January 10, 2025 Immigration Advisory

1. Full-time enrollment requirements
2. Update address in myPassport
3. Health Fee charge  
4. Academic dismissal or recession and impact on status 
5. Academic integrity and plagiarism – Why this is important? 
6. Be aware of weather alerts
7. Sponsored students only – Information on requests to have WSU insurance premium removed. 
8. All students must be compliant with the University’s EP43 policy
9. Tax Information: Coming Soon!

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1. Full-time enrollment requirements 

As part of your F-1 or J-1 status, you are required to be enrolled full time unless you have authorization from ISSS to drop below full-time enrollment.  

You must be enrolled in the following by the start of the semester: 

Undergraduate students: 12 credits 

Graduate students: 10 credits  

Please note that if you are a current student, your F-1 or J-1 status is tied to your full-time enrollment or having an approved reduced course load by our office. Holding on-campus employment, such as an assistantship, does not constitute maintenance of status. You can remain legally in status without employment, as long as you are full-time enrolled. 

If you need to drop below full-time enrollment, please meet with an ISSS advisor during open advising (1-3pm) or contact us (ip.intlservices@wsu.edu or 509-335-4508) to learn more. 

2. Update address in myPassport

Your address updates in myWSU no longer feed into myPassport, the system that reports changes to the U.S government. Therefore, please make sure that you complete an Address Update Form in myPassport within 10 days of changing addresses. This is a government regulation. 

3. Health Fee charge

The Health Fee is NOT automatically assessed if: 

1. During the fall/spring, a student is taking less than 7 credits, or 

2. During the summer, a student is not enrolled. 

So, if any of our students, including Fulbright students, are ABD and not on an assistantship (likely enrolled in 2 credits) or if they are not taking classes during the summer, they would need to opt-in for the Health Fee to be seen at CHS/CAPS. They should still be covered under insurance, though.  

4. Academic dismissal or recession and impact on status

If you are in the U.S. and have been dismissed or recessed from WSU for the spring 2025 term due to a low GPA, please speak with an International Student Advisor immediately! Your immigration status is tied to your enrollment, so you will need to act soon to remain in the United States. 

Do you need to return home or are you having a hard semester and thinking about canceling all your classes (withdrawing from all your classes)? If so, please speak with an International Student Advisor before you do anything. Your F-1 or J-1 status is tied to your full-time enrollment. Unless you have a documented serious medical issue and have received approval from ISSS, you CANNOT remain in the United States without enrollment. (Summer is excluded.)  

An International Student Advisor can discuss your options with you and guide you through the process. Please attend our open advising hours between 1-3 p.m. 

5. Academic integrity and plagiarism – Why this is important?

At Washington State University, violations of academic integrity such as plagiarism, unauthorized assistance, and fabrication are taken seriously. Taking part in acts of academic dishonesty can lead to permanent expulsion from WSU, so it is important that you be aware of what academic dishonesty means and how to avoid it.  

If you are expelled from WSU, you will need to return to your home country immediately or find another school to transfer to where you can finish your degree. So, it is important you take this seriously.  

For more information please visit: communitystandards.wsu.edu/

6. Be aware of weather alerts

This time of the year the weather changes rapidly and is extremely cold. With wind gusts it may become unsafe to walk outside for long times. So, it’s important to bundle up with winter appropriate gear and stay inside as much as possible. 

In addition, please make sure to sign up for WSU alert and possible class cancellation due to inclement weather:

7. Sponsored students ONLY – Information on requests to have WSU insurance premium removed 

If your sponsor is requesting that the WSU insurance premium be removed from your student account, please be advised Cougar Health Services can only process such requests by the 13th day of classes each term. So plan to make the request timely, if you need to.  

8. All students must be compliant with the University’s EP43 policy 

In order to be able enroll for summer or fall terms later this spring/summer, all students must be compliant with the EP43 policy on vaccinations. Please make yourself familiar with this policy and vaccines required and contact Cougar Health Services with any questions or concerns: cougarhealth.immunizations@wsu.edu.

9. Tax Information: Coming Soon!

More details about US Federal taxes will be available soon. ISSS is working with WSU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to offer free tax help to students. 

Important: Keep all forms you receive, like W-2, 1042-S, and 1099-INT, etc. You will need them to file your tax return. For additional tax information, visit this page.  

Note: ISSS does not give tax advice or information on tax treaties. For help, plan to attend a VITA clinic or consult a licensed tax professional.