International Faculty and Scholars Office

The International Faculty and Scholars Office (IFSO) under the authority of the Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement is responsible for administration of the University's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) and employment-based immigration programs (H-1B and Permanent Residency). IFSO provides comprehensive services for visiting scholars and foreign faculty.

The main function of the IFSO is to provide immigration services to the ASU community in those immigration categories related to faculty and scholars (J-1 Scholars, H-1B, Permanent Residency).

Services for Exchange Students (J-1 non-degree students) are provided by the Center for Global Education Services' Exchange Program Coordinators. For Exchange Student information visit the International Students section of this website.

Admission information for degree-seeking students (F-1 international student and J-1 degree-seeking), is available on the International Admissions website.

Services for those degree-seeking students (F-1 and J-1) currently attending ASU are provided by the International Student Office (ISO).

Arizona State University is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to be a program sponsor and to invite certain Exchange Visitors to visit the University for the purposes of Educational and Cultural Exchange. This office receives, reviews and processes requests for the issuance of forms DS-2019 for Exchange Visitors who are being invited and sponsored by the various departments, programs and colleges of ASU. Arizona State University has been authorized to invite exchange visitors in the following categories: Students (under specific exchange agreements), Professors, Research Scholars, Short Term Scholars or Specialists. The office provides orientation to newly arrived Exchange Visitors, and during their stay as an exchange visitor, monitors their exchange program(s) to ensure compliance with all requirements of the program.

The IFSO is responsible for the administration of all employment-based visa actions involving the University. This includes reviewing requests from the University's various departments who wish to obtain lawful immigration status for employees based on employment, processing the applications to meet legal requirements, filing the various types of employment petitions and documents with the appropriate state and federal agencies and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and coordinating required actions with these agencies until the case(s) have been completed.

The responsibilities of this office also include providing information, guidance and advice to the various departments, programs and colleges of Arizona State University's three campuses, as well as to the University's faculty, staff, students and guests on questions and issues related to the Exchange Visitor Program, employment-based programs and other immigration-related issues.

The office works with various university offices to assure compliance with laws and to provide a smooth transition to the ASU community.

The staff of this office is available Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Appointments are highly recommended, and can be requested by phone or e-mail. Appointments are preferable when seeking information about specific immigration questions and/or issues. Information is also provided on a walk-in or phone-in basis, as staffing and workload(s) permit.