About > International Programs Posts > Immigration Advisory > March 1, 2024 Immigration Advisory

March 1, 2024 Immigration Advisory

Please read this information as a guide to help you with your studies and maintain valid immigration status. The information below applies to international students at all campuses.

Contents

  1. March 4: Priority registration for summer 2024*
  2. Graduate students and conferences
  3. Plan ahead! OPT processing time can take up to 100 days
  4. Your country’s flag pin for graduation
  5. Tax time! Sprintax software available
  1. March 4: Priority registration for summer 2024*

If you are looking to save some money in tuition and potentially complete your degree earlier, check out WSU’s summer session. All students pay in-state tuition for the summer session!

Priority registration for summer session classes begins March 4.

Find more information on available classes, tuition, and deadlines.

*If you are an Academic English or Bridge student, please check with Kimberly Cooper at kimberly.a.cooper@wsu.edu to see if you can apply for the summer session.

  1. Graduate students and conferences

Are you a graduate student invited to present in person at a conference? Congratulations!

Even if you are paying for the conference yourself, you may be receiving travel reimbursement, so be aware of certain restrictions. Often the conference provider will request documentation from ISSS that we approved this conference participation before they will process any travel reimbursement.

Please note that only ISSS or your campus DSO can provide status confirmation letters unless you have applied for CPT authorization for participation in this conference.

  1. Plan ahead! OPT processing times can take up to 100 days

Are you graduating in May 2024 and interested in participating in a post-completion internship in your field in the United States? If so, you may want to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a benefit of your F-1 status that allows you to work off campus after you graduate if you work in a field related to your major.

This benefit is requested through USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), and they are currently taking approximately 90-100 days to review requests. If you are interested, do not wait to apply! You do not need a job offer to apply, so there is no reason to wait if you know you wish to pursue OPT.

The application process starts in myPassport:

  1. Log in to myPassport.
  2. Under Employment/Internships, choose Optional Practical Training Application.
  3. See the online tutorial and complete all forms.
  4. After providing the requested information hit “submit.”

We will contact you in about 5 business days to give you the I-20 needed for the OPT submission to USCIS. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office.

  1. Your country’s flag pin for graduation

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! In connection with the Graduation Celebration, IP-International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is offering a flag pin to all international students expected to graduate this spring who complete a Program Completion eform in myPassport by April 5. The flag pin will represent your home country.

Pullman campus students must pick up their pin at Bryan Hall 206 by no later than 4 p.m. each day from April 22-26. 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!

  1. Tax time! Sprintax software available 

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

To get Sprintax, log into myPassport and select ‘Tax Software,’ then fill out the form to request access. A unique verification code will be emailed to you at your WSU email within three business days.

Did you have NO income in 2023?

International students and scholars who did not receive U.S.-based income must still file tax form Form 8843 and Sprintax can assist you with that. Just 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 three business days. 

You will need to print and mail your completed Form 8843 to Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215  

Did you have income in 2023? 

International students/scholars employed at WSU in 2023 will receive a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services 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 must issue Form 1042-S no later than March 15 and it will be 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

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.

If you have any questions about the above announcement, please contact International Student and Scholar Services.