International Student Advising Guide

[Last updated: February 29, 2024]

International students in the College may include:

• Degree-seeking: These international students come to IU, either as freshmen or transfer students, with the intention of completing a degree.  The students’ immigration records are typically produced and monitored by the IU Office of International Services (OIS).  Transfer students may be coming to IU from a foreign university or another U.S. college/university.
• Exchange: These students come to IU to study for one semester or one year.  They may come to IU through one of the College’s ASPIRE Exchange programs, or through an exchange with another degree granting school on campus. ASPIRE exchange students are supported and advised by the College’s Director of International Programs.  However, like degree-seeking international students, they also work with the Office of International Services (OIS) regarding visa and immigration issues.  In exchange for the international students’ time at IU, our students are able to affordably study abroad at a variety of universities around the world.

Advising tip for exchange students: Exchange students normally lack the prerequisites that they need to enroll in appropriate IU courses, because their previous coursework is not represented on their IU transcript.  The College relies on collaboration with departmental advisors to help exchange students get permission to enroll in courses that have prerequisites, based on a frank discussion about their prior coursework at their home university.

If an international student’s native language is not English, please have the student complete the Application for Establishment of Foreign Language Proficiency for International Students who are Non-Native Speakers of English, which is available in the Student Portal of the College website.

Students will not receive course credit through this process, but can satisfy the foreign language requirement for the College of Arts and Sciences as well as IUB’s General Education World Languages and Cultures requirement. The College Recorder’s Office will process the form and will contact the student by email to let them know the results.

Proficiency by examination: Some language departments may provide proficiency exams for non-native English speakers unable to establish foreign language proficiency through the College’s form. Not all languages are taught at IUB, and not all languages taught offer proficiency exams. Please refer to the department most closely aligned with the language in question for more information. Proficiency exams are usually not appropriate for domestic heritage speakers.

Advising tip for international students who attended secondary school in English: Some international students attended secondary education either in the US or at a school that conducts classes in English. This can be common in some countries. These students may be able to pursue proficiency by examination if the language is taught at IUB and if the department offering the language offers this exam. Please note that proficiency exams have a strong emphasis on reading and writing skills in the native language. If a student’s formal schooling is in English, it is not guaranteed that they possess the reading and writing skills necessary to demonstrate proficiency in their native language.

The Office of International Services includes international admissions and international student and scholar services. Academic advisors may receive emails from newtoiu@iu.edu or ois@iu.edu, including requests to complete electronic forms through Atlas online services. Further information about these forms and procedures is outlined later in other sections of this guide. 

International Admissions:  If you are contacted by an international student seeking admission to IU Bloomington, or asking about admission standards, please refer the student to International Admissions. Prospective international students may incorrectly believe they need to seek admission to the department.

A Visa is like a key that opens the door to enter the US. The student’s visa must be valid at the time of entry but does not need to be valid while the student is residing in the US. Applying for a new student visa can be time consuming. Therefore, students who return home during an IU break may be delayed returning to the US if they are required to renew their visa. All questions about visa types and regulations should be directed to the Office of International Services. You may find a specific student’s visa type by looking in AdRx, on the student summary page, under the demographic info tab. 

F-1 Visas: Most international students who attend Indiana University are degree-seeking students with F-1 student visa status, and are financially supported through personal and family funding.

J-1 Visas: Some students have a J-1 exchange visitor visa because they are on an exchange or temporary program, or a substantial portion of their financial support comes from an external funding source, such as the home country government, a scholarship or foundation, or a corporate sponsor.  International students may have another visa classification if they are a child or spouse of another visa holder.  

I20 document: International students have an I20 document which must be valid for the entirety of their time residing in the US as a student. The I20 document will include a reference to their declared major(s) and the corresponding CIP major code(s). Allowing an I20 to expire will result in the student being required to return home immediately.

Proof of funding:  International students are required to show proof of funding to support themselves for an academic year before they can get a visa.  In addition to application fees, tuition, and mandatory fees, there is also an International Student Fee. The fee is used to supplement the University’s funding of advising and technical support functions of OIS. International students returning to IU after a leave of absence must also demonstrate proof of funding for their remaining semesters.

