March 28, 2025 Immigration Advisory

1. Is summer your final term at WSU? Important status information
2. Report harassment/discrimination in the community – Pullman only
3. Participating in Protests or Demonstrations
4. Reduced Course Load Requirements
5. Your country’s flag pin for graduation
6. Yang “Wendy” Liu Award for Excellence in Teaching
7. Tax time! Take action NOW

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Is summer your final term at WSU? Important status information

If summer 2025 will be your last term, remember these important immigration status points! 

Full-time enrollment in IN PERSON CLASS or an approved reduced course load is required

• Undergraduate: 6 credits 
• Graduate: 3 credits 

As an alternative, you can apply for OPT if you only need enrollment in online courses. If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact our office.

Report harassment/discrimination in the community – Pullman only

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 or HR manager (if the person you are reporting about is a staff member).
• Safeway: 509-334-0803, option 8
  • Ask to talk to store director/manager.
• Costco: 509-758-1800, option 1
  • Ask to talk to warehouse manager or to either assistant manager.

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 our office so we can support you.

Participating in Protests or Demonstrations

International students and scholars may have concerns about participating in demonstrations while in the US. The First Amendment of the US Constitution protects speech, which includes symbolic speech and protest, as long as it is conducted peacefully. The US constitution protects non-citizens, but there are some considerations to immigration, particularly if participating in a protest.

Please refer to our earlier notice of dealing with Federal law enforcement.

International students should be aware that arrests, criminal charges and convictions may impact immigration status. If you choose to participate in a protest, remain peaceful, and in the event a protest becomes threatening, violent, or disruptive, you should leave the area to maintain your own safety. Any criminal activity can have long-term consequences and restrict international students during their time here or future attempts to enter and/or stay in the US.

Washington State University supports its students and their rights to free expression. Complying with WSU codes of conduct and maintaining studies and program activities will ensure your immigration status is not at risk.

Please contact International Student and Scholar Services if you have any questions.

Reduced Course Load Requirements

April 11 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. RCL’s are not approved nor intended for risk of failing the class or to “wipe out” bad grades.

This authorization can be given only by ISSS and must be approved BEFORE you withdraw from the course(s). If you think you may need to drop below full-time enrollment, please speak with an International Student Advisor at our office to see what options (if any) are available for you.

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) will be offering a graduation flag pin to all  international students expected to graduate this fall and who complete a Program Completion eform in myPassport by Apr. 17, 2025. The flag pin will be from your home country.  

Pullman campus students must pick up their pin at Bryan Hall 206 by no later than 4 p.m. between April 23-May 2. Students outside of 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!

Yang “Wendy” Liu Award for Excellence in Teaching

Wendy demonstrated grace, empathy, and excellence in her teaching and service to the university. She helped pioneer many of our best practices in working with Eastern Asian students and helped engage students and faculty outside of the classroom. She always paid particular attention to creating an excellent teaching and learning environment for linguistically and culturally diverse students.

If you have an instructor that shares the same philosophy as Wendy that you would like to nominate for this award, please visit our award website to submit your nomination.

Tax Time!

ISSS is partnering with WSU’s Nonresident Tax Help Group (NoRTH) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to provide free tax help to F-1 and J-1 students. For more details, visit our tax help page.

The deadline to file 2024 taxes is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. 

Did you have NO Income in 2024?

F-1/J-1 students who did not earn US-based income must still file a tax form called Form 8843. NoRTH/VITA can help with Form 8843.  After completing the form, you will need to print and mail it to:  

Department of the Treasury 
Internal Revenue Service Center 
Austin, TX 73301-0215 

Did you have US Income in 2024? 

F-1/J-1 students who were employed at WSU in 2024 will receive a report of wage earnings called Form W-2 from the Payroll Services Office.  W-2s are 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 use a tax treaty benefit?  If yes, you will get a 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 provide in myWSU.  IMPORTANT: Make sure you wait until you receive Form 1042-S to file your taxes.  

Appointment Required

To get help from NoRTH/VITA with your taxes, you must make an appointment. Appointments are available via Zoom, but for Pullman campus students, there are only two in-person clinics available. These tax clinics are the only in-person options. 

NoRTH/VITA In-Person Tax Clinics:

1. Saturday, March 29, 1:00-3:30 p.m. in CUE 119 
2. Monday, April 7, 5:00-7:30 p.m. in SPARK 339 

How to Make an Appointment 

1. Request free membership from The NonResident Tax Help Group (NoRTH) and select Washington State University, Hoops Tax Institute
   • You must use your WSU student email address.  
2. On the “Get Help” page, scroll and click to find the calendar for the format of help you want. Look through the openings and select an available appointment using your WSU email address. 

Note: ISSS does not give tax advice or information on tax treaties. For tax help, you can make a Zoom or in-person appointment with NoRTH/VITA or ask a licensed tax professional. 

For tax questions, email NoRTH/VITA.
For general tax information, visit our ISSS tax page.