F-1 Student Advising Services
Our ISSS Team understand the added stress and anxiety that you can experience in taking the necessary steps to maintain your status in the U.S. Because we understand and want to assist you with your questions in a way that ensures accuracy and expediency, please review carefully the information below to select a communication strategy that best fits your situation and needs.
Walk-Ins
Group Advising – Open Forum
Email Assistance
Phone Assistance
Appointments
For some areas of concern, an appointment with an advisor is best because of the complexity of your situation such as CPT eligibility and rules, OPT application and reporting, changing your status, etc. During popular seasons for services, our team will also increase appointment availability and offer group advising through our Open Forums.
Appointments need to be booked at least a day in advance. If you see no appointment availability, you can call the office to inquire about your options.
Walk-Ins
Have a quick question for an ISSS Advisor? Walk-In hours might be a good option for you. Advisors will take a few minutes with each student to provide one-on-one attention for their general concerns. These questions might be around travel and re-entry, transferring out, last semester RCL, etc. If your question is more complex such as CPT eligibility, OPT, change of status, etc. the Front Desk will make sure to set up an appointment for you so that we can look closely at your status history and all other pertinent information.
Walk-Ins are available when classes are in session.
Summer 2024 Schedule
- Mondays: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
- Wednesdays: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Group Advising – Open Forum
Have a quick question but cannot make it to the walk-in times? Group advising is a good option for students who cannot make it to campus or will benefit from a quick virtual consultation with the ISSS Advisor. If your question is more complex such as CPT eligibility, OPT, change of status, etc., go here to set up an appointment.
Spring 2024 Schedule
- March 1: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- March 29: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- April 19: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- May 3: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- May 17: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Email Assistance
ISSS receives high email volume, which means that email typically takes 3 to 5 business days for staff to respond given the competing demands of timely processing your requests. During peak times as at the start of the semester it might take longer to receive a response. Additionally, often further context is needed to clarify email inquiries, which generates multiple follow-up emails to reach a correct and definitive answer. If time feels like a critical consideration to meet your needs, an appointment may be a better method of outreach for you. ISSS main email is international@txstate.edu.
Phone Assistance
Our phone is monitored during standard business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm). However, due to high call volumes, our staff may be assisting students in person or on the phone. Please leave a message, and we will respond at our earliest convenience. Note that the phone is not available for immigration advising as it is not staffed by an advisor. Phone calls are most suitable for:
- Inquiries regarding the services offered by our office.
- Clarifications on the most appropriate communication method for your specific needs (appointment, walk-in, etc.).
- Reporting high-priority concerns or emergencies.