The role of the OIE advisors is to work to provide guidance and assist international students— those with F and J visa classifications who have been issued an I-20 or DS-2019 by the University of Georgia—to understand the immigration laws that direct their stay in the U.S. International students sign the bottom of their I-20/DS-2019 before entering the U.S. Signing the document is confirmation that the student read and understood the information provided on page 2 of the I-20/DS-2019.

We seek to be a buffer between the USCIS (immigration services) and the student and recognize that each student cannot (and should not) know every immigration detail. We do expect that students will assume responsibility to take an active role in maintaining a legal student status while studying at UGA and will ask questions of the OIE advisors whenever needed. We provide students with multiple avenues for obtaining immigration-related information to help avoid violations of F/J status including a new international student handbook provided at orientation, weekly e-mail reminders, easily accessible educational handouts, walk-in advising hours and individual appointment times to meet with an advisor in addition to the information available on this web site.

What’s the difference between an F-1 student and a J-1 student?

While both are non-immigration visa classifications issued for the purpose of study, an F-1 student is “self-funded” (graduate assistantships, scholarships, personal, and family funds included) and a J-1 student is either participating in an established educational exchange (an agreement between UGA and a foreign university), is funded by the US government or the home country government, or is funded by an international organization dedicated to supporting international exchange of people. The primary purpose is nearly the same and so are the expectations to maintain legal status in the U.S. and fulfill an educational objective. While there are small differences in the F-1 and J-1 student immigration laws, there are many more similarities. Students in a J-1 visa classification are encouraged to attend the supplementary orientation upon arriving on campus or should meet with an international student advisor if they have questions that are not answered on the OIE web site.