International Admissions staff at OIS evaluate international university transcripts and supply students transferring credit from abroad with a Credit Transfer Report showing how the course work will transfer to IU.  For undistributed credit, OIS confers with the appropriate academic department(s) for content review and articulation. 

Advising tip regarding transferability: Advisors and departments should not advise students on the transferability of or credit hours earned for international transfer credit. International admissions is responsible for determining if credit from abroad comes from an accredited institution and the appropriate credit hour equivalency at IUB. Departments only evaluate course content and may inform students that the department will advise international admissions on whether the content in question closely matches a course taught at IUB.

Full-Time Enrollment: At least 12 credit hours is required each fall and spring semester for an international student to maintain immigration status. There are a few exceptions to this regulation, but the student should consult with an advisor in OIS before dropping below 12 credit hours.  Academic advisors may receive an email from OIS requesting completion of a form “Reduced Course Load for Academic Reason.” This is typically submitted by international students having adjustment issues or English difficulties in their first year, or those who are in their final semester of study and do not require full-time enrollment to graduate.  For more information, refer to “maintaining status” information on the OIS website:

• F-1 Students
• J-1 Students

Advising tip regarding edrops: Edrop or Edrop/Eadd Swap edocuments submitted by international students generally route to OIS as part of their normal routing process. This may delay the drop and add process for international students after the first week of classes, or cause the edoc and its linked eadd to fail.

Concurrent Enrollment:  Students enrolled at IU are allowed concurrent enrollment at another institution or at another IU campus, but students should consult with OIS about restrictions and procedures. Students enrolled concurrently during Fall or Spring must submit the appropriate form in Atlas. International students must be enrolled in at least 50% of their total enrollment hours at their home campus, IUB. For more information, refer to “university enrollment” information according to the student visa type:

• F-1 Students
• J-1 Students

Advising tip regarding concurrent enrollment: Even if a student is enrolled in 12+ hours at IUB and meets full time enrollment requirements, OIS still requires that any international student enrolled concurrently at another institution or at another IU campus during a normal fall or spring term submit the concurrent enrollment form in Atlas.

Online Enrollment:  International students are permitted to take only one 3 credit hour online class to count toward their full-time enrollment of 12 credit hours each semester.  Beyond those 12 credit hours, students may take additional classes online or in person.  This is an immigration regulation, and is explained further on the OIS website. The page linked includes the acceptable in person course codes (P, HY, IN, and IS).

• P = In person
• HY = Hybrid, traditional
• IN = Internship
• IS = Independent Study

Program Extension, aka Extension of I20: International students are expected to make degree progress, just as we expect of domestic students.  However, international students unable to meet the expected program completion date must apply for an extension through OIS. In the application, students are asked to name an academic advisor to support their request.  Advisors will then receive an email from OIS with instructions.

In the “Extension of I-20 Documents” e-form, the academic advisor is asked to verify the additional amount of time needed for the student to complete the degree, a summary of the credit hours and courses required to complete the degree, and the “compelling academic or medical” reason that the extension is warranted.

Federal immigration regulations provide only limited guidance on what is and is not a "compelling academic reason" for undergraduate students who need an extension. However, below is a list of generally acceptable or unacceptable reasons. You can use this list (even copy and paste, if you'd like) to complete this form.

Acceptable Reasons:

• The student had a slower initial transition to the U.S. educational system. [Note: For example, this can be demonstrated by enrollment freshman year in SLST-T courses]
• The student had an academic plan that initially included fewer credit hours per semester because of an unfamiliarity or lack of background in the degree subject.
• The student is completing more than one major, necessitating additional time to complete additional degree requirements.
• The student changed majors, necessitating additional coursework to complete the degree.
• The student does have or did have a medical issue that required the student to enroll in less credits than necessary, but still maintained full time status (e.g., the student enrolled in 12 credits instead of 15). If this is the case, the student will need to provide limited medical documentation to us.

Unacceptable Reasons:

• Delays caused by personal issues not related to the student's health. This means that a delay because of a family member's health issue is not an acceptable reason, even immediate family that is here with the student.
• Delays caused by the student needing to work to support their studies.
• Taking additional credits to be eligible to participate in an exam or test.
• Taking additional credits beyond the degree requirements while waiting for better job prospects.
• Delaying submission of final requirements to accommodate personal/family/employment choices.

