Step into any International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office and you’ll encounter an extraordinary group of professionals.

They’re not attorneys, but they spend their days interpreting immigration law.

They’re not counselors, yet they field crisis calls, life plans, and culture shocks.

They are, in every sense, lawyers without law degrees—navigating compliance, advocacy, and care all at once.

Working in ISSS isn’t for the faint of heart. These professionals serve as designated school officials (DSOs), trusted advisors, crisis responders, and institutional compliance officers—often simultaneously. A single day may include:

Their decisions carry real weight—impacting whether a student stays on track for graduation, whether a scholar can start their research, or whether the institution stays compliant with federal law.

Every ISSS staff member walks the line between advisory and legal interpretation. Without a JD or often the luxury of a dedicated legal team, they must:

A small misstep can result in visa denials, delays, or even institutional penalties. The stakes couldn’t be higher—and the support systems couldn’t be more vital.

That’s where a purpose-built ISSS management platform like Via International comes in. More than just a database, Via International is a partner in compliance, advocacy, and student and scholar empowerment. It’s designed for the real, complex world ISSS professionals operate in every day:

✅  SEVIS Integration That Works for You

Via International supports both batch and real-time SEVIS event processing for F, M (coming soon), and J visa types. Reconciliation tools, saveable templates, and integrated SEVIS PDF management reduce the burden of data entry and minimize error.

✅  Centralized, Configurable Record Management

With a single record per student, robust intake configurations, and real-time insights into immigration status and academic training stages, ISSS staff get a clear view of every case—without the chaos of spreadsheets or legacy systems.

✅ Empowered Student/Scholar Experience

Via International supports both batch and real-time SEVIS event processing for F, M (coming soon), and J visa types. Reconciliation tools, saveable templates, and integrated SEVIS PDF management reduce the burden of data entry and minimize error.

✅ Automation That Saves Time

Via International automates request routing, email communications, tagging, and eligibility checks with over 5,000 configuration possibilities, reducing human error and accelerating processing without sacrificing accuracy.

✅ Security, Support, and Peace of Mind

With SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance, plus 99.99% uptime and built-in training resources like Via Academy and Via Sparks, your team is never left to figure it out alone.

We built Via International because we’ve lived this work.

Our team includes former DSOs, PDSOs, and international advisors from across higher education. We understand what it’s like to make judgment calls with a student’s future on the line—and we believe the technology supporting you should rise to meet the challenge.

You may not have a law degree, but you practice the art of informed advocacy every day.

With the right system, you don’t have to choose between compliance and compassion. You can do both—with clarity, efficiency, and the support you deserve.