Please read this information as a guide to help you with your remote studies and to maintain valid immigration status.
Contents:
- Apply for International Students’ Council (direct entry undergraduate and graduate students)
- Covid-19 vaccine available for all students – Pullman (all international students)
- Non-Pullman students – “ask a question” e-form in myPassport system (direct entry undergraduate and graduate students)
- Report harassment/discrimination in the community (all international students)
- Reduced course load requirements (direct entry undergraduate and graduate students)
- Graduating in summer 2021 and interested in OPT? (direct entry undergraduate and graduate students)
- Apply for International Students’ Council
Undergraduate students can apply to be part of the International Students’ Council. If interested, apply here: https://forms.gle/LMVqktzvxf4HYS9k9
- Covid-19 vaccine available for all students
Cougar Health Services is now offering COVID-19 vaccines to current WSU Pullman students who are eligible based on guidelines provided by the Washington Department of Health.
Appointments are required, so please call Cougar Health Services at 509-335-3575 to schedule an appointment and bring your CougarCard or some form of Identification.
More information here: https://cougarhealth.wsu.edu/2021/03/29/student-covid-19-vaccine-clinics/
- Non-Pullman students – “ask a question” e-form in myPassport system
To better support international students located at non-Pullman campuses and locations, and who do not have a DSO readily available to assist, ISSS created an e-form in the mypassport system in which these students can directly submit their questions to our office. This will help with timely responses, which are not always possible through the high volume of emails we receive daily.
The e-form is located under the F-1 Student Services tab in myPassport and is visible and available only to non-Pullman students.
As a reminder, all students are welcome to join our advising hours between 1-3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Report harassment/discrimination in the Pullman community
If you witness or experience harassment or discrimination from unknown individuals at the local Walmart, Safeway, or Costco, please report it! Your identity will be protected, and you will help continue to make our Pullman/Moscow community a safe and welcoming place for all. Here is how to report:
- Walmart: 509-334-2990, option 0
- Ask to talk to manager Neils (pronounced Nells) or HR manager Christa (if the person you are reporting about is a staff member).
- Safeway: 509-334-0803, option 8
- Ask to talk to store director/manager Ray.
- Costco: 509-758-1800, option 1
- Ask to talk to warehouse manager Alan or to either assistant manager Steve or Herb.
Please know, the sooner you report, the more likely the store will be able to directly respond.
If you make a report, it is most helpful to include detailed information such as time and date, location, and description. Detailed information can help the stores locate and identify an incident and actors, especially if there are cameras available. While the stores may have a limited ability to respond, unless conduct is “extreme,” they encourage reporting – they cannot address behavior unless they know about such incidents.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact ISSS for assistance at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu or 509-335-4508.
For non-Pullman locations, please contact your local DSO for information on how to report these events.
- Reduced course load requirements
April 16 is the deadline for undergraduate and professional students to withdraw from a course.
Please remember that as an international student in F-1 or J-1 status, you are required to maintain the following minimum enrollment requirements:
- Undergraduate: 12 credits
- Graduate: 10 credits
If you wish to withdraw from a course and the withdrawal will drop you below full-time enrollment, you must first be authorized for a “reduced course load” (RCL) for that term.
This authorization can be given only by ISSS or your campus DSO and must be approved BEFORE you withdraw from the course(s).
The U.S government allows for reduced course load authorizations in limited circumstances including:
- It is your last semester and you need less than full-time enrollment to graduate.
- You have a medical condition and can provide a letter from a licensed doctor or psychologist.
- In limited academic situations, usually during your first year of study.
If you think you may need to drop below full-time enrollment, please speak with an International Student Advisor or your campus DSO to see what options are available for you.
- Graduating in summer 2021 and interested in OPT?
If you will be completing your studies in summer 2021 and you wish to participate in post-completion OPT (Optional Practical Training), we recommend starting to think about the application now!
You can apply for OPT up to 90 days before your program completion date (normally your last date of enrollment) but the U.S. government is averaging 90-100 days in their review of applications, so we recommend you APPLY EARLY! Don’t wait!
Please log in to https://mypassport.wsu.edu and find the Optional Practical Training form under F-1 Student Services. This form will provide a link to a tutorial as well as more information on the application process.
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