International students and faculty are invited to attend a briefing with Janice Jacobs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

To be held on Wednesday, February 23, at 2:00 PM in the Grand Ballroom at the Stamp Student Union, the meeting will provide an opportunity for the Washington-area international education community to learn about improvements in visa application processing, policy and practice adjustments implemented to speed the process, and the progress the Department expects to continue to make in serving prospective students and scholars.

Members of the audience will be able to ask questions about the process and plans for implementing changes. International student advisors are welcome at this event as well and are invited to attend a break-out session following Ms. Jacobs' presentation to discuss practical issues with an experienced visa services officer.

The presentation and break-out session will be held in the Grand Ballroom, First Floor, Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park. Parking for off-campus guests is available in the Union Lane Garage, located right next to the Student Union, at a minimal cost.

For directions to the University of Maryland, please visit: http://www.umd.edu/visitors/#directions

If you are planning to attend the presentation, please respond to Sapienza Barone at sbarone@umd.edu. Please include your name, email address, your institution, and whether you are a student, faculty, advisor, or visiting scholar.