About > International Programs Posts > Immigration Advisory > April 5, 2024 Immigration Advisory

April 5, 2024 Immigration Advisory

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

  1. Become a Peer Mentor
  2. Summer housing– Pullman only
  3. Academic dismissal and academic recess
  4. Not returning fall 2024? Let us know
  5. Tax time! Sprintax software available 
  1. Become a Peer Mentor

The application for international student Peer Mentors is open and will close on April 14th, 2024. Mentors are current students that volunteer to help newly arrived international students transition to their new lives in the US and at WSU. They connect these students with clubs, events, and resources during this transition period. Mentors can be from any country, including the US, and they can be graduate or undergraduate students.  

This is a great leadership opportunity for students. They will be able to develop intercultural communication skills, plan program-wide events, and have several career development opportunities, in addition to meeting people from all over the world.  

An updated resume and cover letter are required. Applicants will be contacted for a 30-minute Zoom interview soon after submission.  

Here is the link to the Handshake application for non-pullman locations

Here is the link to the Handshake application for Pullman locations

  1. Summer housing

Housing application for summer is open. Please visit WSU’s Housing and Residence Life website for more details.

  1. Academic dismissal and academic recess

If you are an undergraduate student at Washington State University, then please be aware of two important rules regarding academics.

Academic dismissal: After a student has had three semesters with a cumulative GPA below 2.0, they are dismissed from WSU for one academic year.

Academic recess: If this is the student’s first year at WSU and they are not a transfer student, they must get a GPA above 1.0. Failure to get this GPA will mean they are recessed (dismissed) from WSU for one semester.

If you think that you are in danger of potentially being academically dismissed or recessed after spring 2024, please speak with ISSS as soon as possible. Notification about dismissal and recession will be sent via your WSU email in May 2024, so if you are not sure you will be able to access your email over summer, you should prepare now

  1. Not returning fall 2024? Let us know

Please notify ISSS whether you are graduating, transferring to another school, stopping your studies, or taking a break/leave of absence. ISSS needs to know so we can update your SEVIS record accordingly. Here is how to notify us depending on your situation:

a) Transferring to another school?

Complete the SEVIS Transfer Out form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “Departure Forms” on mypassport.wsu.edu. Please fill out the Program Completion form as well if you are completing your program here at WSU.

b) Not graduating, ending your studies, and/or taking a leave of absence greater than five months?

Please complete the Early Withdrawal form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “Departure Forms” on mypassport.wsu.edu.

c) Graduating and applying for OPT?

Start working on the application now. The U.S government is taking on average 90-100 days to review OPT requests. Start the application online at mypassport.wsu.edu. The Optional Practical Training form is under F-1 Student Services.

d) Completing one WSU program and moving to a new or higher level one at WSU?

Please complete the Change of Level I-20 Request form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “I-20 Request Forms” on mypassport.wsu.edu.

We understand that each student’s situation is unique, so if you have questions, we encourage you to contact us at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu. As always, if located on another campus, please contact your local international advisor directly.

  1. Tax time! Sprintax software and workshops available 

ISSS offers free access to tax preparation software called Sprintax, which is specifically designed for international students and scholars. The deadline for filing 2023 taxes is Monday, April 15. 

To get Sprintax, log into myPassport and select ‘Tax Software,’ then fill out the form to request access. A unique verification code will be emailed to you at your WSU email within three business days.

Did you have NO income in 2023?

International students and scholars who did not receive U.S.-based income must still file tax Form 8843 and Sprintax can assist you with that. Just log into myPassport. and select ‘Tax Software’ to fill out the form to request access to Sprintax. A unique verification code will be emailed to you at your WSU email within three business days. 

You will need to print and mail your completed Form 8843 to Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215  

Did you have income in 2023? 

International students/scholars employed at WSU in 2023 will receive a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services Office. Students should use this form to complete and submit their tax return.

  • Did you receive a scholarship for room and board or are you using a tax treaty benefit? This means you will receive Form 1042-S. The Payroll Services Office must issue Form 1042-S no later than March 15 and it will be mailed to the address you provided in myWSU. IMPORTANT: You must wait until you receive Form 1042-S to file your taxes.

Sprintax webinars to prepare for your tax filing!

Tax questions? Sprintax offers YouTube videos, a blog, and tax webinars (listed below).  

Upcoming webinar dates, times, and registration links

Find additional tax information, visit our ISSS Tax page. 

Important: ISSS may not provide tax advice or information about tax treaties. Please consult a tax expert or use the chat function with Sprintax.

If you have any questions about the above announcement, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.