Feb. 9, 2024 Immigration Advisory

1. Need to complete an internship off campus for your degree (unpaid or paid)? Apply for CPT!
2. Deadline to drop a class for short-term courses: DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR COURSES
3. UREC parking rules and parking overall
4. Employment guidelines for F-1 & J-1 students
5. Tax time! Sprintax software is available Feb. 15

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1. 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 about CPT. 

*Academic English and Bridge (Undergraduate Foundation and International Master’s) students do NOT have the ability to apply for CPT. 

2. 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 WSU registrar’s website to find out the drop deadlines of those courses, otherwise you will have a W (withdraw) on your transcript!

*Academic English and Bridge students do NOT have the ability to add or drop classes.

3. 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.

4. 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).

Important notes for J-1 students

• 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 (e.g., 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 assistantship.

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.

5. Tax time! Sprintax software is available Feb. 15 

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

Did you have NO income in 2023?

International students and scholars who did not receive U.S.-based income must still file a tax form called Form 8843. Sprintax can assist with Form 8843. You will need to print and mail Form 8843 to: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215

To have Sprintax help with Form 8843, you may 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. This is available as of Feb. 15.     

Did you have income in 2023? 

As of Feb. 15, you may 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.

International students/scholars who were employed at WSU in 2023 will receive a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services Office. W-2s became 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 are 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 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

• Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 9-10 a.m. PST | Register here 
• Tuesday, March 5 | 1-2 p.m. PST | Register here 

Find additional tax information. 

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