ISSS Walk-in Advising

The Office of International Education (OIE) is open during normal university business hours, Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. EDT and is closed on University holidays and during inclement weather events.

Walk-in Advising hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.  *Walk-in Advising hours are subject to change. 

Walk-In Advising is the opportunity to discuss questions about your visa status directly with an international services expert. Our advisers are available at the times advertised above to provide in-person advising. If you need advising services outside of these hours, you are encouraged to make an appointment.

Some example topics suitable for walk-in advising include:

If you need to meet with an advisor to discuss change of status, termination of SEVIS record, possible violation of student visa status, economic or academic hardship, or other complex topics requiring more than 10 minutes, you will need to make an appointment to ensure adequate time to discuss your important matter in detail. 

Appointments

ISSS appointments are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-11am. Appointments for international students are available by completing the ISSS Appointment System (see below) and selecting a day and time you'd like to meet with an ISSS advisor.

  • Appointments are available as an alternative to Walk-in Advising for students and scholars who are not available for the afternoon Walk-in Advising hours.
  • Appointments are available in 15 minute increments.
  • Same-day appointments are not available due to scheduling constraints.
  • You will be asked to indicate the reason for the visit and if the appointment is going to be in-person or via phone.

Email Inquiries

The ISSS Email System allows for ISSS advisors to review and respond to an email in the most efficient and organized way. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response to an email message - emailing/calling the office multiple times will slow down response times. Please email info@oie.gatech.edu and always include your GT ID number in your text.

Are you a NEW student with question about your immigration document?
Undergraduate Contact: undergradi20@oie.gatech.edu
Graduate Contact: gradi20@oie.gatech.edu

Are you a department that sponsors J-1 Scholars?
Contact: Jscholars@oie.gatech.edu

Are you a visiting J-1 Student Intern?
Contact: J1Intern@oie.gatech.edu

iStart E-form Requests

The Office of International Education utilizes an online portal called iStart to manage student and scholar requests.  An E-Form is an electronic application accessed through iStart to request a benefit, such as an I-20 or DS-2019 update, work authorization, travel authorization, etc. The E-forms in iStart will provide you with all the information necessary. You will log into iStart and use your regular GT user name. Once all steps are completed in the application or request process, including the academic department authorization (if required), OIE-ISSS will conduct its review and approve or deny your request.

If APPROVED, you will receive an e-mail to pick up the final document, such as a letter or an I-20/DS-2019.
If DENIED, you will receive an e-mail explaining the reason for the denial OR a request for additional information for further consideration.

 

Phone Calls

The Office of International Education can be reached daily for general questions. Please note: international student and scholar advisors are available for advising questions during walk-in advising hours or by appointment. If you call during walk-in advising hours and an advisor is with a student or scholar, please be prepared to leave a message including your GT ID and a convenient call back number. An advisor will return your call at their earliest availability. If you are calling from an international number please use the ISSS email system to send a detailed email and we will return your email at our earliest opportunity or schedule an appointment time for you to phone our office. 

In case of an emergency (death, severe illness, or arrest) while the office is closed, please contact GT Campus Police, 404-894-2500, a member of our 24 hour emergency response team will assist you. 

If you have questions regarding:

  • Undergraduate Admissions: (404) 894-4154
  • Graduate Admissions: (404) 894-1610
  • Registrar’s Office: (404) 894-4150
  • Bursar’s Office: (404) 894-4618
  • GT Language Institute: (404) 894-2425
  • Student Health Insurance: (404) 894-1420
  • Center for Career Discovery and Development: (404) 894-2550
  • Student Center Information Desk: (404) 894-2788

Visiting OIE

Picking up a Document:
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Visit the office during OIE office hours to pick-up documents (I-20's, letters, etc.)

Obtaining a Travel Signature:
If you received approval for a travel signature via iStart you will need to bring your I-20/DS-2019 to the office during Walk-in Advising Hours or make an appointment if you are only available in the morning hours.

General Advising Information

Working with Advisors

Advisors in our office are highly knowledgeable in the interpretation and application of federal regulations governing student and scholar immigration statuses. We recommend visiting our website to review information regarding your situation and if you still have questions we encourage you speak to an advisor regarding your status or your eligibility for a particular immigration benefit. Advisors are also trained in a variety of social and cultural areas, including intercultural communication and cultural adjustment.

When You Arrive

When you visit our office, please check-in with the front desk receptionist. The receptionist will ask you to sign in for Walk-in Hours or for your scheduled appointment on the tablet. During Walk-in Advising an advisor will generally be available to see you within 5 - 15 minutes, depending on the number of students waiting before you.

Students arriving more than 10 minutes after their scheduled appointment time may be asked to reschedule or only be able to meet for the time remaining for their appointment, in respect for other scheduled appointments. Due to the time limitations of these appointments, you may be asked to schedule a follow-up meeting or an hour-long appointment.

Advising Limits

Advisors can discuss a number of issues with students and scholars, including immigration regulations, Institute policies, and resources to assist with cultural adjustment and academic success. Be aware advisors will provide referrals for the following matters:

  • Legal issues, including criminal and civil court cases
  • H1-B employment information and visa types beyond F-1 and J-1
  • U.S. tax law
  • Mental health and personal counseling needs

Advisors may provide some basic guidance or support and a referral to another office on campus or recommend you seek assistance from outside professionals when your needs extend beyond our professional limits, as outlined above.

Confidentiality

Advising sessions are confidential. Records of meetings with advisors are only available to staff members in our office and other Institute personnel who have a professional need to know about your visit. Advisors may discuss complex cases with each other when there is a question of interpretation of immigration regulations.