Senior International Advisor

University of Kansas; Tipton; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kansas is seeking a Senior International Advisor to serve as a DSO for F-1 and an ARO for J-1, supervising ISS staff and guiding immigration compliance.

The role includes policy guidance, SEVIS documentation, data analysis, and delivering specialized workshops to students and departments. A strong background in immigration rules and stakeholder training is essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree plus one year of P/DSO & A/RO experience OR Bachelor’s degree plus three years of relevant P/DSO & A/RO experience.
• Attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
• Excellent written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
• One year experience delivering workshops and/or presentations on F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations to students and university personnel.
• Three years of experience with Microsoft Office Suite to include Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and/or Excel.
• One year experience working with database management systems.
• One year experience in SEVIS as a P/DSO and an A/RO.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on higher-level immigration policy and regulatory issues.
• Monitor regulatory compliance of the institution and individuals under KU’s F-1 or J-1 sponsorship.
• Supervise 1-2 International Advisors as a team lead in a compliance area.
• Counsel, advise and consult with international students and scholars on F-1, J-1 and occasionally other non-immigrant status regulations.
• Interpret non-immigrant status regulations for university community.
• Process data and create immigration documents for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants in SEVIS.
• Analyze data and report information to SEVIS to maintain Federal compliance requirements.
• Assist in development and delivery of workshops on F-1 and J-1 regulations.
• Interact with government agencies such as DOS, DHS, SSA, and Kansas DOJ for licenses.

Skills

Attention to detail

Excellent written communication

Workshop delivery

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Master's degree in related field

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

SEVIS

Job description

Position Overview

The Senior International Advisor is a key member of the International Support Services (ISS) staff, serving as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the F-1 student program and as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 exchange visitor program. This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Advising and Compliance and is responsible for providing a high level of experienced counseling and advising support to international students and scholars. This position is expected to oversee one of the immigration compliance areas (initial document production or current student/scholar immigration advising) and supervise international advisors. This person will be a DSO with the Department of Homeland Security and an ARO with the Department of State. The U.S. government requires DSOs and AROs to have U.S. permanent residence or U.S. citizenship.

The percentages listed below might change during critical times and the responsibilities of the advisor include but are not limited to:

55% Senior Immigration Advising and Compliance

• Provides expert guidance on higher-level immigration policy and regulatory issues.
• Assists in monitoring regulatory compliance of the institution and individuals under KU’s F-1 or J-1 sponsorship.
• Serves as a Tier 2 level expert for newer immigration advisors in the office as well as for the front desk staff.
• Counsels, advises and consults with international students and scholars on matters related to F-1, J-1 and occasionally other non-immigrant status regulations.
• Interprets non-immigrant status regulations, policies and practices for students, scholars, faculty, and staff of the university community.
• Processes data and creates immigration documents for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
• Analyzes data and reports accurate and timely information to SEVIS to maintain Federal compliance requirements.
• Assists with monitoring institutional compliance.
• Assists in the development, implementation, and presentation of specialized and highly technical workshops on F-1 and J-1 regulations for students, scholars, and university departments.
• Interacts with appropriate government agencies including Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration and Kansas Department of Revenue (for Kansas Driver’s Licenses).

20% Supervise International Advisors

• Supervises 1-2 International Advisors as a team lead in a compliance area such as initial document production or immigration advising for current students and scholars.
• Oversee the respective compliance area for efficiency, effectiveness and compliance.

10% Technology and Systems

• Designs and implements technical solutions for immigration-related regulations and policies to ensure compliance.
• Develops and maintain e-forms and checklists.

10% Miscellaneous

• Supports other projects and populations that KU ISS serves.
• Assists the ISS team in daily administrative duties and other designated responsibilities.
• May serve on departmental and university-wide committees.

5% Training

• Trains non-DSOs in ISS about immigration basics.
• Provides training to KU departments on immigration rules impacting international students and scholars.
• Possesses a high level of knowledge about F-1 and J-1 immigration rules to educate departments how their business practices intersect with the immigration rules.
• Helps develop an internal training manual for immigration advisors.

Position Requirements

U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residence is required to comply with Federal regulation requirements to be a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) to issue and sign U.S. immigration documents.

Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree plus one (1) year of P/DSO & A/RO experience OR Bachelor’s degree plus three (3) years of relevant P/DSO & A/RO experience.
2. Attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
3. Excellent written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
4. One (1) year experience delivering workshops and/or presentations on F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations to students and university personnel, as demonstrated by application materials.
5. Three (3) years of experience with Microsoft Office Suite to include Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, and/or Excel as demonstrated by application materials.
6. One (1) year experience working with database management systems.
7. One (1) year experience in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) as a P/DSO and an A/RO.

Preferred Qualifications

1. More than threeyears of experience as a P/DSO and A/RO.
2. Three (3) years experience working with database management systems in university settings (especially PeopleSoft, sunapsis and Slate).
3. Two (2) years of professional experience supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff in a professional setting, as demonstrated by application materials.
4. Three (3) years experience delivering workshops and/or presentations on F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations to students and university personnel, as demonstrated by application materials.

Contact Information to Applicants

Regina Sherrill
[e-mail]
785-864-3617

Application review begins Monday, August 31, 2026, and will continue until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.

Work Schedule

M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, [e-mail], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.