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.
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Holiday travels
International travel at this time necessitates a risk assessment for both international students on F and J visas as well as for international scholars on a variety of status including but not limited to H-1B, J, TN, E-3 and other visas. That risk may be high or low depending upon the case and situation. For H-1B scholars in particular, many of which are our WSU tenure track faculty, travel abroad, or being abroad while the WSU sponsored H-1B petition is pending with USCIS will trigger the $100,000 fee. If the sponsored individual on an H-1B is in the United States when an H-1B petition is submitted to USCIS and remains in the United States until USCIS approves the H-1B petition, and USCIS also approves change or extension of status (without travel abroad to acquire or resume H-1B status), then the $100,000 fee does not apply. International students are encouraged to book an appointment in person or virtually with a WSU Designated School Official to review travel plans and receive deeper guidance. Case-by-case advising is greatly beneficial to support and retain WSU’s international student and scholar community.
Please get in touch with any questions you may have. We are very glad to help!
Thanksgiving holiday – Nov. 27-28
ISSS advising hours will be available Monday through Wednesday of Thanksgiving week (Nov. 24-26), even though there will be NO CLASSES.
Please join us at ELSON S. FLOYD CULTURAL CENTER on November 24, 2025, between 2:30-4:30pm for a Thanksgiving Dinner celebration hosted by the Office of International Programs. No registration required and food is provided. We look forward to seeing you there.
WSU Health Fee (Pullman Only)
The WSU Health fee so you can access Cougar Health Services (CHS) and CAPS is not automatically assessed if:
- During the fall/spring, a student is taking less than 7 credits, or
- During the summer, a student is not enrolled.
So, if any students, including Fulbright students, are ABD and not on an assistantship (likely enrolled in 2 credits), enrolled in less than 7 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. Students should still be covered under insurance, though.
International Programs office hours winter break – Plan ahead!
ISSS will be available for emergencies only during the University Winter Closure between Dec. 24, 2024, and Jan. 2, 2026. We cannot commit to processing requests within the usual 5-business day turnaround time. Therefore, PLAN AHEAD if you need to submit a request to our office.
Please email ip.intlservices@wsu.edu for questions. We will make sure someone from our team is available to help during this time.
WSU Emergency alerts
If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for emergency alerts on myWSU and you can specify which campus you are located at. These alerts include inclement weather closures and cancelations of classes as well.
In addition, please check your current I-20. If you have a form I-20 for the Pullman campus, but are located at another location, please submit an Address update form in myPassport as soon as possible.
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