OLAS allows you to make your own appointment with an advisor in the Harvard International Office (HIO) to discuss immigration issues related to your studies or work at Harvard University. You may also call 617-495-2789 or visit the HIO (Monday through Friday, 9 to 5) to schedule an appointment. Please note, many simple questions and processes do not require an appointment. There is an advisor on-call during regular business hours to handle quick questions and to provide travel signatures (the advisor on-call is not available on Tuesdays until 11:30.)

Appointments regarding permanent residency for faculty and high level researchers, health insurance information, spouse and family related questions, and other matters not related to immigration should be made by telephone in order to be scheduled with the appropriate staff member. Please call our receptionist at 617-495-2789 to schedule these appointments.

OLAS Guidelines:
- If you need help scheduling an appointment on-line, please call our office at 617-495-2789.
- Individual appointments with advisors cannot be made less than 24 hours in advance
- Be sure to click the "Make Appointment" button in the lower right-hand corner in order to finalize your appointment. You should receive a confirmation e-mail
- Please bring your confirmation e-mail to your appointment
- If you do not receive a confirmation email, you did not click on "Make Appointment" and will have to reenter the system in order to make your appointment.

To give feedback about the On-line Appointment System or to report problems please contact: Ricardo Maldonado

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Appointments

OLAS is also intended to facilitate F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) appointments. OPT is a benefit of F-1 immigration status that allows students to work off-campus in a field related to their area of study. Students do not need a job offer to apply for OPT. To use OLAS, students should be ready to apply and have all of the materials prepared. Students who are not ready to make an appointment, but are interested in gathering information about OPT and other types of work permission for students should review the information here.

In order to accommodate the high volume of applicants from GSAS, HBS, HLS, GSD and Extension School, group OPT sessions are recommended. When you indicate your department in the system, choose the option for your school followed by (OPT). For example, a student from HBS should choose (Business OPT).