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
- Is summer your final term at WSU? Important status information
- Report harassment/discrimination in the community – Pullman only
- Reduced Course Load Requirements
- Yang “Wendy” Liu Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Tax time! Take action NOW
Is summer your final term at WSU? Important status information
If summer 2026 will be your last term, remember these important immigration status points!
Full-time enrollment in IN PERSON CLASS and/or an approved reduced course load is required
- Undergraduate: 6 credits
- Graduate: 3 credits
As an alternative, you can apply for OPT if you only need enrollment in online courses. If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact our office.
Report harassment/discrimination in the community – Pullman only
If you witness or experience harassment or discrimination from unknown individuals at the local Walmart, Safeway, or Costco, please report it! Your identity will be protected, and you will help continue to make our Pullman/Moscow community a safe and welcoming place for all. Here is how to report:
- Walmart: 509-334-2990, option 0
- Ask to talk to manager or HR manager (if the person you are reporting about is a staff member).
- Safeway: 509-334-0803, option 8
- Ask to talk to store director/manager.
- Costco: 509-758-1800, option 1
- Ask to talk to warehouse manager or to either assistant manager.
Please know, the sooner you report, the more likely the store will be able to directly respond.
If you make a report, it is most helpful to include detailed information such as time and date, location, and description. Detailed information can help the stores locate and identify an incident and actors, especially if there are cameras available. While the stores may have a limited ability to respond, unless conduct is “extreme,” they encourage reporting – they cannot address behavior unless they know about such incidents.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact ISSS for assistance by email or call us at +1 509-335-4508. For non-Pullman locations, please contact our office so we can support you.
Reduced Course Load Requirements
April 17 is the deadline for undergraduate and professional students to withdraw from a course.
Please remember that as an international student in F-1 or J-1 status, you are required to maintain the following minimum enrollment requirements:
- Undergraduate: 12 credits
- Graduate: 10 credits
If you wish to withdraw from a course and the withdrawal will drop you below full-time enrollment, you must first be authorized for a “reduced course load (RCL)” for that term. RCL’s are not approved nor intended for risk of failing the class or to “wipe out” bad grades.
This authorization can be given only by ISSS and must be approved BEFORE you withdraw from the course(s).
If you think you may need to drop below full-time enrollment, please speak with an International Student Advisor at our office to see what options (if any) are available for you.
Yang “Wendy” Liu Award for Excellence in Teaching
Wendy demonstrated grace, empathy, and excellence in her teaching and service to the university. She helped pioneer many of our best practices in working with Eastern Asian students and helped engage students and faculty outside of the classroom. She always paid particular attention to creating an excellent teaching and learning environment for linguistically and culturally diverse students.
If you have an instructor that shares the same philosophy as Wendy that you would like to nominate for this award, please visit our award page to submit your nomination.
Tax Time! Take Action NOW
ISSS is partnering again with WSU’s Nonresident Tax Help Group (NoRTH) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to provide free tax help to F-1 and J-1 visa holders. For more details, visit our Tax Help page.
The deadline to file 2025 taxes is Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Did you have NO Income in 2025?
F-1/J-1 visa holders who did not earn US-based income must still file a tax form called Form 8843. NoRTH/VITA can help with Form 8843. After completing the form, you will need to print and mail it to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215
Did you have US Income in 2025?
F-1/J-1 visa holders who were employed at WSU in 2025 will receive a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services Office. W-2s are available after January 31. Students should use this form to complete and submit their tax return.
- Did you receive a scholarship for room and board or use a tax treaty benefit? If yes, you will get a Form 1042-S. The Payroll Services Office is required to issue Form 1042-S no later than March 15. Form 1042-S is mailed to the address you provide in myWSU. IMPORTANT: Make sure you wait until you receive Form 1042-S to file your taxes.
Appointment Required
To get help from NoRTH/VITA with your taxes, you must make an appointment. Appointments are available via Zoom, but for Pullman campus students, there are only in-person clinics available.
NoRTH/VITA In-Person Tax Clinics: visit our Tax Help page for dates, times, and locations.
How to Make an Appointment
You can also visit their Free Tax Assistance page directly.
- Request Free Membership from NonResident Tax Help Group’s page and select Washington State University, Hoops Tax Institute
- You must use your WSU student email address.
- On the “Get Help” page, scroll and click to find the calendar for the format of help you want. Look through the openings and select an available appointment using your WSU email address.
Note: ISSS does not give tax advice or information on tax treaties. For tax help, you can make a Zoom or in-person appointment with NoRTH/VITA or ask a licensed tax professional.
For tax questions, email NoRTH/VITA.
For general tax information, visit our Taxes page.
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