Written by the 2025 NAFSA Consular Affairs Liaisons (CAL)
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Virginia Ward - CAL World-at-Large Country Coordinator
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Lauryl Cookson - CAL Italy Country Coordinator
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Naomi Ziegler - CAL France Country Coordinator
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Katie Wiggins-Gawlik - CAL Spain Country Coordinator
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Daniel Solomon - CAL UK Country Coordinator
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Jason Sanderson - Chair, CAL Subcommittee
Note about CAL:
CAL member leaders serve as vital connectors between the international education community and foreign consulates across the United States. These dedicated volunteers work to facilitate communication, share updates on visa procedures, and advocate for clear, consistent guidance that supports outbound US student mobility. By fostering relationships with consular officials and relaying timely information to NAFSA members, CAL volunteer leaders help ensure that education abroad professionals are equipped with the insights needed to navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of international travel and visa advising.
Both students and EA professionals are increasingly turning to AI as a resource and thought partner. Whether it is entering a question into ChatGPT or another AI service, or clicking on the Google AI Overview links before reviewing the actual search results, many are using AI to substitute for more established research methods such as consular or visa service provider websites. Though these can be great resources, both students and advisors should exercise caution and discretion when using AI for visa advising. Since it may not always be clear when you are encountering AI-generated information, it is important to look for and recognize AI-generated information in search engine results and proceed accordingly. Recent videos on social media have featured travelers who used AI alone to determine what type of visa, if any, was needed for their travels, taking this advice as fact, and subsequently being denied either entry to a country or boarding for an international flight.
AI can be a valuable tool in pointing students and advisors alike toward the appropriate resources, but it should serve as a supplementary resource, not the final word; a reference and not an authority.
Here are a few tips for using AI when advising students on their visa needs
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Always verify. AI may provide a single statement regarding a student’s travel requirements, but this should be verified with an official source, like a consular website.
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As always, third party websites, blogs, listservs, and the like can provide anecdotal information, but always verify with the actual visa-granting authority.
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Visa regulations and procedures change all the time and without warning. NAFSA’s Consular Affairs Liaisons volunteers attempt to share these updates as soon as possible, but continuously see scenarios where the ability to get a complete picture does not happen right away. AI processes data from various sources, and may not intuitively understand what information on third-party websites is outdated compared to information on official websites.
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Take the extra step to click on the links leading to the source of any information in the AI text. The link may lead you to an official resource but it could also lead to an unverified or commercial website with inaccurate information
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In your query to your preferred AI engine, be specific about duration of stay, type of travel, and citizenship. Even a minor change in any of these factors can dramatically impact the final result. The more specific and descriptive you can be, the more likely you are to receive links and information directly related to the situation at hand
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Share with your students information on how to find official information on their visa requirements. Examples of this can be links to the program provider’s website, the host university’s international student services office, or your local consular authority. This is a learning opportunity for students as they develop their AI and critical thinking skills.
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When using AI, it is better to ask for links to the information you or students are looking for than the information itself. Here is an example:
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DO "ChatGPT, where can I find the official webpages for guidance on getting a student visa to South Africa for a program at University XYZ that would run from Start Date - End Date."
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DON'T "Google Gemini, what are the visa requirements and steps for getting my South African student visa."
Conclusion
As AI tools become more integrated into the advising landscape, it’s essential for both students and education abroad professionals to approach them with discernment. While AI can streamline access to information and offer helpful starting points, it should never replace official sources or professional judgment, especially when it comes to visa advising. By verifying AI-generated content, encouraging critical thinking, and guiding students toward authoritative resources, we can harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding the integrity and accuracy of our advising practices.