Contact Us
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) Staff:
| Teresa de la Guardia, Director |
tdelaguardia@miami.edu |
| Claudia Zitzmann, Associate Director |
czitzmann@miami.edu |
| Kristin Pongé, Assistant Director |
kponge@miami.edu |
| Cristina Florez, Assistant Director |
cflorez@miami.edu |
| Marie Casimir, Secretary |
mcasimir@miami.edu |
| Valarie Williams, Secretary |
vwilliams@miami.edu |
| Cindy Cortes, Secretary |
c.cortes@miami.edu |
Each international student is assigned an International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Advisor based on his/her last name. The Spring 2012 advising loads are as follows:
| Your last name: | ISSS Advisor: |
| Students last name A through Ham: |
Teresa de la Guardia |
| Students last name Han through Pn: |
Kristin Pongé |
| Students last name Po through Z: | Cristina Florez |
| Scholars and Observers: | Claudia Zitzmann |
- To have your questions answered regarding a particular issue/process, email your ISSS Advisor your questions. Always allow 2 business days for a response to an e-mail or phone call. Repeated emails and phone calls will only delay the response time.
- If you would prefer to make an appointment to meet with your ISSS Advisor regarding a particular issue/process, email your ISSS Advisor directly to schedule the appointment and briefly describe the issue you wish to discuss. ISSS Advisors cannot see walk-ins. Always allow 2 business days for a response to an e-mail or phone call. Repeated emails and phone calls will only delay the response time.
- No appointment is necessary to drop off documents, pick up documents, or have your documents copied for your file. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- The front office secretaries/receptionists cannot advise you regarding immigration and employment related matters.
- ISSS document processing times for all matters are listed on ISSS handout #48 titled “Document Processing Times for International Students”. ISSS will not contact you to remind you to pick up your completed document. You just need to collect your document from ISSS after the time stated on handout #48.
- Attention all new, transfer, and readmitted students: Due to the high volume of applications during Spring 2012, processing time for the 1st signature on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is 10 business days from the date of submission to ISSS provided that you have registered full-time. After, not before, you have registered full-time, bring your passport, I-94, Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 to ISSS for photocopying and processing. ISSS will not contact you to remind you to pick up your completed document. You just need to collect your document from ISSS after 10 business days.
The only exceptions to the 10 business days processing time for 1st signature on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 are signatures for students who must travel prior to the 10 business days or applications for a Social Security Number (applies only to students who have on-campus employment including graduate assistantships). There are no other exceptions to the 10 business days processing time for 1st signature on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
If you plan to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for a Florida driver’s license or Florida ID, do not drop off your Form I-20 or DS-2019 at ISSS until after you have taken your documents to the DMV.
New, transfer, and readmitted students who have not yet brought their passport, I-94, I-20/DS-2019 to ISSS for photocopying and processing must do so by February 1, 2012.
Location:
International Students and Scholar Services
5600 Merrick Drive, Building 21-F
Coral Gables, FL 33124-5550
Telephone: 305.284.2928
Fax: 305.284.3409
Department Email: isss@miami.edu
Regular office hours:
Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Summer office hours – June 1 through August 9, 2012:*
Open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Fridays.
*With the exception of Friday, June 29, 2012 through Thursday, July 5 when the office will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office will be closed on Wednesday, July 4 (national holiday).