Navigating International Student Services: A Comprehensive Guide

For international students pursuing education abroad, understanding and utilizing the resources provided by international student services is crucial for a successful and fulfilling academic journey. These services offer support in various aspects, from navigating immigration regulations to fostering a welcoming environment. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of international student services, focusing on key areas such as immigration advising, employment opportunities, maintaining F-1 status, and pre-arrival information.

The Role of International Student Services (ISS)

The Office of International Student Services (ISS) plays a pivotal role in supporting international students throughout their academic careers. ISS strives to support non-immigrant students through advising, advocacy, and opportunities to engage with people and cultures from around the world. ISS provides a welcoming environment that encourages academic, personal and professional success. The services provided by ISS are designed to help international students navigate the complexities of studying in a new country, ensuring a smooth transition and a positive overall experience.

Immigration Advising and SEVIS

A core function of ISS is providing immigration advising. This includes guidance on maintaining legal status, understanding visa regulations, and complying with federal laws. Federal law and regulations require schools to update and maintain the SEVIS records of nonimmigrant students in F and J visa categories. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect, maintain, and manage information about all foreign students and exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. The Office of International programs manages SEVIS reports for the university. ISS staff are well-versed in these regulations and can provide accurate and timely advice to students.

Cultural and Educational Programming

Beyond immigration advising, ISS often organizes cultural and educational programs to help international students adjust to their new environment and connect with other students from around the world. These programs can include orientation for new students. These initiatives promote cross-cultural understanding and create a sense of community among international students.

Understanding F-1 Student Status

Maintaining F-1 student status is paramount for international students studying in the United States. Your status relates to the purpose, or reason for why you want to come to the United States. The Department of State issues your visa based on your intended purpose. If the Department of State issues you an F student visa, this means that you are coming to the United States to study. You should not take any action that detracts from that purpose. Several key aspects contribute to maintaining this status, including full-time enrollment, making normal progress toward degree completion, and maintaining valid immigration documents.

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Full-Time Enrollment and Reduced Course Load

F-1 student visa regulations require F-1 students to study full-time each term. Exceptions to the full-time requirement must be approved by the EDI Coordinator for ISS. Full-Time Enrollment requirements are:

Undergraduate students: At least 12 credits
Graduate students: At least 9 credits

In certain circumstances, students may be eligible for a reduced course load. You can request permission to take a reduced course load of less than 12 undergraduate or 9 graduate credits by submitting the reduced course load request before the last day to add/drop classes. Here are the circumstances that you may qualify:

Final term of study: Available only if a full course load is not needed the final term to complete degree requirements.
Initial Academic Difficulties: Available only to first year students and can only be granted one time.
Medical leave: Available to students who have been recommended by a medical professional to take a term off or enrolled in a reduced course load due to an illness or medical condition. This can include mental health.

If you believe you are qualified, please sign into your Terra Dotta Portal and apply.

An online course is defined as a course that is offered exclusively online and does not require your physical attendance for lectures, examinations, labs or other purposes integral to completion of the class. For undergraduate students, you are required to have at least 9 credits on campus courses. If you are registered for 12 credits, 9 credits has to be on-campus and 3 credits can be online.You may not take only online classes in your final term of study; your final term must include at least one lecture class.

Making Normal Progress and Maintaining Valid Documents

You are required to make normal academic progress toward degree completion. Normal progress means enrolling full-time and maintaining a satisfactory grade point average (GPA) each term of a 2.0 or higher for undergraduate students, or a 3.0 or higher for graduate students. Students who fail to make normal progress may be found ineligible for F-1 benefits such as I-20 extensions.

Read also: USA Degree Programs

If you are disqualified, suspended or expelled from UWS, you are no longer eligible to continue studying at UWS. Your F-1 or J-1 visa status ends immediately. Please meet with the EDI Coordinator for ISS if you are having problems making normal progress toward degree completion and/or have been disqualified from UWS.

Maintaining Valid Immigration Documents:

I-20: Do not let your I-20 expire if you have not completed your degree program. If you need more time to complete your degree, you must request an extension of your I-20 at least two weeks before the program end date expires. Failure to request and obtain a program extension prior to the program end date will result in termination of your immigration status.
Passport: Your passport should be valid at least 6 months into the future.

