Please read this information as a guide to help you with your studies and to maintain valid immigration status. The information below applies to international students at all campuses.
Contents
- Become a Peer Mentor
- Summer housing
- Your country’s flag pin for graduation
- Academic dismissal and academic recess
- Not returning fall 2023? Let us know
- iGrad – Financial education
- Tax time! Sprintax software available
The application for international student Peer Mentors opened April 4. Peer Mentors are current students who volunteer to help newly arrived international students transition to their new lives in the U.S. and at WSU. They connect these students with clubs, events, and resources during their transition period. Mentors can be from any country, including the U.S., and they can be graduate or undergraduate students.
This is a great leadership opportunity. Peer Mentors can develop intercultural communication skills, plan program-wide events, and participate in 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.
Housing applications for summer are open. Please visit WSU’s Housing and Residence Life website for more details.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! In connection with the Graduation Celebration, IP-International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is offering a graduation flag pin to all international students expected to graduate this spring and who complete a Program Completion eform in myPassport by April 14. The pin will show your home country’s flag.
Pullman campus students must pick up their pin at Bryan Hall 206 April 19-28. Students outside 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!
If you are an undergraduate student at Washington State University, then be aware of two important rules regarding academics.
Academic dismissal. After a student has had 3 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 achieve a GPA above 1.0. Failure to get this GPA will mean they are recessed (dismissed) from WSU for one semester.
If you think you are in danger of potentially being academically dismissed or recessed after spring 2023, please speak with ISSS (or your local advisor) as soon as possible. Notification about dismissal and recession will be sent to your WSU email in May, so if you are not sure you will be able to access your email over summer, you should prepare now.
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:
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.
Not graduating, ending your studies, and/or taking a leave of absence greater than 5 months?
Please complete the Early Withdrawal form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “Departure Forms” on mypassport.wsu.edu.
Graduating and applying for OPT?
Start working on your 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.
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. If located on another campus, please contact Nitivia Jones, nitivia.jones@wsu.edu.
The Office of Academic Engagement and Student Financial Services developed a reliable online source of financial education tailored to fit everyone’s needs. iGrad provides:
- Regular updates relevant to the situations you may be navigating;
- Personality and financial wellness checkups to help you assess your spending habits and determine how you can become more financially secure; and
- Tools to help increase your knowledge, find resources (including scholarships), manage debt, and prepare for your future.
Although this is a great resource, international students should be advised that some scholarships and/or tuition reductions may not be a possibility due to their current immigration status in the U.S.
For more information about iGrad: cougarmoneymatters.wsu.edu/.
ISSS offers free access to a tax preparation software called Sprintax, which is specifically designed for international students and scholars. The deadline for filing 2022 taxes is April 18.
Did you have NO income in 2022?
International students and scholars who did not receive U.S.-based income must still file a tax form called Form 8843 and Sprintax can help you with that.
To have Sprintax help with Form 8843, you may log into myPassport.wsu.edu 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 3 business days.
You will need to print and mail Form 8843 to: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215
Did you have income in 2022?
Log into myPassport.wsu.edu 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 3 business days.
International students and scholars employed at WSU in 2022 should have received a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services Office. W-2s are available now at that 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 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: You must wait until you receive Form 1042-S to file your taxes.
Tax questions?
Sprintax offers YouTube videos and a blog.
ISSS may not provide tax advice or information on tax treaties. Please consult a tax expert or use the chat function with Sprintax.
If you have any questions about the above announcements, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.
- WSU Pullman students contact +1 509-335-4508 or ip.intlservices@wsu.edu
- WSU Everett, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver students contact Nitivia Jones at 1 509-335-2422 or nitivia.jones@wsu.edu