Please read this information as a guide to help you with your remote studies and to maintain valid immigration status.
Contents:
- Energy assistance program – Pullman
- Academic dishonesty may be basis for visa revocation
- Car insurance – if you have a car, mandatory to have
- Learning Support Center
- Tax time! Sprintax software available and workshop scheduled
- Energy assistance program – Pullman
The Pullman Community Action Center (CAC) offers emergency assistance programs for people living the Pullman area. Please contact them for assistance as temperatures remain low: 509-334-9147.
Your family might qualify for a one-time payment to your Avista account by applying for the Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRAP Heat or Regular Energy Assistance) program.
This program is completely funded by Avista utilities and any customer, including customers who are not U.S. citizens, can apply for this program. This program is NOT monitored by the federal government.
Households can apply for this program once per year between Oct.1 and Sept. 15.
- Academic dishonesty may be basis for visa revocation
If academic dishonesty is discovered during the course of an inspection of a foreign national student at a port of entry, it will likely result in a denial of admission and possibly visa revocation (either expedited removal or voluntary departure, depending on mitigating factors).
Under the authority granted by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Customs and Border Protection inspectors have authority to search without warrant any person coming to the U.S (being a U.S citizen or not) and their belongings including phones, social media, and laptops.
- Car insurance – if you have a car, mandatory to have
If you are thinking about buying a car, then you know that being covered by car insurance is an important step in the car ownership process in the United States. Not only is insurance important to protect you in case of an accident, but it is also required by law.
These articles have helpful information about this requirement:
https://blog.lendbuzz.com/2017/09/11/car-insurance-guide-international-students/
https://www.4autoinsurancequote.com/uncategorized/do-you-need-car-insurance-to-drive/
https://www.4autoinsurancequote.com/learning-center/auto-insurance-for-international-students/
State minimum requirements in Washington
To legally drive in Washington, you will need insurance that includes at least:
- $25,000 for injuries or death to one person
- $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people
- $10,000 for damage to another person’s property
- Learning Support Center
The Learning Support Center is here to meet the specific academic support needs of all international students. If you haven’t looked at the LCS website yet, you can find it here. It includes a complete tutoring schedule showing convenient hours where you can find a tutor to help you with your classes in real time (including weekend hours!). You’ll find general English tutors and a tutor who specialized in COM 102. If you have any questions about the LCS and what it has to offer, please reach out to Lauren Reed at lauren.reed@wsu.edu
- Tax time! Sprintax software available and workshop
It is time for taxes. IP-ISSS is offering materials for your convenience.
Did you have NO income in 2020?
International students who did not receive U.S.-based income should still file a tax form, Form 8843, prior to June 1, 2021. You can download the form at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf
Did you have income in 2020? Do you have dependents?
GOOD NEWS! ISSS is offering FREE access to online tax preparation software specifically designed for international students.
You can log in to myPassport.wsu.edu and select Tax Software to fill out the form.
International students who were employed at WSU in calendar year 2020 should have received a report of wage earnings (form W-2) from the Payroll Service Office. Students should use this form to complete and send their tax return to the U.S. government. Tax returns are due by April 15, 2021.
Sprintax Preparation Workshop (Pullman)
ISSS will offer two more workshops about how to use Sprintax, an online tax program for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. The dates and times are:
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | 3:30 p.m. (Pullman time)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/94951016073?pwd=bFQxM3JONitQVnJYNnl6Yis4Nml3QT09
Meeting ID: 949 5101 6073
Passcode: 696963
Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | 3:30 p.m. (Pullman time)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93333140807?pwd=SFdGdVFJNVIwbzRSRzdNczRuTXM4dz09
Meeting ID: 933 3314 0807
Passcode: 517450
Reminder: No tax advice will be given at this workshop. This is only to help you learn about the online program that will guide you through your U.S taxes.
This Advisory and previous issues are posted at https://ip.wsu.edu/on-campus/immigration-advisories.
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 intlservices@wsu.edu
- WSU Vancouver students contact Caitlyn Schock at +1 360-546-9514 or dso@wsu.edu
- WSU Spokane students contact Kristie Brink at +1 509-358-7963 or kkclark@wsu.edu
- WSU Everett students contact Anna McLeod at +1 425-405-1727 or mcleod2@wsu.edu
- WSU Tri-Cities students contact Karina Barajas at +1 509-372-7358 or barajas@wsu.edu
Office of International Programs
Washington State University
PO Box 645121, Pullman, WA, 99164-5121 USA