Extension of stay can be granted only for documented academic or medical reasons. You may be eligible for an I-20 extension if the following criteria are met:

The delay was caused by documented academic or medical circumstances,
You have sufficient financial resources to fund your studies and living expenses.

Employment Opportunities for F-1 Students

International students on an F-1 visa have specific regulations regarding employment. It is essential to understand these regulations to avoid violating your visa status. Employment is work performed in exchange for compensation. Compensation can include money, room and board, and/or other significant benefits. Before accepting any kind of employment, be sure it is allowed by the F-1 regulations. There are primarily three types of employment available to F-1 students: on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Optional Practical Training (OPT).

On-Campus Employment

Your F-1 student status permits you to work on campus. Per federal regulations, students with F-1 status may work on campus part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year, and full-time (up to 40 hours per week) during official school vacation periods. On-campus employment includes any jobs for which the University of Wisconsin-Superior will pay you (examples: library student worker, math tutor, grader, residence assistant, etc.). It might also include work with vendors that perform on school premises, if such work provides a direct service to students (such as Chartwells food service). Due to federal regulations, it is highly encouraged that international students only have one on-campus job due to 1) the complexities of coordinating, monitoring and tracking hours worked; 2) fulfilling their primary academic objective; 3) maintaining their immigration status. Some students may be authorized to be employed at an off-campus location, which is educationally affiliated with UW-Superior. The educational affiliation must be associated with your academic departmentâs established curriculum and be an integral part of your educational program. This affiliation may be related to contractually funded research projects. If you are not sure whether the employment opportunity would meet the definition of âon-campusâ employment, please contact International Student Services (ISS).

Read also: Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford

Your I-20 is your proof of work eligibility for on-campus employment. Pre-approval from ISS is not required. That is, you may apply for a card if you have found a job, and get a letter from your supervisor describing the job, how many hours per week it is, and when it will start.

To obtain a Letter of Employment, ask your supervisor to:

Download and complete the Letter of Employment (view a sample letter)
Print it out on Department or University letterhead
Sign it and return it to you

Then you should bring it to Intercultural Student Services (ISS) for a staff memberâs signature.

Approximately 30 days into each semester ISS staff will start taking students who have found jobs to the Social Security Office to apply for a number. Aâviands will not permit you to begin working until you receive your card. Once you receive your card, take it to Jenny Kroll in the Financial Aid Office, Old Main 110, so she can record your number.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary authorization for practical training directly related to your major field of study. CPT has to be âintegral to your established curriculum,â as allowed by the immigration rules. CPT can be paid or unpaid. If you accumulate 12 months (365 or more days) of full-time CPT authorization, you lose your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Are a graduate student whose programs require immediate participation in CPT.
Will earn internship course credits in your academic department for the CPT experience.

What class can I take to earn course credits for CPT? Your department adviser can help identify the appropriate course. Internship courses outside of your academic department do not qualify for CPT.

Can I do my internship in the fall and receive credits in the spring? The credit must be earned in the same semester for which CPT is authorized.

How many credits do I have to take? You must earn at least one CPT-related credit for each semester of authorization granted.

Can I do CPT during my last semester? Yes. However, if you apply for CPT authorization in your final semester you must register for at least one additional course in addition to your CPT-credit. CPT-credit cannot be the only credit on your final quarter schedule unless it is fulfilling a degree requirement.

How do I apply? Before applying for CPT, please speak to your department/faculty adviser. Each department manages internship credits differently.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT authorization that begins after completion of your academic program is called âpost-completionâ OPT. This is the most common type of OPT. Post-completion OPT is full-time, and it can begin after you complete your degree or after you complete all course requirements for your degree, excluding thesis or equivalent.

OPT used while you are still enrolled in your course of study is called âpre-completionâ OPT. Pre-completion OPT is uncommon. Usually current students are eligible for alternate employment authorization, such as Curricular Practical Training. Because pre-completion OPT is deducted from the 12 months of OPT eligibility, most students prefer to save OPT for after program completion.

You may start the OPT application process up to 90 days before your requested employment start date.

