The ISSO sends courtesy email reminders about upcoming record expiration dates to both scholars and designated department contacts at 6 months, 3 months and 2 months out from the profile end date. When you receive this message, or if you are simply wondering what the next steps might be, please review the possible scenarios outlined here for more information. We also recommend that you refer to our record keeping & definitions information for details about the dates we  use to trigger these reminder messages. As always, you can feel free to contact your scholar advisor if you are unsure how to respond to our courtesy reminder e-mail.

The following videos are intended to educate department administrators about the necessary ISSO processing and clearance steps for appointing or hiring a foreign national. Please review and revisit these topic-specific videos as needed to determine the appropriate processing steps.

Training Videos

The ISSO Scholar Services Communique is the ISSO’s means for keeping our department administrative contacts and hosts up to date on any staffing, procedural, or government / regulatory changes and for sending periodic reminders on important issues and best practices for working with our office and your international researchers, faculty and employees.

If your scholar is leaving BU, please complete the End of Employment or Activity Notification form. The information is required so that the ISSO can properly report and close ISSO records, and, if applicable, any related immigration sponsorship items in accordance with federal regulations.

English proficiency requirement for new J-1 scholars:  All prospective J-1 scholar must be evaluated to insure they have sufficient English language proficiency to succeed not only in their academic appointment at BU, but also on a day-to-day basis.

• J-1 Supplement Form
• Guidelines for making an evaluation and/or using the BU interview protocol and rubric

J-1 Student Intern Evaluation: Departments hosting a J‐1 “Student Intern”, are required to submit an evaluation(s) to the ISSO to outline whether program objectives are being met. For internships lasting less than six months in duration, a Final Evaluation is required within 15 days of the end of the approved internship period. For internships lasting more than six months in duration, a Mid‐Point Evaluation is also required and should be submitted to the ISSO no more than 15 days from the mid‐point of the student’s approved internship period.

• J-1-Student-Intern-Evaluation-Form

Request for Permission to Keep J SEVIS Record Active While Continuing Research Abroad:  This form is intended for use by BU-sponsored scholars in J-1 immigration categories (Research Scholar or Professor) when requesting permission to depart the U.S. for 30 days or longer with the intention of returning to resume employment or academic activities at BU.

• J-1 Scholar Temporary Departure Notification

H-1B Posting Record: Completed by sponsoring department to confirm posting of the LCA for at least ten (10) business days, excluding weekends and days the University is closed for usual business.

• LCA Posting Record

H-1B Change in Employment Form: Must be completed and submitted to ISSO in advance of proposed employment change.

• H-1B Employment Change Form

To insure a smooth transition from ‘student employee’ to ’employee’ please review the guidelines for hiring a recent BU graduate.