The International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) provides immigration advising and support to Cal State LA international students. If you have questions about your F-1 status, employment, travel, enrollment, program completion, or another immigration-related matter, ISSO is here to help.
Choose the Advising Option That Fits Your Question
A scheduled appointment is best for complex situations, document or SEVIS-record review, or several related questions. Virtual walk-in advising is designed for one or two brief questions that can normally be answered within a few minutes.
Schedule an Advising Appointment
Choose a scheduled appointment when your situation requires more time, detailed discussion, review of documents, review of your immigration history or SEVIS record, or answers to several related questions.
Log in to Navigate LA with your Cal State LA credentials, select the appropriate international student advising service, and choose an available appointment time.
Virtual Walk-In Advising
Thursdays, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
No appointment is required. Students are admitted from the Zoom waiting room on a first-come, first-served basis.
Walk-in advising is intended for one or two brief questions that can normally be answered within a few minutes.
Zoom Meeting ID: 822 8239 1598
Ask Before Taking Action
Contact ISSO before making an academic, employment, travel, or personal decision if you are unsure how it could affect your immigration status.
Changes that may appear routine from an academic or employment perspective can sometimes have immigration consequences. Asking before taking action can help prevent avoidable status problems.
What Can the ISSO Advisor Help With?
Status & Enrollment
- Maintaining F-1 status
- Full-time enrollment
- Reduced Course Load
- Concurrent enrollment
- Changes to academic program or degree level
- Leaves of absence or withdrawal
- Possible violations of F-1 status
Employment & Practical Training
- On-campus employment
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- STEM OPT Extension
- Employment-related immigration questions
Travel & Program Changes
- International travel
- Travel signatures
- Program extensions
- SEVIS transfers
- Program completion
- Post-graduation immigration options
Help Us Make Advising Accessible to Everyone
ISSO currently has one international student advisor serving Cal State LA's F-1 student population.
Please use the advising option that best matches the complexity of your question and come prepared for your meeting. This helps the advisor serve students as efficiently and equitably as possible.
Is Walk-In Advising Right for Your Question?
Use Walk-In Advising For
- One or two brief immigration questions
- A quick clarification about an ISSO process
- A question that does not require detailed document review
- A situation that can normally be discussed within a few minutes
Schedule an Appointment For
- Multiple related questions
- A complicated immigration situation
- Detailed review of your immigration history or SEVIS record
- Review of documents
- A situation likely to require more than a few minutes
Students attending virtual walk-in hours are admitted from the Zoom waiting room on a first-come, first-served basis. Because one advisor is assisting everyone attending walk-in hours, you may need to wait before the advisor becomes available.
The advisor may ask you to schedule a regular appointment if your question requires more time than is appropriate for walk-in advising. This allows your situation to receive the attention it needs while preserving access for students waiting with brief questions.
Prepare for Your Advising Appointment
Preparing before your meeting helps the advisor use the available time effectively and helps you receive the clearest possible guidance.
Before Your Meeting
- Review the information available on the ISSO website before your appointment.
- Bring or have access to your Form I-20 and other relevant immigration documents.
- Be prepared to clearly explain the question, decision, or situation you need to discuss.
- Bring any relevant academic, employment, travel, or other documentation.
- Organize related questions in advance so the advisor can address the most important issues efficiently.
If your question involves CPT, OPT, a program extension, travel signature, SEVIS transfer, or another formal immigration request, check the International Student Portal to determine whether a request must also be submitted.
Advising and Immigration Requests Are Separate
Meeting with the ISSO advisor does not automatically submit a request for an immigration benefit, authorization, or document.
Most F-1 immigration requests are submitted separately through the International Student Portal.
Find Immigration Information Online
Many common F-1 questions can be answered through ISSO's online resources. Reviewing the information before contacting the advisor may give you the answer you need immediately and can help you prepare if individual advising is still necessary.
Maintaining F-1 Status
Enrollment, immigration documents, address reporting, program changes, and other responsibilities for maintaining status.
F-1 Employment
On-campus employment, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and current practical-training guidance.
F-1 & J-1 Duration of Status
Current information about the DHS final rule changing F-1 and J-1 admission and Extension of Stay requirements.
Urgent Immigration Question?
If you are facing an immediate immigration issue involving your status, employment, travel, or SEVIS record and cannot find an appropriate appointment time, contact ISSO directly and briefly explain the nature of the situation.
Please reserve urgent contact for genuinely time-sensitive immigration matters so the office can prioritize students facing immediate deadlines or status concerns.
Contact ISSO
International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO)
Library Palmer Wing, Room 4503
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Phone: 323-343-3170