Pre-completion OPT can be approved:

Full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours per week or less) during summer or winter breaks
Part-time (20 hours per week or less) while school is in session (Fall and spring)

You are eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria:

You are currently in F-1 status.
You have been enrolled in a full course of study for one academic year or will complete one academic year by the date the OPT approval begins.
You have not been authorized for a total of 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility.
You do not need a job offer first; you can apply for the 12-month OPT authorization without a job offer.
You have not previously completed 12 months of OPT at the same degree level.

When to Apply: You can apply for pre-completion OPT any time after you have completed the one year requirement. For post-completion OPT, you can apply up to 90 days before your program end date and within 60 days of program end date (your program end date is the last day of the semester that you plan to graduate). It is advisable to apply as soon as you are allowed.

We do not approve the application or have the authority to influence the process. If there is a request for information or to correct a problem, USCIS will notify you of the request but it is your responsibility to respond. If the OPT is approved, USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The student must not begin working before the start date on the EAD. You are required to attend the OPT workshop before your request will be approved.

Complete Your OPT Application by signing into your Terra Dotta Portal and filling out the application. The EDI Coordinator for ISS will review your application. Please think about your OPT start date before meeting with the EDI Coordinator for ISS.

How to choose your OPT start date:

The âstart dateâ is the date your work permission begins. You cannot work earlier than the start date, but you can start working later.
Your requested start date must be within 60 days after your program completion date. Carefully review the notice to make sure your name is spelled correctly. If it is not, contact our office immediately.

You may use the receipt number on your receipt notice to check the status of your application online. It is normal for your case status to say âCase Was Receivedâ for most of the 3-5 month processing period.

Once Your Card is Approved: You have 90 days of unemployment. If you are unable to find employment before 90 days ended, your OPT authorization will be terminated.

Students in their 12-month OPT authorization period, with a qualifying STEM degree and working for an E-Verify registered employer, may apply for an extension of their OPT.

STEM OPT Extension

First STEM OPT Extension: A student may request a first STEM OPT extension if:

They are in a period of Active Post-Completion OPT.
Their primary or secondary major was a STEM-eligible field, or the student completed a previous primary or secondary major in a currently STEM-eligible field.
They have not already had a STEM OPT extension of any duration based on the qualifying STEM degree.
Their qualifying STEM degree was at the bachelorâs, masterâs, or doctoral level.
Their qualifying STEM degree was earned within the ten previous years of the date the DSO recommends the STEM OPT extension.
They will be, or are currently working for an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program.

Second STEM OPT Extension: A student may request a second STEM OPT extension if:

They have a second STEM degree at a higher level than the one used for the first STEM OPT extension.
They have not already based any portion of a STEM OPT extension on the second STEM degree.
Their second STEM degree meets all the above requirements.

Off-Campus Employment Due to Economic Hardship

On occasion, students in F-1 status experience a sudden and unexpected change in their financial situation. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may authorize off-campus employment to help alleviate the situation. In order to qualify for off-campus work, you must have been in F-1 status for at least nine months. You must also be able to document the nature of your financial problem so that the USCIS can decide if off-campus work permission is warranted. If permission is granted, you may still only work 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during school vacations. Your total employment from all sources cannot exceed 20 hours during the academic year.

Pre-Arrival Information for New International Students

For students newly admitted to a university, the pre-arrival process is critical. Congratulations on your admission to the Seattle campus as an undergraduate international student! Several steps must be completed before arriving on campus, including requesting an I-20 or DS-2019, applying for a visa, and preparing for arrival.

Requesting an I-20 or DS-2019

As a citizen of Canada or Bermuda, you are not required to apply for a visa. You are required to request and obtain an I-20 or DS-2019. Review the topics below for additional details about requesting an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) for studying at the UW as well as answers to the most commonly asked immigration questions. Submit your Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (ECD). Allow up to one week after submitting the ECD payment. I-20âs and DS-2019âs will be uploaded to the Requests & Documents section of your MyISSS profile.

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There is not a specific deadline until you have received your I-20 or DS-2019 from the UW. In your MyISSS profile, you can review the status of your request. The MyISSS profile Welcome page will change to âPre-Arrivalâ once your I-20/DS-2019 has been created. Once you have confirmed the transfer out (release) date, log in to your MyISSS immigration account and complete the âCreate I-20â and âTransfer Informationâ request forms.

