Making the world feel at home

Lately, IFI staff, volunteers, and even students have been getting more questions about student visas— especially as policies and costs continue to change. For many internationals, navigating the U.S. immigration system is one of the most stressful parts of studying abroad. Understanding what they go through can help us be more compassionate, better-informed friends.

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When Simon* moved from South Asia to the U.S. in the summer of 2022, he expected academic challenges. What he didn’t expect was how much living in a cross-cultural community would shape him.

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When Nat arrived in Ohio from Thailand as an international student, he held excitement and nerves in both hands. Like many students new to the U.S., he wondered how he would adjust to life in a new country...

Priscilla* arrived in Cleveland from South Asia in August of 2024 to begin her master’s degree in Information Systems. While she had traveled internationally before, this move felt different...

In her final days in the U.S., international student Janet*, originally from a closed country, joined IFI staff members in the fall of 2025 to watch a showing of The Chosen: The Last Supper. But her questions about faith had actually begun long before that night...

When Soledad left Bolivia for the United States, she thought she was coming simply for her education. Instead, she found herself on a journey of faith and transformation that would change her life forever...

In the fall of 2024, Aiden* arrived in the United States from South Asia to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. Having visited the U.S. before as a tourist, he thought he knew what to expect. But this time was different. Life as an international student meant new responsibilities, new rhythms, and a need for a new community...

In 2022, Lily* came to a university in the Midwest as an exchange student. She was excited about the opportunity but also nervous; she had never been so far from home, and she didn’t know what to expect. The first months were filled with culture shock, academic stress, and the ache of being away from family...

For many students, this season raises a lot of questions: “Is it a religious holiday?” “Should Christians take part in it?” As IFI volunteers and partners, this season gives us a unique opportunity to connect, educate, and model a Christ-centered perspective on culture...

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IFI began in the United States, but its mission and vision have never been bound by geography. As IFI expands beyond the U.S., it remains the same: to welcome international students, befriend them, and show them God’s love. Lindsey, serving in Daejeon, is living out that vision as the leader of IFI’s very first location in South Korea...

You may have heard the saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped— he equips the called.” What does this mean? It means that no matter how equipped someone might feel, God calls his people, ordinary as they may be, to faithfully serve and lead in extraordinary ways– just as He did with Paul*, an IFI volunteer who found his purpose working with international students...

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