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
- Welcome to WSU
- Suspension of immigrant visa processing
- Full-time enrollment requirements
- Update address in myPassport
- Health Fee charge
- Academic dismissal or recession and impact on status
- Academic integrity and plagiarism – Why this is important?
- Be aware of weather alerts
- Sponsored students only – Information on requests to have WSU insurance premium removed.
- All students must be compliant with the University’s EP43 policy
- Tax Information: Coming Soon!
Welcome to WSU
As the Spring semester begins, we would like to welcome you to WSU and welcome back those already studying at our university. We look forward to a successful academic semester and will be happy to assist in any way we can with your questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us over email, phone 509-335-4508, or by booking an appointment with one of our advisors.
If you are considering international travel during this semester, please contact our office ahead of time for guidance on latest immigration rules that may affect your trip considering where you are from. It may be the case international travel is not advised.
Suspension of immigrant visa processing
You may have read about the January 16th, 2026 U.S. visa news regarding immigrant visas. I am writing to clarify that this does not apply to your visa, which is a non-immigrant visa, and that it refers to Consular processing. If you have any questions about this, please contact our office for advice and guidance. Again, this should not apply to F, J, H-1B and other visas sponsored by WSU.
International students, please email us or book an appointment with our office (virtual or in-person). WSU International Student and Scholar Services remain committed to you and your success at WSU. Reach out anytime if you have a question or a concern!
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 book an appointment with an ISSS advisor or contact us email or by phone at 509-335-4508 to learn more.
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.
Health Fee charge
The Health Fee 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 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.
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 2026 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 book an appointment or contact us by email or by phone at 509-335-4508 to learn more.
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 WSU’s Community Standards page.
Be aware of weather alerts
At 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 periods of time. 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 alerts and possible class cancellation due to inclement weather at WSU Pullman alerts page.
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.
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 listed at WSU Vaccination Requirements page and contact Cougar Health Services by email with any questions or concerns.
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 our Tax information 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.
If you have any questions about the above announcement, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.
- WSU students across the System, contact by phone +1 509-335-4508 or email ip.intlservices@wsu.edu