About > International Programs Posts > Immigration Advisory > Nov. 10, 2022 Immigration Advisory

Nov. 10, 2022 Immigration Advisory

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

Contents

  1. Survey: Your opinion matters to us!
  2. Peer mentor applications are open
  3. Check your I-20/DS-2019. Do you need a program extension?
  4. Get ready for spring registration – enrollment reminders
  5. Academic deficiency and reinstatement
  6. Snow! Fun and safety for the winter months ahead
  1. Survey: Your opinion matters to us! 

International Student and Scholar Services in International Programs is here to support you. To do that effectively, we want to learn what you need. You can help us help you by telling us through a survey about your time at WSU so far, including your experiences on campus and remotely. The survey can be accessed here and should take about 5-7 minutes. It is completely anonymous, meaning that your answers cannot be connected back to you.  

Participation in this survey is voluntary as well as private, and we value your perspective and hope you will take this opportunity to let your voice be heard. If you choose to participate, please complete the survey no later than Friday, Dec. 2.   

If you have questions about the survey, please reach out to us directly at ip.intlservices@wsu.edu. Thank you for your time.  

  1. Peer mentor applications are open

Applications for International Student Peer Mentor positions are now open and will remain open until Nov. 13. Mentors are current students who volunteer to help newly arrived international students transition to their new lives in the U.S. and at WSU. They connect these students with clubs, events, and resources during this transition period. Mentors can be from any country, including the U.S., and they can be graduate or undergraduate students.

Applicants can apply on Handshake.

  1. Check your I-20/DS-2019. Do you need a program extension?

F-1 students: Program end date is listed in the box entitled “Program of Study” on the first page of your I-20.

J-1 students: Program end date is listed in box 3 on the first page of your DS-2019.

Is the end date in 2022? If yes, are you graduating in December? If not, then you NEED to request an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 BEFORE it ends. Failure to do this will put you out of your legal F-1 or J-1 status.

Log in to mypassport.wsu.edu and go to F-1 or J-1 Student Services (depending on if you are on an F-1 or J-1 student visa) and complete the form called “Extension of I-20 Document” if you are an F-1 student or “Extension of DS-2019 Document” if you are a J-1 student.

Please do not wait until the last minute to do this!

  1. Get ready for spring registration – enrollment reminders

With spring registration coming up, please remember these IMPORTANT enrollment notes. This information will help you maintain your F-1/J-1 status.

Undergraduate students: You must enroll in AT LEAST 12 credits.

Graduate students: You must enroll in AT LEAST 10 credits.

Will spring 2023 be your final semester and you need less than 12 (or 10) credits to complete your program? Then you need to apply for a Reduced Course Load for your last semester. This is a request for our office to authorize you to be enrolled less than full time for your last semester.

To request a Reduced Course Load for Last Semester (F-1 students), please do the following:

  • Log in to mypassport.wsu.edu.
  • Go to Enrollment Services.
  • Complete the appropriate “Reduced Course Load for Last Semester Request” (Graduate or Undergraduate).

For J-1 students, you will find the Reduced Course Load request under “J-1 Student Services” in the same myPassport system.

  1. Academic deficiency and reinstatement

Degree-seeking students whose semester and/or cumulative GPA is below 2.0 after fall 2022 may become academically deficient.

Make sure to check your myWSU account when the final grades are posted after finals week.

If you become deficient, visit the Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) page at reinstatement.wsu.edu/.

  1. Snow! Fun and safety for the winter months ahead       

Snow months in the winter bring opportunities for new outdoor activities and sports such as sledding, snowball fights, and building snowmen! We encourage you to get outside and have fun and remind you to keep these safety tips in mind.

  • Sign up for WSU emergency text and email alerts!
  • Wear layers!
    • It is chilly outside, but warm inside. Make sure you wear layers of clothing (undershirts, shirts, sweaters, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, etc.) to stay insulated in the cold outdoor air, but so you can easily take off layers to stay comfortable inside.
  • Minimize driving
    • If you must drive somewhere, plan to travel during the daylight hours.
    • Do not travel alone.
    • Make sure people know when you are traveling and an estimated time you plan to arrive.
  • Walk carefully
    • The roads and sidewalks should be shoveled and plowed, but there is often a buildup of ice on sidewalks. Sometimes, there is ice that you cannot see well, known as “black ice.” Step carefully. Wear waterproof snow boots.
    • When it is icy, wear extra traction over your boots, like “Yak Traks.”
  • Make sure you keep your windows closed during winter advisories so they do not break in storms!

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