About > International Programs Posts > Immigration Advisory > Oct. 21, 2022 Immigration Advisory

Oct. 21, 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. Your country flag pin for graduation  
  2. Survey: Your opinion matters to us
  3. Plan ahead! OPT processing times can be 90-100 days 
  4. On-campus employment
  5. Do you have an International Programs hold?
  1. Your country 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 e-form in mypassport by Nov. 10, 2022. 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. on Dec. 9, but ideally before. 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!

  1. Survey: Your opinion matters to us!

All of us in ISSS are 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, Oct. 21.

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

  1. Plan ahead! OPT processing times at 90-100 days

Are you graduating in December 2022 and interested in participating in a post-completion internship in your field in the United States? If so, then 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 as long as you work in a field related to your major.

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

The application process starts in myPassport:

  • Log in to myPassport.wsu.edu. 
  • Under the F-1 student services tab, choose Optional Practical Training application.
  • See the online tutorial for more information.
  • 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 us over email or join open advising (in-person or zoom) between 1-3pm Monday through Friday.

  1. On-Campus Employment

As a reminder – if you are an F-1 student, you are eligible to work on campus without ISSS authorization. However, you are limited by immigration regulations to only 20 hours per week of employment.

J-1 students can also work on campus up to 20 hours per week but DO NEED approval from ISSS to work on campus BEFORE they can begin working. So, if you are a J-1 student please speak with an International Student Advisor about your limitations.

Please keep these limitations in mind and be careful not to go over 20 hours. You can potentially lose your F-1/J-1 status.

Additionally, if you are transferring from another WSU campus, please remember that your SEVIS record must be transferred to the new campus BEFORE you can begin work there.

  1. Do you have an International Programs hold?

All international students in F-1 and J-1 status should have an INTL Programs Drop Hold for fall 2022. This hold will NOT prevent you from registering for your spring 2023 classes. It is there only to ensure that you do not mistakenly drop below full-time status when you drop or withdraw from courses. Therefore, this hold only keeps you from dropping or withdrawing courses on your own. All drop/withdraw requests need to go through ISSS first. Graduate students: These requests need to be made through the graduate school.

If you have the INTL Programs hold (not the drop hold), this will prevent you from registering for your spring 2023 classes. This hold was placed on your account because you did not complete the ISSS international orientation offered throughout the fall semester.

You can speak with an advisor to learn how to have the hold removed. We have open advising hours Monday through Friday, 1-3 p.m. Please visit our virtual office to join our Zoom session.

  1. Advising hours change Oct. 27 and 28

Al ISSS advisors will be attending a professional conference Oct, 27 and 28. Advising hours these days will be via Zoom only, and between 1-2 p.m.

  1. Washington state COVID-19 relief fund

As an international student, regardless of immigration status, you may be eligible for Washington state COVID-19 relief funding if you  have experienced severe economic hardship due to the pandemic. The funding is provided by the Washington COVIE-19 Immigrant Relief Fund managed by Washington state’s Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS), For more information, click here.

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