International Student Services
The Primary Designated School Official/Designated School Official (PDSO/DSO) coordinates services for international students and their dependents. The PDSO/DSO assists members of the AIU international community with matters of special concern and serves as a referral source to other University departments. The PDSO/DSO provides support with United States immigration requirements, employment, academic, cross-cultural and financial matters. The PDSO/DSO is the University’s liaison to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) previously known as the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the United States Office of Homeland Security, and the United States Information Agency. All international F-1 students must register with the PDSO/DSO upon arrival to the University so information can be updated in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must notify the office of any changes in their academic program, enrollment, or employment status. All questions regarding one’s visa status as an F-1 student must be addressed to the PDSO/DSO.
The PDSO and DSO are available to assist all students holding F-1 visas while studying at AIU with matters pertaining to the following:
• Enrollment and academic requirements
• Advisement
• Driver’s license issuance and social security number
• Bringing family to the United States
• Maintaining F-1 status
• Residency status and changes
• Extending an 1-20
• Grace periods
• Reinstatement
• Transferring to another school
• Travel information and requirements
• Employment authorization
Once an I-20 has been issued and used, SEVIS begins collecting information about a student’s status such as registration for classes, change in program or major, work requests and authorizations, etc. This information is recorded in the government database so it is required that students inform the PDSO/DSO of any significant changes, such as an address change/change of program, and a new I-20 that includes these changes is requested.