The Student Immigration Advising (SIA) team in International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at Texas Global supports international students as they navigate immigration requirements throughout their time at The University of Texas at Austin.
From maintaining immigration status and understanding employment requirements to planning for graduation, SIA provides resources and individualized advising to help students understand their responsibilities and make informed decisions.
Meet three members of the Student Immigration Advising team and learn more about the people behind the advising, emails and immigration support that international students rely on.
Torrey Wang, Senior International Student Advisor
Torrey Wang joined Texas Global in December 2021 and has served as a Senior International Student Advisor since May 2022. He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and his master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame.
Students come to Torrey with questions about immigration status, employment, enrollment, and graduation. One thing he wishes every international student knew is that “part-time” can mean something different in an immigration context than it does to a typical U.S. employer. While employers may consider anything under 40 hours per week part-time, international advising generally defines “part-time” as no more than 20 hours per week.
Torrey also frequently hears from students wondering whether they can delay graduation because of a challenging job market. He encourages students to consult an international student advisor before changing their academic plans, as those changes may have immigration implications.
For staying up to date, Torrey recommends myIO.
“A copy of most international student-related updates and communications is posted there, especially system-generated automated alerts pertaining to their enrollment and visa status.”
His favorite campus spot is the second floor of Dobie Twenty21. For an Austin experience, he recommends catching a Texas Women’s Volleyball game at Gregory Gymnasium.
Tisha Korkuś, International Student Advisor
Tisha Korkuś has worked in international education for more than 15 years, with experience in education abroad and international student services at three universities. She earned her B.A. in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Trinity University and her M.A. in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute.
Students generally interact with Tisha through advising appointments, but they may also see her name on an I-20 after she processes requests for CPT, OPT or STEM OPT.
Tisha speaks Spanish fluently and is learning Polish. Her interest in international education began with her own experience studying abroad in high school.
“I remember how hard it was to learn the language and culture and make friends at first. I had some wonderful people who supported me during my year in Argentina, and I wanted to support our international students just as I was supported.”
Today, she enjoys helping students navigate the cultural differences and unexpected challenges of living in a new country, including the quirks of U.S., Southern and Texan expressions.
Tisha recommends starting with the Texas Global website for information about international student and exchange visitor requirements. For questions specific to an individual student’s circumstances, she encourages students to make an advising appointment.
Her favorite Austin view is from the cliffs overlooking the Pennybacker Bridge at dawn. Outside of work, she enjoys baking biscotti, collecting language-specific idioms, and spending time with her six-year-old daughter.
Sam Hays, International Student Advisor
Sam Hays grew up in Dripping Springs, Texas, and attended UT Austin before living in international cities including New York and Paris. His experiences traveling and living abroad sparked his interest in working with international students.
Students often interact with Sam through the SIA Hotline inbox and front desk services, including signing Social Security number letters. He speaks English and French, along with what he calls “extremely rusty” Spanish.
For Sam, the most rewarding part of his work is hearing students’ stories and helping them navigate challenges far from home.
“The thing that’s always fascinated me the most about foreign destinations isn’t really the landmarks or tourist destinations, but rather the people and the stories they have to tell. Here, I get to hear the stories and problems many students have, and I get to help them. It’s a win-win for all involved!”
Sam is also grateful to play a role in helping students access higher education.
“The fact that I get to actually play a role in students accessing higher education and opening up so many opportunities for themselves.”
His advice for students adjusting to Austin? Step outside your comfort zone.
“People in Austin are very friendly; it’s very worth it to prepare yourself to stretch the limits of your comfort zone if you’re not a socialite by nature. You never know which friends you’ll make.”
Sam’s favorite Austin spot is the South Mall on a cool spring day, with views of the Capitol, the Tower and the activity of campus.
Supporting International Students
Whether students have questions about maintaining immigration status, employment, enrollment, graduation or travel, the Student Immigration Advising team is here to help.
Students can find information through the Texas Global website and myIO, and advisors are available to discuss questions specific to individual circumstances.
Beyond immigration advising, the SIA team encourages international students to explore Austin, build community and make the most of their time on the Forty Acres.
This blog post was contributed by Sarah Chiu, program coordinator on the Intercultural Programs and Initiatives team at ISSS.