Immigration policies require international students to show proof of funding for one academic year. The proof of funding must include both academic fees and living expenses. The figures used on the I-20/DS-2019 are current tuition and living expenses, since the 2026-27 student budget has not been finalized yet. If you are submitting a Certificate of Deposit, there is no minimum period of time that the amount needs to be âlocked in.â If you are paying for your educational expenses with multiple funding sources, please submit all relevant financial documents, such as a scholarship letter, loan letter, personal bank statement, etc.

Visa Application Process

Immigration policy allows you to apply for an F-1 visa up to 365 days prior to the program start date on the I-20 form. The program start date can be found in the âProgram of Studyâ section on the I-20. Allow up to 4 weeks after you have submitted all the required information and documents for the UW to process your I-20 or DS-2019. I-20âs and DS-2019âs will be uploaded to the Requests & Documents section of your MyISSS profile. Allow 2â4 weeks for the UW to process your I-20 from the transfer out date your current/previous school enters in the SEVIS immigration system. UW will not have access to your SEVIS immigration record until your previous program ends and your your I-20 is transferred to the UW. Signed, official I-20âs will be uploaded to the Requests & Documents section of your MyISSS profile. Once your I-20 has been issued and you can download your immigration document from MyISSS. Review the topics below for additional details about next steps. Verify your name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and other important details. You will be assigned a major or pre-major at the time of admission based on your requested major. You are not locked in to the major listed on your I-20/DS-2019. You may update your major later if your interests change.

The DS-160 is an essential component of the visa application process, and the visa officer will have access to your complete DS-160 at the time of your interview. Complete the DSâ160 visa application form online and pay the visa application fee. Plan 60-90 minutes to finish the application. If you do find a mistake, reach out to the Embassy or Consulate where you scheduled your interview. Print and bring your DS-160 confirmation page to your visa interview. Once you complete and submit your DS-160 online, youâll receive a confirmation page. Department of State has prepared a helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.

All F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. This fee is separate from visa fees. Immigration policy allows you to apply for the F-1 visa up to 365 days prior to the program start date listed on the I-20 form issued by the UW. Applying for a J-1 visa (exchange visitor visa)? State Department allows J-1 visas to be issued at any time before the start date indicated on the DS-2019 issued by the UW for your program of study.

Arrival and Reporting to the University

Federal and state laws require that international students maintain adequate health insurance coverage while enrolled at the UW. Up to 30 days prior to I-20 or DS-2019 start date. The I-20 Start of Classes is the first day of class instruction for all students based on the UW academic calendar. The I-20 Program Start Date is the date most students are expected to arrive on campus for orientation programs, on-campus housing, or other in person programs before classes begin. We encourage you to arrive 1-2 weeks before classes begin if possible to move into housing and participate in UWâs International Welcome Program, the on-campus Advising & Orientation session, and the Dawg Daze program. You may apply for early arrival housing if you have a confirmed on-campus housing assignment. Immigration requires that you report to the UW by the I-20 classes start date shown on your I-20. For the UW, that is the first day of the quarter. We cannot change or modify the start date to accommodate individual travel plans or requests.

Transferring from Another Institution

If you are transferring from another institution, there are additional steps to consider. If you received a transfer pending I-20 from the UW (review your I-20 Issue Reason for âTransfer Pendingâ status), you are exempt from the 30-day entry requirement. The earliest arrival date section on the transfer I-20 will be blank because there is no restriction. Yes, if you choose to travel internationally, a new visa is not required as long as you have an unexpired F-1 visa from your previous school.

Additional Considerations

Visa Status and Changes

Under a non-student visa category such as H4, L2, E2 or TD and you do not qualify for Washington State Residency, you are considered an international student. You are allowed to keep your current non-immigrant visa status as long as your visa allows full-time study at the college level. Since your visa is not sponsored by the UW, you will need to contact the visa sponsor if you have further questions. Your status is your non-resident category granted by an immigration official with an I-20 and F-1 visa stamp.

Under a non-immigrant category such as H4, L2, E2 or TD, there are several things you should consider before you change your current visa status. When will you change your status? How will you change your status? What are the risks and benefits of a status change? I want to change my visa to F status before the first day of UW classes. Login to the MyISSS immigration platform and request an I-20. I am not planning to change my non-immigrant status to the F-1 student category. If you intend to change your status into an F-1 student category any time after you begin classes at the UW, there is nothing you need to do now.

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