April 11, 2025 Immigration Advisory

1. Participating in Protests or Demonstrations
2. DHS screening social media activity for antisemitic content
3. Deadline for cancellation of enrollment
4. Your country’s flag pin for graduation
5. Visa expired?
6. Tax for international students that receive grants/scholarships above the cost of tuition and mandatory fees
7. Last semester summer enrollment reminder
8. Update address in myPassport
9. International Travel Advising Day: April 21
10. USCIS and ICE scam alert
11. FINAL NOTICE: Tax time!

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Participating in Protests or Demonstrations

International students and scholars may have concerns about participating in demonstrations while in the US. The First Amendment of the US Constitution protects speech, which includes symbolic speech and protest, as long as it is conducted peacefully. The US constitution protects non-citizens, but there are some considerations to immigration, particularly if participating in a protest.

Please refer to our earlier notice of dealing with Federal law enforcement.

International students should be aware that arrests, criminal charges and convictions may impact immigration status. If you choose to participate in a protest, remain peaceful, and in the event a protest becomes threatening, violent, or disruptive, you should leave the area to maintain your own safety. Any criminal activity can have long-term consequences and restrict international students during their time here or future attempts to enter and/or stay in the US.

Washington State University supports its students and their rights to free expression. Complying with WSU codes of conduct and maintaining studies and program activities will ensure your immigration status is not at risk. Please contact International Student and Scholar Services if you have any questions.

DHS screening social media activity for antisemitic content

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has implemented a policy to screen social media activity for antisemitic content. Engaging in or supporting such content online, such as posting pictures of yourself at a political rally, may lead to denial of immigration benefits or affect your visa status. Please be aware that DHS is screening your social media content and exercise caution in all social media posting.  For more information, refer to the official USCIS announcement: uscis.gov.

In addition, we are aware that based on recent news reports about some cancellations of status for international students, many of you have concerns about your status.  Please know that we are monitoring this situation daily and will reach out to you about any changes we see that could affect you”.

Deadline for cancellation of enrollment

April 25, 2024, at 11:55 p.m. Pacific time is the deadline to cancel your enrollment for spring 2025.

A cancellation of enrollment is when a student withdraws from ALL classes for the semester.

Please note that if you do this, it WILL impact your immigration status, so if you are thinking of doing a cancellation, please speak with an international student advisor. Unless you have approval from ISSS due to specific reasons approved by the U.S. government, the cancellation will result in termination of your SEVIS record. This will put you out of status and require your immediate departure from the United States. So please speak with an international student advisor before requesting the cancellation.

Your country’s flag pin for graduation

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! In connection with the Graduation Celebration, IP-International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will be offering a graduation flag pin to all international students expected to graduate this fall and who complete a Program Completion eform in myPassport by Apr. 17, 2025. The flag pin will be from your home country.    

Pullman campus students must pick up their pin at Bryan Hall 206 by no later than 4 p.m. between April 23-May 2. Students outside of Pullman will have their pins mailed if they provide a mailing address. Questions may be directed to ip.intlservices@wsu.edu. 

Thank you and congratulations from all of us in ISSS!

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 the I-94 Website Travel Record for U.S. Visitors site. 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 abroad if your current visa has expired. It is highly recommended that you apply for a visa in the country you have permanent residency or citizenship in. We have heard reports of denials/delays for individual applying on third countries, such as Canada.

ISSS recommends that if you are in this situation (holding an expired visa, but planning to travel internationally), speak with an international student advisor or your local DSO 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.

Tax for international students that receive grants/scholarships above the cost of tuition and mandatory fees

If you receive throughout to year grants/scholarships above the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, please make sure to check your student account each semester (around mid-term is perfect) and connect with Bursar’s office within the same tax year if you do see a tax withholding charge. Charges within the same tax year can be fixed, but after December 31^st it is more complicated.

Last semester summer enrollment reminder

If summer will be your last term in your program, then please note there are some additional requirements on enrollment (listed below).

As you will not be a continuing student for fall, summer is not considered a vacation term so you will need to be enrolled full time for the summer or apply for the reduced course load for last term.

• Graduate full-time summer enrollment: 3 credits
• Undergraduate full-time summer enrollment: 6 credits

If you need to apply for a reduced course load for the last semester for summer, you can find this request on myPassport, under Enrollment Forms.

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.

International Travel Advising Day: April 21

If you are planning on travelling soon or have travel concerns come see us to help determine what is best for you. We will host a travel advising day between 10am-12pm on April 21, 2025, at Bryan Hall 205. Here is a Zoom link for those located at non-Pullman locations.

Also, please submit a travel information eform to notify our office of upcoming trips.

USCIS and ICE scam alert

Scammers are using fake USCIS and ICE emails and phone numbers to contact foreign nationals. Some of these claim that the foreign national is subject to a “background check” for failure to file Form AR-11 after a change of address. There are likely other variants in circulation.

If you receive a similar email or call, or any other suspicious email, do NOT click on any of the links and do NOT respond to any of the phone numbers or mailing addresses listed in the email. You should NOT provide any personal information. USCIS and ICE do NOT CALL and have instructions on how to report such fraudulent contact here: Common Scams.

Please reach out to our office if you are uncertain about any communication from anyone who claims to be from USCIS or a related government entity.

FINAL NOTICE: Tax time!

ISSS is partnering 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 students. For more details, visit our tax help page.

The deadline to file 2024 taxes is Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Did you have NO Income in 2024?

F-1/J-1 students 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 2024?

F-1/J-1 students who were employed at WSU in 2024 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. There are no remaining in-person options, so all appointments are via Zoom.

How to Make an Appointment

1. Request Free Membership from The NonResident Tax Help Group (NoRTH) website and select Washington State University, Hoops Tax Institute
   1. You must use your WSU student email address.
2. 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 ISSS tax page.