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
- Need to complete an internship off campus for your degree (unpaid or paid)? Apply for CPT!
- Visa expired
- Deadline to drop a class for short-term courses – DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR COURSES
- University Recreation (UREC) parking rules, and parking overall
- Employment guidelines for F-1 & J-1 students
- Tax Information: Coming Soon!
Need to complete an internship off campus for your degree (unpaid or paid)? Apply for CPT!
If you need to complete an off-campus internship for your degree (examples include HBM, Sports Management, and Human Development degrees, and doctoral students who need to do research off campus), then make sure you learn more about CPT.
CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training and is a work authorization for international students in F-1 status. It allows F-1 students to participate in paid or unpaid internships off campus when the internships are part of the degree program they are pursuing.
Curricular Practical Training is authorized by International Student and Scholar Services only, and students are encouraged to speak with an International Student Advisor PRIOR to engaging in any activity off campus. Learn more here at our CPT page.
*Academic English and Bridge students do NOT have the ability to apply for CPT.
Visa expired?
If your visa (the stamp in your passport given to you by the U.S. embassy abroad) has expired, it is important to remember that you are still able to maintain valid F-1 or J-1 status in the United States with an expired visa.
Your status is based upon the I-20/DS-2019 and your I-94, which you can access online at DHS homepage. If your I-20/DS-2019 and the accompanying SEVIS record is still valid and your I-94 is accurate, you are in status, even with an expired visa.
You WILL need a valid visa if you plan to exit and re-enter the United States. If you do plan to travel internationally, please note that you will need to apply for a visa renewal at a U.S. consulate back home if your current visa has expired.
ISSS recommends that if you are in this situation (holding an expired visa, but planning to travel internationally), speak with an international student advisor before traveling internationally.
There are increased delays and restrictions on visa issuance, even for visa renewals, and International and Student Services can help you prepare for these.
Deadline to drop a class for short-term courses – DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR COURSES
The last day to drop a course without record has passed, BUT special short-term courses (6-, 9-, and 12-week courses) have a different deadline! Make sure to visit the registrar’s deadline page to find out the drop deadlines of those courses, otherwise you will have a W (withdraw) on your transcript!
University Recreation (UREC) parking rules, and parking overall
Parking at WSU Pullman campus is not free, and you must have a permit or pay hourly for the parking spaces across campus. Please visit the WSU Transportation website for availability of monthly or daily permits. Parking violations will cause you to receive a ticket and pay a fee.
Employment guidelines for F-1 & J-1 students
ON CAMPUS
Students must be in lawful F-1/J-1 status to be eligible to work on campus. The primary determination of lawful status is enrollment or an authorized reduced course load. J-1 students must have permission from their J-program sponsor Responsible Officer to work on campus and must report employment and receive authorization from ISSS prior to beginning any on-campus employment (including assistantships).
- If you applied for this authorization last semester and received a letter confirming authorization for the entire year, you are set and do not need to report again until the authorization period ends.
- If you are sponsored by an outside organization (Fulbright, USAID), you will need to work with your sponsor to report your on-campus employment.
F-1/J-1 students are limited to working 20 hours per week while classes are in session. Students may NOT average their hours (e.g., work 25 one week and 15 another to average 40 hours over a two-week period.) Graduate TAs/RAs who are already employed for 20 hours per week may not work additional jobs beyond the TA/RA.
Working more than 20 hours per week is a serious violation of the F-1/J-1 student status and can result in severe consequences including loss of status and denial of future visas. WSU Human Resource Services audits your employment hours at the end of every pay period, so be aware of working hours and stay within time limits.
OFF CAMPUS
Off-campus employment is NOT ALLOWED in F-1/J-1 status unless approved by USCIS (OPT, Hardship Work Authorization, etc.) or by a DSO/ARO (CPT/Academic Training). Do not work off campus unless you have this authorization. Possession of a social security number does NOT grant work authorization off campus!
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 taxes 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