Sponsored Students Services

Florida Atlantic University welcomes international sponsored students. International sponsored students are students at FAU who receive financial support from a foreign government, corporation or nonprofit organization and the sponsor is billed directly by FAU for the student’s tuition and fees. On top of the immigration regulations and requirements of their academic program, these students must also adhere to the requirements of their sponsoring organization.

The Office of International Student Services (ISS) under the Center for Global Engagement provides support services to all international sponsored students. We aim to serve as the point of contact for international sponsored students and as the liaison between the student, the sponsor and the FAU community.

 

Sponsored Student Advising:

The International Student Services office provides comprehensive immigration advising for all international sponsored students. If you have questions regarding your immigration status, work authorization or general cultural adjustment, we encourage you to meet with an International Student Advisor.

 

International Student Services Advising

Currently, all walk-in advising is begin held remotely. Each walk-in advising session will be limited to 30 minutes and will be assigned on a first come first served basis.

Wednesdays: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. (ET)

With Jennifer Szekeres

Please join via this Zoom link: http://fau-edu.zoom.us/j/3631728031?pwd=SURpOFF1UjF1SFUxeHgvR1ZxbWJ3dz09

If you are unable to attend a walk-in advising session you can call International Student Services at +1 561-297-3049 or email them at isss@kome-shibahara.com.

Individual appointments can also be scheduled from our ISS Advising Page.

 

Financial Matters and Financial Guarantee Letters/Financial Support Letters:

The Office of International Student Services (ISS) is responsible for collecting updated Financial Guarantee Letters (FGL)/Financial Support Letters (FSL) from all sponsored students at the start of their academic program and at the start of every semester until they depart FAU.

It is important for you to always submit an updated FGL/FSL to The Office of International Student Services to ensure that your sponsor will be billed for your tuition and fees and to waive the requirement of the FAU student health insurance.

If you need a grade report or an enrollment verification letter/form to submit to your sponsor in order to obtain an updated FGL/FSL, please send us an email with your request at  sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com. If you receive an updated FGL/FSL from your sponsor, please send it attached in an email to sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com.

Warning: If the Office of International Student Services (ISS) does not have an updated FGL/FSL on file, you may be responsible for paying your tuition/fees and the FAU student health insurance fee.

If you have questions regarding your student account or notice a financial discrepancy you may contact the FAU Controller’s Office at webcontroller@kome-shibahara.com. Be sure to include your FAU Z number in the email.

 

Release of Information:

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) law protects the confidentiality of student information. For FAU and the Office of International Student Services (ISS) to release academic and financial information to your sponsor, you must provide written consent through the Office of the Registrar.

To submit the FERPA authorization form, please go to this webpage and click the link: “Please click here to complete and submit your FERPA Authorization Form” at the bottom of the page.

Once you submit this form the Office of International Student Services (ISS) will be able to provide you sponsor with academic and financial information on your behalf.

 

Sponsor Forms and Requests:

The Office of International Student Services will complete the following forms and requests for current international sponsored students at FAU:

  • Registration/Enrollment Verification Form or Letter (Degree seeking & IEI Students)
  • Verification of Non-Traditional Courses Form for Language Training Students (IEI)
  • Semester Grade Report (IEI students)

Note: The Office of International Student Services (ISS) cannot complete the Plan of Study or the Degree Plan Form (SACM) or Verification of Non-Traditional Courses Form for degree seeking students. International sponsored students must submit this request to their academic department or academic advisor.

If you have a need for a specific letter to be sent to your sponsor, please feel free to contact us with your request. If we are not able to complete the specific letter/request, we will provide with the contact of the person who can.

To request a sponsor letter or form, please send an email to  sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com and include your Z number in the request.

 

Financial Guarantee Letter/Financial Support Letter:

The Office of International Student Services (ISS) is responsible for collecting updated Financial Guarantee Letters (FGL)/Financial Support Letters (FSL) from all sponsored students at the start of your academic program and at the start of every semester until you depart FAU. It is important to always submit an updated FGL/FSL to The Office of International Student Services to ensure that your sponsor will be billed for your tuition and fees and to waive the requirement of the FAU student health insurance.

If you need a grade report or an enrollment verification letter or form to submit to your sponsor in order to obtain an updated FGL/FSL, please send us an email with your request at sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com. If you receive an updated FGL/FSL from your sponsor, please send a copy attached in an email to  sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com   

Warning: If the Office of International Student Services (ISS) does not have an updated FGL/FSL on file, you may be responsible for paying your tuition/fees and the FAU student health insurance fee.

 

Health Insurance Waiver:

All international students at Florida Atlantic University are required to purchase FAU Student Health Insurance. However, international sponsored students will be automatically waived from this required if we have a current, unexpired, Financial Guarantee Letter/Financial Support Letter on file for you.

If the FGL/FSL we have on file is expired and you fail to submit an updated FGL/FSL at the start of the semester, you will be enrolled in the FAU Student Health Insurance and you will be responsible for paying that bill for the time you are enrolled in the insurance.

 

Sponsor Services Contact Within ISS:

If you are a government sponsor or a current international sponsored student and have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email or phone. If we are not able to answer your specific question, we will be happy to direct you to the appropriate person who can.

If you have questions, please send an email to sponsorservices@kome-shibahara.com

Questions regarding billing should be sent to sponsoredstudents@kome-shibahara.com within the Controller's department.