Resources on Immigration Issues
UW–Madison information and resources on current immigration issues
Service Schedule Changes:
July 22: IFSS will open late at 12 p.m.
Please plan accordingly.
International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS) provides comprehensive assistance to the Universities of Wisconsin on all aspects of non-student immigration. The office acts as the liaison between the Universities and all government agencies involved in immigration matters, and assists both the institution and individuals in complying with immigration laws and regulations.
Services
Advise UW System departments and processes immigration-related documents for employment-based non-immigrant and immigrant statuses
Offer regular workshops on employment based immigration related topics
Administer the University’s J scholar Exchange Visitor Program, including issuing J scholar documents, advising departments and visiting scholars, and providing weekly J scholar orientation sessions
All current and prospective faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin dealing with immigration issues are strongly encouraged to first contact IFSS for assistance.
Immigration regulations are complex and often difficult to understand, with important changes occurring frequently and at times with little or no advance notice. IFSS staff expend significant time remaining current with all applicable regulations, far more so than individuals can manage on their own, particularly as this effort includes regular consultation with peer professionals at other institutions and regulatory agencies. Rather than attempting to navigate this difficult regulatory environment alone, or through conversations with colleagues and friends – – both approaches being prone to inadvertent mistakes or deficiencies that take time to correct. Current and prospective faculty and staff should begin their immigration work by consulting with IFSS on how best to proceed.
What’s happening at IFSS?
NAFSA Conference
The IFSS team presented at the NAFSA Region IV & V Biregional Conference. We appreciated the opportunity to share our knowledge!
Int’l Scholar Social
We kicked off the new academic year by hosting a Scholar Social to welcome and connect our international employees!
Workshops and Trainings
Jennifer Taylor and Katie Tollefson recently hosted a session on how human resources affects immigration.
Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Summit
Our director Jennifer and J-1 specialist Camila attended the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Summit at the University of Iowa!
Scholar Potluck
We hosted a wonderful potluck dinner at the Eagle Heights Community Center! It was a fantastic evening as our scholars came together to share delicious, traditional dishes from their home cultures.
Ink Flow Tile Workshop
IFSS recently hosted a special event for our scholars at Wheelhouse Studios, the university’s open art studio!
Announcements
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IFSS Office Temporarily Closed to In-Person Services
Due to the ongoing cooling-issues campus wide and extreme heat, the Pyle Center will be closed until further notice. IFSS will continue to offer virtual services. We will continue to monitor the…
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$100,000 H-1B Fee Update
June 10 update On June 8, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the federal government’s $100,000 H-1B payment policy as unlawful. Review the order. Therefore, the…
If the sponsoring division, school, or college’s dean (or senior leader under another title) deems an immigration case taken to International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS) unsatisfactorily resolved after working with IFSS, the case may be considered for review by the International Division’s ad hoc Immigration Employment Advisory Board (IEAB). The IEAB, charged by the vice provost and dean of the International Division, will review the case, and offer its opinion on any points of disagreement on the interpretation of federal regulations or guidance from IFSS. A request from the unit’s senior leader for this review should be made to Associate Dean Ron Machoian in the International Division. The associate dean will then make a recommendation to the vice provost and dean of the International Division on whether the request should proceed to the IEAB. The IEAB’s purpose is to review only those cases in which the petition’s complexity gives rise to divergent interpretations of federal guidance and regulations.