International Faculty & Staff Services
The International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS) office provides information about bringing international faculty, staff, and scholars to the University of Oklahoma. Our office serves the OU Norman, OUHSC, and OU Tulsa campuses. From here, you can find information for hiring departments and international scholars.
Notice to Departments
All requests for the employment of foreign nationals at the University of Oklahoma must be processed through IFSS. Only the IFSS staff is authorized to sign the legal documents and forms required to sponsor international scholars and staff. If you receive any forms requiring an authorized signature, please forward them to IFSS.
Breaking News
USCIS Oklahoma City Field Office Re-Opens
The USCIS Field Office in Oklahoma City will re-open on May 22 at full capacity following restoration of water and power to the facility.
Message from Consulate General of Japan - Houston TX
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 11:23 PM
> Subject: Consulate General of Japan
>
> Hello,
>
> We would like to send our condolences to any of the students or faculty that may be affected by the recent storms in Oklahoma.
>
> We would like to lend our support to any students or faculty members that may be Japanese citizens. Please notify us immediately if any are injured, missing or have suffered severe property damages due to the storm.
>
> You may contact our office at (713) 652- 2977
>
> Acting Consul-General Takahiko Watabe would like to be notified immediately of any injuries by cell phone. (713) 501 - 6900.
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mary Javier-Fisher
> Secretary to Consul General
> Consulate General of Japan at Houston
> 909 Fannin St., Suite 3000
> Houston, Texas 77010
> (713) 287 - 3732
DHS Instructs Border Agents to Verify ALL International Student (Scholar) visas
WASHINGTON – May 3, 2013. The Homeland Security Department ordered border agents to verify that every F-1 (or J-1) international student (scholar) who arrives in the U.S. has a valid visa. The order is effective immediately and was issued by a senior official at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, David J. Murphy.
Previous procedures only allowed the border agents to verify a student's status in SEVIS when the person was referred to secondary inspection or questioning. The new procedures require the border agents to verify a student's (or scholar’s) visa status prior to entry into the U.S. using information that is provided in flight manifests. Border agents will check the visa status manually with the agency's national targeting data center when the information is not electronically available.
What impact the new procedure will have on wait times at airports and borders is unknown. However, customs officials will be required to report any effect, including longer waits, on a daily basis.
IFSS recommends that ALL OU J-1 scholars add 3 hours to their travel itinerary to accommodate the expected delay at the port of entry.
CBP Publishes Final Rule Which Will Automate Form I-94
March 27, 2013 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to automate Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. The paper Form I-94 will be eliminated. The change will go into effect April 26, 2013. Travelers wanting a hard copy or other evidence of admission will be directed to *www.cbp.gov/I94 to print a copy of an I-94 based on the electronically submitted data to provide as evidence of lawful admission. However, individuals who go through secondary inspection, such as asylees, refugees, and parolees, will be provided a paper copy of Form I-94 by a CBP officer. Automation throughout major US Air & Sea Ports will begin in weekly increments over the next four weeks. Will Rogers Airport is scheduled for week 4, May 24th. To read more about the automated I-94, click through to the full article.
*The www.cbp.gov/I94 website will be live on April 30, 2013.
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