Advising tip: Retaking a required course due to a low grade is not by itself a sufficient reason for an extension of I20. Additionally, taking additional coursework required for admission to a graduate program is not by itself an adequate reason for extension. Please follow recommended examples or consult OIS. 

Timeliness of requests: Students making a request are usually trying to meet a deadline before expiration of their current immigration documents, so advisors are asked to treat emails from OIS with urgency. Advisors who have questions about extension requests are encouraged to consult with their supervisor in the College, or with OIS.

Leave of Absence: International students who need to take a leave of absence or withdraw from all classes, whether for mandatory military service or other reasons, must consult with OIS.  When ready to resume study, returning international students should contact OIS at least 4 months in advance in order to get new immigration documents issued.  OIS asks for written confirmation from the academic advisor that the student is eligible to return to the program of study. You need not provide this confirmation. Rather, College students should be directed to complete the “Undergraduate Status Update” form through the Student Portal of the College website in order to be term activated for the semester he/she is ready to return to IUB. The Recorders may then provide the required confirmation to OIS.

Employment regulations are determined by a student’s immigration status (F-1 or J-1 visa).  International students should never work without first receiving authorization and should consult with an advisor in OIS regarding their options for employment. 

F-1 employment: options for F-1 visa students include on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Optional Practical Training (OPT).  Academic advisors may receive an email from OIS with instructions to complete an e-form for students pursuing CPT or OPT.  

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is used for off campus internships completed prior to completion of the degree program. This can include full time summer internships or part time internships in the Bloomington community. A student on an F-1 visa may NOT work off campus in the US without CPT. International students interested in CPT must provide the academic advisor with a detailed offer letter from their employer including internship duties. The student must also plan to enroll in a credit bearing internship course such as ASCS-X 373 or ASCS-X 375 for at least 1 credit hour during the term the internship occurs. Important note: the student must finish their internship position on or before the last day of the internship course. Students completing a summer internship may not legally work after the last day of the summer term.

Once the student initiates the CPT request in Atlas, the academic advisor will receive an email prompt from OIS to complete an advisor’s form in Atlas. This form includes two questions, including a request that you confirm the duties from the offer letter, and a request to explain how the internship is “integral” to student’s degree and curriculum. Examples of successful CPT forms can be found in the Teams Bisonverse.

Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is used for employment in the US immediately after completion of the degree program. Successfully applying for OPT requires that a student complete the final course or academic objective for their degree in person at IUB. F-1 students who complete their IUB degree while living at home or through transfer work are not eligible for OPT. OPT start dates depend on when a student completed their last course or academic objective at IUB and when they applied for OPT. A student’s graduation date is not relevant if the graduation date does not match when the student completed their last course (such as a student completing a course first 4 weeks of summer and graduating in August). OPT applications can take several weeks to process and should ideally be initiated by the student a couple of months prior to degree completion.

Advising tip for OPT: OPT does grant some grace time for students to remain in the US legally while awaiting approval of OPT, or while unemployed. Therefore, some students who have not yet received a job offer may strategize the best time to apply for OPT near the end of degree completion in order to optimize time allowed to search for a job. Students initiating an OPT application in Atlas soon after the end of classes will be on an exceptionally tight timeline and may request that an advisor respond quickly to the eform. OPT must be approved before a student may begin work. OPT forms are more straightforward than the CPT form and request information about all degrees/majors being earned and the date of the last class or last degree objective. This is typically the last day of finals week, unless the last IU course is taken in the first 8 weeks of a term or in the summer. In that case, the end date must be the last day of the last IU session taken, not the last day of the term, nor the graduation date.  

