ISSOPortal Instructions for Academic Approvers

ISSOPortal supports international student and ISSO immigration processing in accordance with federal regulations. Students will use their BU username and password to login to submit immigration requests to ISSO for approval in SEVIS. Students will be required to enter data, upload documents securely and confirm their understanding of the regulatory guidelines related to the request and maintenance of student immigration status. There are 4 different types of immigration requests that require review and approval from an authorized BU staff and faculty. See the BU ISSO website for more details about each process:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Program Extension 
• Return from a Leave of Absence (LOA)
• Academic Training

BU staff and faculty have been reviewing these requests for many years by completing and signing paper ISSO approval forms. All academic information required for each of these processes has now been configured in the ISSOPortal. Students will enter the name and the email of the appropriate BU staff and faculty authorized to approve these requests when initiating a request in the ISSOPortal. Authorized   BU staff and faculty will vary in schools or colleges and by academic program level. In some cases, approvers may be staff in administrative advising offices or school specific internship coordinators or, in some cases, especially for PhD students, may be the faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to check with department contacts to confirm appropriate approvers.

ISSOPortal will automatically send an email from the student’s BU email address to the approvers BU email address to notify the approver of the need for assistance. The approver will receive the email below with instructions and a specific link to an e-form where the approval can review the specific request, provide required information, and approve or reject the request. See a sample approver email below:

The approver should click on the link in the email to link to the e-form to review the request. The approver should reference the BU ID number on the top of the request to research the student’s academic standing and registration, if required, and eligibility for the request. The approver form will help identify the type of request and allow the approver to review information submitted by the student. No special login will be required. The approver form will remain available until the approver either approves or rejects the request. The approver can simply forward the email request with the link to a different BU staff or faculty member for review and approval if the student sends it to the wrong approver or, if the request requires additional review. See sample below:

If the approver can approve the request, they should enter the required information using the next commands to move through the request and eventually click on the green approve command at the end of the e-form to approve. This will automatically complete the request and forward to ISSO for review and processing.

If the approver cannot approve the request, they should select no at the beginning of the page, clarify why they cannot approve the request and then use the next commands to move through the request and click on the red reject command at the end of the e-form. Approvers should email the student to notify them of the reason for the rejection. See sample below:

Please call the ISSO at 617-353-3565 or email the advisor assigned to this student should you have any questions about the eligibility requirements for the request or the ISSOPortal.