Please read this information as a guide to help you with your studies and maintain a valid immigration status. The information below may not apply to international students at all campuses.
Contents
- Taxes
- Survey: Your opinion matters to us!
- IMPORTANT! Phone scam alert!
- Update on work authorization (EAD) extensions
Taxes
Tax season is soon approaching (January through April), so it’s time to start getting familiarized with its terms and regulations. Please visit our website to learn more about taxes and what to prepare for: ISSS Tax infomation page
Survey: Your opinion matters to us!
International Student and Scholar Services in the Office of International Programs is here to support you. To do that effectively, we want to learn what you need. You can help us by telling us through an International Student Needs Assessment Survey about your time at WSU so far, including your experiences on campus. The survey is open to all international students at all WSU locations, and it can be accessed via the survey link. It is completely anonymous, meaning that your answers cannot be connected back to you.
Participation in this survey is voluntary as well as private, and we value your perspective and hope you will take this opportunity to let your voice be heard. If you have questions about the survey, please reach out to us directly at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu.
IMPORTANT! Phone scam alert!
If someone claiming to be a U.S. government official or law enforcement officer calls threatening you with deportation or any other negative immigration consequences – hang up immediately! This is a sophisticated scam (fraud)! Please see official website: FBI Liaison Information Report on Phone Scams Targeting Chinese Student Visa Holders
USCIS and other government agencies will NEVER contact you over the phone to request payment immediately or to ask for identifying information.
Recently, students in our area began receiving calls from a phone number that looks like a legitimate government number. When you answer, the person on the phone poses as a USCIS, FBI, IRS, or other government official or law enforcement officer. The scammer or scammers will say that there is a problem with your application or that additional information is required to continue the immigration process. Then, they will often ask for sensitive personal and financial information, demand payment, and threaten you with deportation, arrest, or other negative consequences if you do not comply immediately.
The scammer will then order victims to make a payment – and will often order them to go to a nearby bank or store and withdraw money or purchase a prepaid card, Steam card, Apple gift card, Google Play gift card voucher, or money order or make some other wire transfer, money exchange, payment, or withdrawal. (Note that the scammers are often able to direct victims to nearby banks or stores by using online maps to study the area in which a victim resides.) Again – if you receive a call like that, hang up immediately!
If you receive a suspicious email or voice message and are not sure if it is a scam, please contact ISSS at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu. Also, please visit the USCIS Avoid Scam page.
If you have been a victim of one of these please contact our office and report it to the Federal Trade Commission online.
Update on work authorization (EAD) extensions
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published guidance that certain categories of EAD holders will no longer have an automatic extension of their employment authorization while their renewal application is pending.
The EAD category for F-1 students engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT Extension are not part of the categories listed under the current USCIS list of codes affected by this guidance. You may still submit your STEM OPT Extension application (if eligible) as early as 90 days before your current OPT EAD card expires. If you file on time, you may be eligible to continue working for up to 180 days past the expiration date of your current EAD while USCIS reviews your application.
We understand how changes and announcements like this can cause anxiety or uncertainty, please know we are here to support you every step of the way. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu or book an appointment with one of our advisors.
If you have any questions about the above announcement, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.
- WSU students across the System, contact +1 509-335-4508 or ip.intlservices@wsu.edu