OPT STEM extension: The US government allows an extension of two additional years for individuals already on OPT who have earned a STEM degree and are working in that field or a related field in the US. STEM extensions are applied for after normal OPT begins, not during one’s undergraduate program. However, F-1 students often explore majors at IUB based on whether the degree may qualify for an OPT STEM extension in the future. STEM extensions can also be granted based on a graduate degree in a STEM field, so current students in non-STEM majors at IU may request help exploring appropriate STEM related graduate programs. Students and advisors may confirm that a major at IU qualifies for the STEM extension by discovering the CIP major code of the major in question, and then comparing that code to an approved list from the OIS website. CIP codes were not developed originally for this purpose, so advisors may discover some oddities in how different majors at IU match up with the federal government STEM CIP code list. Lists of IU CIP codes can be found in several locations including a file in the College advising Teams channel, a tableau report, and the TransferIN program inventory.

J-1 Employment: options for J-1 visa students are more restrictive and require authorization for any type of work they wish to undertake, either on-campus or off-campus. For more information about J-1 academic training, see the OIS website. 

International students who have not completed three years of secondary school in an English speaking country must demonstrate English proficiency in one of several ways. Options may include English composition and oral communication transfer work, or an exam score. The Department of Second Language Studies administers the optional Indiana Academic English Test (IAET) and offers courses in English language improvement. Students may also demonstrate their English Language proficiency through one of the other assessments listed on the OIS website. For more information, refer to the University Division Advising Guidelines or the Department of Second Language Studies.

English Language proficiency results are posted in AdRx.  During orientation advising, advisors should look at AdRx Additional Info and locate the Bloomington Placement Test section. SLST English Language Improvement Course requirements are listed as two areas: Oracy and Literacy. If both areas are met, then the student will not be required to take English Language Improvement courses. If oracy is not met, then a student is required to take SLST-T 155 Academic Speaking and SLST-T 154 Active Academic Listening. If Literacy is not met, a student is required to take SLST-T 131 Academic Writing. Students are typically pre-enrolled in these classes. If a student is enrolled by error (has already met the requirement) then the student or advisor can email dsls@indiana.edu to request a drop permission. Pre-enrolled SLST-T English Language Improvement courses may not be dropped without permission.

Enrollment in COLL-P 155 and ENG-W 131: COLL-P 155 should be taken AFTER international students have satisfied the Oracy category either through testing or by completing SLST-T 154 and SLST-T 155. Please do not recommend COLL-P 155 concurrently with or prior to satisfying that Oracy requirement. ENG-W 131 should be taken AFTER students have satisfied the Literacy category either through testing or by completing SLST-T 131. Please do not recommend ENG-W 131 concurrently with or prior to satisfying that Literacy requirement.

SLST-T courses counting in College hours: Most currently offered SLST-T courses at the 100 level or above can count in total hours and College hours. The following SLST courses are excluded from degree hours and excluded from College hours: SLST-T 100, T 101, T 102, T 103, T 104, T 111, and T 112. Zero level courses (such as those offered by the non-degree Intensive English Program) typically do not count in degree progress.

Advising tip for SLST-T courses: International students who are exempt or have already completed all required English improvement requirements are still welcome to enroll in SLST-T courses at the 100 level for their own learning and improvement in English.  

ENG-W131 Reading, Writing, & Inquiry (3 credits) - Basic Writing or Multilingual sections.

International student placement in ENG-W131 should be determined based on a combination of the student test scores.  Advisors should consult the University Division Advising Guidelines (udguides.indiana.edu) and review Placement/Testing information for English, and look for the Determining Basic v. Standard, and the Determining Multilingual sections.  As with domestic students, international students may have test scores that exempt them from the requirement, or they may wish to take a “regular” section of ENG-W131.  Internationals students who are advised to take a Basic Writing or Multilingual section and are unable to register or waitlist on their own should request permission through the Department of English. 

ENG-W 131 should be taken AFTER students have satisfied the Literacy category (see section above “English Language Placement and Instruction”) either through testing or by completing SLST-T 131. Please do not recommend ENG-W 131 concurrently with or prior to satisfying that Literacy requirement.

COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 credits) - Intercultural Communication theme

These sections are ideal for international students and domestic students interested in world issues and international communication.  Students from multiple backgrounds will have a chance to work together to learn about the most compelling current issues occurring worldwide. International students will find that their specific needs as second language learners will be addressed, while domestic students will learn about the concerns of students from around the world and the impact they have on their own lives. Together, the class as a whole will learn how to speak about these issues and concerns effectively by developing and presenting speeches that have a true impact on their audience and create confidence in group work activities in other classes.

