Job Details
Position Overview
The Senior International Advisor is a key member of the International Support Services (ISS) staff, serving as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the F-1 student program and as an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for the J-1 exchange visitor program. This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Advising and Compliance and is responsible for providing a high level of experienced counseling and advising support to international students and scholars. This position is expected…
to oversee one of the immigration compliance areas (initial document production or current student/scholar immigration advising) and supervise international advisors. This person will be a DSO with the Department of Homeland Security and an ARO with the Department of State. The U.S. government requires DSOs and AROs to have U.S. permanent residence or U.S. citizenship.
Job Description
The percentages listed below might change during critical times and the responsibilities of the advisor include but are not limited to:
55% Senior Immigration Advising and Compliance
- Provides expert guidance on higher-level immigration policy and regulatory issues.
- Assists in monitoring regulatory compliance of the institution and individuals under KU’s F-1 or J-1 sponsorship.
- Serves as a Tier 2 level expert for newer immigration advisors in the office as well as for the front desk staff.
- Counsels, advises and consults with international students and scholars on matters related to F-1, J-1 and occasionally other non-immigrant status regulations.
- Interprets non-immigrant status regulations, policies and practices for students, scholars, faculty, and staff of the university community.
- Processes data and creates immigration documents for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
- Analyzes data and reports accurate and timely information to SEVIS to maintain Federal compliance requirements.
- Assists with monitoring institutional compliance.
- Assists in the development, implementation, and presentation of specialized and highly technical workshops on F-1 and J-1 regulations for students, scholars, and university departments.
- Interacts with appropriate government agencies including Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration and Kansas Department of Revenue (for Kansas Driver’s Licenses).
20% Supervise International Advisors
- Supervises 1-2 International Advisors as a team lead in a compliance area such as initial document production or immigration advising for current students and scholars.
- Oversee the respective compliance area for efficiency, effectiveness and compliance.
10% Technology and Systems
- Designs and implements technical solutions for immigration-related regulations and policies to ensure compliance.
- Develops and maintain e-forms and checklists.
10% Miscellaneous
- Supports other projects and populations that KU ISS serves.
- Assists the ISS team in daily administrative duties and other designated responsibilities.
- May serve on departmental and university-wide committees.
5% Training
- Trains non-DSOs in ISS about immigration basics.
- Provides training to KU departments on immigration rules impacting international students and scholars.
- Possesses a high level of knowledge about F-1 and J-1 immigration rules to educate departments how their business practices intersect with the immigration rules.
- Helps develop an internal training manual for immigration advisors.
Position Requirements
U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residence is required to comply with Federal regulation requirements to be a Designated School Official (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) to issue and sign U.S. immigration documents.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree plus one (1) year of P/DSO & A/RO experience OR Bachelor’s degree plus three (3) years of relevant P/DSO & A/RO experience.
- Attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
- Excellent written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
- One (1) year experience delivering workshops and/or presentations on F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations to students and university personnel, as demonstrated by application materials.
- Three (3) years of experience with Microsoft Office Suite to include Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, and/or Excel as demonstrated by application materials.
- One (1) year experience working with database management systems.
- One (1) year experience in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) as a P/DSO and an A/RO.
Preferred Qualifications
- More than three years of experience as a P/DSO and A/RO.
- Three (3) years experience working with database management systems in university settings (especially PeopleSoft, sunapsis and Slate).
- Two (2) years of professional experience supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff in a professional setting, as demonstrated by application materials.
- Three (3) years experience delivering workshops and/or presentations on F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations to students and university personnel, as demonstrated by application materials.
Additional Candidate Instructions
The position requires U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residence to comply with Federal regulations to be a Designed School Official (DSO) with Department of Homeland Security and an Alternate Responsible Office (ARO) with Department of State.
Please submit:
- Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume
- Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
- Completion of the online application.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application review begins Monday, August 31, 2026, and will continue until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Regina Sherrill
rsherrill@ku.edu
785-864-3617
Advertised Salary Range $61,700
Application Review Begins Monday August 31, 2026
Anticipated Start Date Monday October 5, 2026
Organization
Working at the University of Kansas
Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.
The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.
The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.
KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.
Instruction
KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.
Research
The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.
Service
The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.
International Dimension
KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.
Values
The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.
Our City and State
KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.
Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.
Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.
Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.
Making KU Your Home
Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.
At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.