Welcome

On behalf of Lehigh University, the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) welcomes you to Lehigh and Bethlehem. OISS provides immigration and visa advising and adjustment support services to all more than 1,200 international students, 130+ scholars and their family members from roughly 80 countries around the world.

The mission of OISS is to provide regulatory and transitional services and support for the international community. OISS cultivates and promotes cross-cultural understanding by working with other Lehigh departments and units to organize social and cultural programming events.

By serving as resources for the Lehigh and local community, OISS promotes international educational exchanges amongst all Lehigh students. We also represent Lehigh on all immigration-related matters, serving as Lehigh’s liaison to federal government agencies to provide professional immigration and visa advice to the Lehigh community.

The OISS staff has many years of experience in the field of international education and immigration advising. We strive to provide the best services and to assist you in achieving your academic and personal objectives while at Lehigh.

Immigration Advising

OISS provides immigration advising to students and scholars on an individual basis, including general information as well as specific information on USCIS transfer of schools, extension of stay, work permission, and practical training experience.

The OISS staff is also available for support and advice on matters such as housing, family concerns, financial questions, personal difficulties, etc. We welcome and encourage international students and scholars to visit our office.

Immigration Workshops

To help you stay informed about ever-changing immigration regulations, we offer a series of immigration workshops covering topics such as F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B, J-1 visas and traveling outside of the US, etc. We also invite well-known immigration attorneys to campus one or two times a year to meet with students and scholars for free, private consultations.

Social and Recreational Events

Life at Lehigh isn’t all about studying! OISS recognizes that you are also here to experience the culture and history of the U.S. and to simply have fun between studies. We offer a variety of events and trips throughout the year, from shopping at a nearby outlet to visiting a local pumpkin farm during Halloween and even a day trip to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Everyone (including your family and friends who are visiting you at Lehigh) is welcome to participate. Be sure to check your Lehigh email regularly for OISS Weekly to see all the events and updates from our office.