The International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSSO) is the primary contact for currently enrolled non-immigrant students and F-1/J-1 alumni at the University of Houston. We also serve J-1 scholars and student interns who require our services. Our office does not handle admissions related inquiries unless otherwise advised by admissions to contact our office.

Many requests with ISSSO do not require an appointment with an International Student Counselor. Please see the listing of services available without an appointment below.

*Office will remain closed on Saturday, Sunday, and University Holidays.

General Contact Information

The International Student and Scholar Services Office can be contacted through email, phone, or in-person.

Our office is located on the second floor of the Student Center North building, Suite N203. We are open daily from 8am to 5pm and our front desk staff can help you with any questions you may have.

If you wish to contact our office by phone, our phone line is: (713) 743-5065 option 1

You may call us for general inquiries regarding information on applying for certain benefits and how to use our services. During the busy season, phone calls may have a longer wait time and we recommend that you send an email so we can respond in a timely manner.

Our office emails are used for both general inquiries and submitting documentation. We have two main contact emails. Please include your student ID in the subject line of any email you send.
ISSSOHLP@CENTRAL.UH.EDU is for new students ready to begin studies at UH and currently enrolled.

Note: ISSSO does not issue initial I-20’s for incoming students and cannot help with these inquiries in relation to admissions.

If you are needing to submit documentation to ISSSO through this email, please visit our document and submission page.

SEVIS@CENTRAL.UH.EDU is for F-1 alumni on OPT and OPT-X.
This email will help with reporting requirements to SEVIS and other questions and scenarios that alumni may have. This includes submission of EAD card copies, SEVP portal inquiries such resetting portal account and adding employment, 6-month validation reports for OPT-X, etc.

In-Person Walk-In

ISSSO offers students the opportunity to speak directly in-person with counselors in our office during the fall and spring semesters at our front desk. The open times are from 5-6pm Monday and Tuesday unless otherwise noted. This timeframe is to allow students to ask general questions about maintaining status or other inquiries.

Walk-in advising is used for the following:

• Maintaining status questions (e.g. reduced course load, transferring, travel requirements, etc.)
• Seeking basic benefits (e.g. CPT, OPT, scholarships, assistantships, inviting dependents, etc.)
• Traveling abroad and/or questions on renewing your VISA
• OPT/OPT-X inquiries
• Transitions after completing your studies

Virtual Walk-In

Throughout the year ISSSO counselors virtual walk-ins from 1:30pm to 2:30pm Monday-Friday. This is meant to provide 5-10 minute advising for students on any number of concerns that arise.

To reach the virtual walk-in times, call (713) 743-5065 and choose option 5.

Virtual walk-in advising is used for the following:

• Maintaining status questions (e.g. reduced course load, transferring, travel requirements, etc.)
• Seeking basic benefits (e.g. CPT, OPT, scholarships, assistantships, inviting dependents, etc.)
• Traveling abroad and/or questions on renewing your VISA
• OPT/OPT-X inquiries
• Transitions after completing your studies

Virtual/In-Person Advising Appointments

ISSSO has both in-person and virtual appointments available to students upon request. In-person appointments are depending on the counselor's hybrid work schedule. Virtual appointments will be held through Microsoft Teams and in-person will be in the Student Center North, Rm N203. The advisor will contact you within 24 hours from the appointment start time with instructions to join the scheduled appointment. In order to better assist your fellow students and our counselors, please do not schedule multiple appointments, cancel on the same day of the appointment, or forget to attend.

Appointments with advisors are meant for critical one-on-one advising. This is limited to students needing help with the following:

• Change of Status
• Reinstatement
• Severe Economic Hardship
• Medical Reasons and Below Hours
• Transitions (e.g. H1-B cap-gap, transferring, pending new statuses, etc.)

After you log in to myUH, you should be able to schedule an appointment with an ISSSO advisor by selecting "Advising" and then "Appointment with ISSSO." View our guide for additional instructions on how to schedule an appointment.

OPT Group Workshop

This is only for F-1 students ready to apply for post-completion OPT (within 90 days prior to the date all degree requirements are met or during the 60-days grace period). These appointments are only available during specified times and days.

Visit our OPT page for upcoming OPT Group Appointments and how to apply.