Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions. You can also reach OISS by phone during regular office hours (713-348-6095), send an email (oiss@rice.edu) or join our virtual & in-person walk-in advising hours (https://oiss.rice.edu/appointment). Please also see the rest of our website, as you may find the answer to your question on another page.

This page includes information on the following topics:

• OISS Operations/Services
• Working with International Students
• Working with International Scholars

OISS OPERATIONS/SERVICES

Where is the OISS office located and what are the office hours?

The Office of International Students and Scholars is located in Lovett Hall, Entrance A. While we have office spaces on all three floors, our reception desk is on the first floor.

Our service hours are 9:00AM - 4:00PM, Monday - Friday. OISS will be closed on all university holidays.

Unfortunately historic Lovett Hall is not an accessible building and does not have an elevator. If you are unable to climb stairs to enter the building, please contact us and we will be happy to meet with you at another location.

Can I make an appointment with OISS?

Yes! We are available for in-person appointments as well as remote appointments via telephone or Zoom. We currently offer a robust schedule of virtual and in-person walk-in advising hours and you can find the schedule at https://oiss.rice.edu/appointment.

How can I learn about regulatory and OISS policy updates?

Please subscribe to the OISS-Updates email list at https://mailman.rice.edu/mailman/listinfo/oiss-updates! (If this link does not work and you receive a 404 error, open the link in an incognito or private window.)

This is a low volume email list, where we share changes to OISS processes or important immigration updates that are relevant when working with international students and/or scholars at Rice University.

WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Where do I find the procedures for international student admissions?

We have a dedicated menu on our website for Academic Departments with a lot of helpful information! All information related to admissions processing for new international students can be found on the International Student page.

What is the turnaround time for processing documents for incoming international students?

OISS strives to provide the quickest turnaround possible when processing immigration documents for incoming students. However, the timeline depends on how quickly the students upload the required documents to their OISS Portal accounts. Most student I-20s and DS-2019s will be processed within 2 weeks of receiving all the necessary documentation.

What do I need to know when hiring an international student for on-campus work?

There are three key considerations when hiring an international student worker:

1) Restricted work hours
F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus for a maximum of 20 hours/week while school is in session, and may work more than 20 hours/week only during summer break and winter recess.

2) Social Security Numbers
If the student does not yet have a U.S. Social Security Number, they will need your support in applying for one! Please see https://oiss.rice.edu/ssn for details.

3) Employment end date
On-campus work eligibility for international students ends when they complete their degree, even if they previously had an I-20 that had a later end date. Please be mindful of the on-campus position end dates for any graduating international students, to help ensure that they do not violate their immigration status by working outside of their permitted dates.

Learn more at https://oiss.rice.edu/students!

WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS

Where do I find the procedures for inviting a scholar on a J-1 visa?

We have a dedicated menu on our website for Academic Departments with a lot of helpful information! Detailed instructions for inviting a scholar on a J-1 visa can be found on the J-1 Scholars page.

What is the turnaround time for processing documents for scholars on J-1 visas?

OISS strives to provide the quickest turnaround possible when processing immigration documents for incoming scholars. To this end, we rely heavily on academic departments to provide complete packets including all required documents, without which we cannot proceed. For J-1 scholars, please note that we ask for a 90-day lead time to allow time not only for OISS processing but also for the visa application process the scholar must complete in their home country. Most complete scholar packets will be processed within 2 weeks.

Where do I find the procedures for sponsoring an H-1B visa?

We have a dedicated menu on our website for Academic Departments with a lot of helpful information! Detailed instructions for the H-1B visa process can be found at https://oiss.rice.edu/h1b.

Are there other visa options besides J-1 and H-1B?

Maybe! There are a lot of visa options out there and several of them could include work authorization. Please see https://oiss.rice.edu/scholars for a list of the most common visa types.

You are always welcome to contact OISS for more information on these and other visa options!