate concerns that interface with the process of obtaining employment visa  and permanent resident status in the United States;

• to assist and promote social programming in cooperation with  other program/center that is designed to encourage international students, scholars, and faculty to participate in social activities which serve to enhance their intellectual and social growth and development;

• to develop and maintain a good working relationship with  local, state and federal offices of the Department of Homeland Security, State, and Labor;

• to investigate exchange opportunities for faculty and students who have an interest in global issues and cross-cultural exposure; 

• to provide continuous cross-cultural information and sensitivity training to our international population as well as to university personnel.

Hours of Operation

For general information, check-in, document drop off/pick up, letter requests, etc

Monday to Friday

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Advising Schedule:

Walk-In advising for brief consultations:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By appointment if the consultation involves more issues and requires longer time. Also for a purpose of receiving OPT or CPT , or Academic Training authorization, it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment:

Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To set up an individual appointment, please call 202-663-5672 or e-mail sais-isss@jhu.edu in advance. The office is closed during official University holidays.

Staff

Noppadon Moapichai – Director

He is in charged with administering the F and J federal visa programs and is responsible for university compliance with federal regulations governing those programs. Also he oversees the process temporary employment visa on behalf of SAIS such as H-1B1, E-3, and TN.  The director does not work for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and is not an agent of the US government. Further, the director is not an immigration attorney and as such, is prohibited from legally advising you on matters unrelated to the F or J program, your studies or employment related to your status.

ISSS has several graduate assistants working in the office during regular office hours. Each graduate assistant will assist with general inquiries, taking appointments.

Communications and Immigration Updates from ISSS

ISSS will keep you informed of immigration matters that may impact you.  The primary method of communication is e-mail.  ISSS will use your SAIS e-mail account to communicate with you electronically.  You are responsible for the university information sent to your SAIS e-mail account, even if you choose to never read it.