COLL-P 155 should be taken AFTER international students have satisfied the Oracy category (see section above “English Language Placement and Instruction”) either through testing or by completing SLST-T 154 and SLST-T 155. Please do not recommend COLL-P 155 concurrently with or prior to satisfying that Oracy requirement.

Advising tip for COLL-P 155: As of Spring 2024, the Intercultural Communication theme is indicated in the Class Notes in iGPS. There were separate sections designated for international students, and others for domestic students, with no additional permission needed.

SLST-T 135 American Experience for International Students (3 credits) Introduction to major institutions in contemporary life in the United States seen through the lens of social and historical science for international students. Examination of values, beliefs, and cultural assumptions; government and politics; racial and ethnic diversity; business and economy; education; religion; family and close relationships. The course will help international students who would benefit from academic English language support to gain background in cultural assumptions held by typical domestic students. Open only to international undergraduates. 

ENG-W 350 Advanced Expository Writing (3 credits) – Multilingual sections. P: Completion of the English composition requirement (whether multi-lingual or not) at IU, through transfer credit, or exemption. This class is not limited to students who have completed a multilingual section of ENG W131. Advanced writing course focuses on the interconnected activities of writing and reading, especially the kinds of responding, analyzing, and evaluating that characterize work in many fields in the university. Topics vary from semester to semester. Students should obtain permission from the Department of English.

Intensive writing courses should be taken AFTER students have satisfied the Literacy category (see section above “English Language Placement and Instruction”) either through testing or by completing SLST-T 131 AND after students have satisfied English Composition. Please do not recommend ENG-W 350 concurrently with or prior to satisfying both the Literacy requirement as well as the English composition requirement.

International exchange students who come to IU on university-sponsored exchange programs typically do not meet with a College academic advisor in their field.  The College’s Director of International Programs serves as the academic advisor for exchange students in the College, and that office consults with department academic advisors as needed. Usually, the College’s Director of International Programs will contact academic advisors for assistance in course placement and permissions for exchange students arriving at IUB. If an academic department has a separate exchange agreement, the department advisor(s) may be responsible for advising the exchange students.

Advising tip: If a prospective international student inquires directly with you or your department about coming to IU as an exchange or non-degree student, please refer the student to the College’s Office of International Affairs (collOIA@indiana.edu). 

International students may wish to study abroad, just as our domestic students do. Or, they may be interested in taking classes in their home country during the summer.  Refer these students to IU Education Abroad for overseas study, but also remind them to check with the Office of International Services (OIS) about any additional ramifications, such as to their visa status.

Students who take classes overseas after being admitted to IUB must arrange for credit to transfer through IU Education Abroad or International Admissions. Students who choose to study on a Non-IU program, or an international student enrolling at a university in their home country for the summer, should contact International Admissions prior to enrolling in transfer coursework outside of the US. 

Cultural Centers:  There are several cultural centers on the IU campus that can provide you and your students with information and programming around specific cultures. These cultural centers often serve international students as well as domestic students.

• Asian Culture Center
• First Nations Educational and Cultural Center
• Jewish Culture Center
• La Casa/Latino Cultural Center
• LGBTQ+ Culture Center
• Neal-Marshall Black Cultural Center

Writing Tutorial Services: International students can benefit from tutoring services offered by WTS in any class which involves writing, as well as while preparing job applications, scholarship applications, or graduate school or transfer applications.

SEVIS: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System: This is the web-based system that the Department of Homeland Security uses to maintain information on certified schools, such as IU, that host F and J visa students. OIS uses this tool to issue I20 forms and other documents to international students.

ATLAS: This is an IU OIS student portal where students and advisors can access forms being submitted to OIS.

University Division Advising Guidelines:  The UD Guides website requires a secure login. If you do not have access, contact your direct supervisor in the College.  Advisors can find information specific to international students under the “Placement” and “Student Populations” tabs.

Intercultural Competence Certificate: IU offers an Intercultural Competence Certificate for employees seeking to expand their understanding of the complexities of intercultural communication and collaboration.

Advising tip for student resources: International students should be referred to mental health, tutoring services, and other student support services on campus, just as a domestic student would be.