Contents:
- ISSS physically closed, but teleworking
- Please donate – International Emergency Fund
- Online OPT application
- Summer housing
- Academic dismissal and academic recess
- Not returning fall 2021? Let us know
- Apply for International Students’ Council
- iGrad – Financial education
- ISSS physically closed, but teleworking
The ISSS team is all working from home, and continues to have open virtual advising between 1-3 p.m. Pacific (Pullman) time Monday through Friday. The actual office will remain closed until the end of the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.
Please expect some delays in processing requests. All documents from our office will be shipped directly to you, and no in-person pick up is available. Please read your emails and respond to any requests for shipping addresses, postal codes, and phone numbers.
If you need a signed I-20 for travel, or a new I-20 for OPT and STEM OPT, submit your request through the myPassport system, and we will mail your documents to you. Please understand that due to the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, we expect shipping and processing times to increase.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stay safe and healthy.
- Please donate – International Emergency Fund
The impact of COVID-19 has created hardship for many of our international students and scholars. Their jobs have disappeared. They do not qualify for government aid. International travel remains restricted – most cannot return to their home country, and if they do, they cannot come back.
We ask the Coug family to come together and support the International Student & Scholar Emergency Aid Fund (International Student Aid Fund). This fund will provide direct payments for housing, food, medical care, and other necessities on behalf of our international Cougs who need our help, now more than ever.*
Please consider making a donation: https://ip.wsu.edu/on-campus/support-international-students/.
*Scholarship athletes and WSU employees may not be eligible for support from this fund.
- Online OPT application
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain foreign students can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online. F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) directly related to their major area of study are eligible to apply for employment authorization online.
You still need a proper I-20 issued by our office for this application! So, if you are planning to apply for OPT upon graduation this spring or extend your OPT based on a STEM degree earned previously, please submit an OPT application request through the myPassport system.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu or speak with an international student advisor during our open advising hours.
- Summer housing
Housing application for summer is open. Please visit WSU’s Housing and Residence Life website for more details: https://housing.wsu.edu/more-services/summer-residence-hall/.
- 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 2021, please speak with ISSS (or your local advisor) as soon as possible. Notification about dismissal and recession will be sent via your WSU email in May 2021, so if you are not sure you will be able to access your email over summer, you should prepare now.
- Not returning fall 2021? 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:
Transferring to another school?
Complete the SEVIS Transfer Out form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “Departure Forms” on https://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 five months?
Please complete the Early Withdrawal form, which can be found under F-1 Student Services, “Departure Forms” on https://mypassport.wsu.edu.
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 https://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 https://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.
- 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.
- iGrad – Financial education
The Office of Academic Engagement and Student Financial Services developed a reliable online source of financial education tailored to fit each individual’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: https://cougarmoneymatters.wsu.edu/
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 Nashma Carrera, +1 360-546-9788 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