F-1 Students
To maintain your F-1 visa status and your ability to continue studying at WSU, you will need to follow these rules and requirements.
Maintaining F-1 Student Status
To maintain F-1 or J-1 visa status, you typically must enroll in a full-time course of study each semester:
- Undergraduate students: At least 12 credit hours
- Graduate students: At least 10 credit hours
Presentations
These presentations will help you transition to Washington State University and answer many questions you may have.
Changing Your Course Schedule
After the 10th day of classes, you may not drop or withdraw from classes online. You must visit with an advisor in Global Services. This is a safeguard to keep you from dropping out of legal status.
If dropping a course would not place you at less than full-time enrollment, you can do so by simply completing a form in the Global Services office, Bryan Hall room 108.
Be Sure Your Classes Count
Audited Courses
Classes that you audit (i.e., that are not graded for credit) do not count toward the full course of study.
Online Courses
Limit online courses to 1 class (3 credits) per semester. Only 3 online course credits may be counted toward your full-time enrollment requirement. If you are an undergraduate and want to take 6 credits online, you must still take an additional 9 credits in the classroom.
Concurrent Enrollment
You may take classes at other schools while taking classes at WSU. However, at least 50 percent of your classes must be taken at WSU. Classes you take at another school will count toward your full-time enrollment requirement at WSU if you submit a Concurrent Enrollment Request.
Earn Passing Grades
You must pass all of your courses. If your courses are too difficult, contact a Global Services advisor immediately. If you become academically deficient, you must seek academic reinstatement to continue at WSU.
Academic Reinstatement
If you need to seek reinstatement after insufficient academic progress:
- Undergraduates: Contact the Academic Success and Career Center
- Graduate students: Contact the Graduate School
If you are academically deficient or if your reinstatement was denied, contact a Global Services advisor immediately to discuss your options.
Summer Session Enrollment
Summer enrollment is optional for continuing full-time students. If you were enrolled at WSU for spring semester and plan to continue the following fall semester, you are not required to enroll during the summer semester.
Graduate Students Defending in the Summer
If you will be defending your dissertation or thesis in the summer, you are required to enroll in at least 2 research credits (700/702/800). Refer to the Graduate School for more information.
Summer Semester Is Your First at WSU
If you are beginning studies in the summer and a summer start date is on your I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students), then you must enroll for credits during the summer semester.
As a new graduate student, you must register for 3 credits during the summer. As a new undergraduate student, you must enroll in 6 credits during the summer.
Change in Program
Your Form I-20 must accurately reflect your current status as a student. You are responsible for keeping it up to date.
If you need to change your student status in any way, check the information below to be sure you are following proper procedure and meeting U.S. government requirements.
Changing Your Program of Study
Your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) must accurately reflect the program of study that you currently pursue at WSU. You are responsible for updating your I-20 once your change of program becomes official in the WSU system.
Change of Major
If you change your major, you must obtain a new I-20. Submit a new I-20 Request Form with supporting financial documentation.
Change of Level
If you complete 1 educational level and plan to continue to another at WSU (e.g., continuing from a bachelor’s to a master’s program), you must obtain a new I-20 within 60 days to reflect the change. The new I-20 notifies the Department of Homeland Security that you are changing educational levels.
Extending Your F-1 Immigration Status
If you cannot finish your program of study before the completion date listed on your I-20, contact a Global Services advisor before your I-20 expires to request a program extension.
Contact a Global Services advisor
Eligibility
A program extension may be granted if both of these conditions apply:
- You are currently maintaining legal status; and
- Delays are caused by compelling academic or medical reasons, such as:
- Change of major or research topics
- Transfer credit problems
- Documented illnesses
If your financial situation has changed, you must provide financial documentation for a program extension request.
Change of Address
If you move to a new local residence, you must update your address within 10 days of your move. Your new address will be sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security automatically via the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Graduation
If you plan to graduate in the current term, notify an advisor in Global Services or complete our departure form.
Canceling Enrollment
Canceling your enrollment affects your immigration status. Once you have submitted your cancellation request to the WSU Registrar and it has been approved, you have 15 calendar days to depart from the United States.
Follow the appropriate procedures for departing from WSU.
Departing the United States
If your visa status no longer authorizes you to remain in the United States, you must leave the country. Departing the United States will be required within:
- 60 days of your degree completion date
- 15 days of your withdrawal date if you terminate your program early
- 60 days after your Optional Practical Training (OPT) expires
Be sure to follow the appropriate procedures for departure.
Taxes and Funding
Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the tax collection agency of the U.S. government. If you have F-1 immigration status, you must file a form with the IRS (Form 8843) regardless of whether you have earned income in the United States.
Verification of Funding
In certain circumstances, the University may need to verify your estimated expenses and availability of funding. If your funding changes, you must notify Global Services.
Documents Needed to Verify Funding
You may need 1 or more of the following:
- Current list of estimated expenses (pdf)
- Bank statement or statement of approved loan in your name
- Bank statement in your sponsor’s name
- Letter of support from your sponsor
- It must be from the same sponsor named on the bank statement
- The letter must indicate your sponsor’s relationship to you (parent, family member, friend, etc.)
- Your letter must reflect your current funding situation and must be signed within the past 6 months
- Letter from your academic department if you are a teaching assistant or research assistant
- Letters from government/organizations
- Financial Affidavit of Support (I-134) if your sponsor resides in the United States; a bank statement must be attached
Employment income may be considered if you are authorized to work in the United States.
Requirements for Financial Documents
- Must be dated and less than 6 months old
- Written in English or accompanied by an English translation
- Copies are acceptable, including faxes and scanned documents