Category: Newsletter

As we finish out winter quarter, ISS advisors are preparing for the heavy OPT season for spring quarter graduates. To help you prepare, our newest advisor in ISS, Sophia Schuessler, shared some tips for filling out your I-765! When filing the I-765 with USCIS (either with a physical form or online) it is important to remember: You must have your recommended OPT I-20 before you apply to USCIS. Students often get denied because they either file the documents out of…

Our colleagues across campus have reached out to us about funding available through the UW Center for Human Rights! If you’re researching human rights or working on projects to advance social justice, this may be available to you! Details for individual funds are listed below: 1) Osheroff and Clark Fund Available to undergraduate and graduate students Funding priority goes to projects focusing on promoting social change through direct action Approximately $4,300 is available for distribution 2) Mack and Mayerfeld Fund Available…

If you’re planning on traveling outside of the U.S. during spring break, you need a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019! Wait – what is a travel signature? The travel signature is on page two of an I-20 and page one of a DS-2019. An advisor signs it after they’ve confirmed that you are maintaining status by following the rules of your visa. Signatures on DS-2019s are valid for one year. Signatures on I-20s are valid for one year…

Some students applying for their STEM OPT Extension are not receiving their EAD cards at their current addresses. This issue may impact students who are applying for the STEM OPT extension if they have moved since filing their last I-765. What is happening? Students who applied for OPT by filing their I-765 online with USCIS are not receiving their EAD card at their new address. Rather, it is being sent to the old address that USCIS has on file from…

This year, ISS made Glacier Tax Prep go live a bit earlier than usual. We wanted to make sure it was available for alumni who are on post-completion OPT, STEM OPT, or post-completion AT as early as possible. That said, we wanted to make sure that students understand that UW has not yet issued 1042-S forms at this time. Under the IRS rules, these forms must be issued by March 10. However, there is currently a plan to get these…

Today, the Department of Homeland Security published a notice to the Federal Register regarding an extension to Special Student Relief for Haitian students studying on an F-1 visa. Special Student Relief allows students to apply for work authorization off campus and request reduced course loads when approved. More information about Special Student Relief and how to apply is located on our website.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program has a planned update for the SEVP Portal tomorrow, January 24, 2023. The release will allow students on post-completion optional practical training to see and edit supervisor information including last name, first name, telephone number and extension, and email address. SEVP anticipates a three-hour SEVP Portal outage from Tuesday, January 24 at 9 PM EST to Wednesday, January 25 at 12 AM EST.  

Tax season is upon us! By now, you may have started to see messages from tax preparation companies and you may have even received your W-2 tax form from your employer. While ISS is not able to meet with you about or advise you on your tax obligations, we provide information to all students about filing their taxes. ISS recommends for all students who were studying at the University of Washington on an F-1 or J-1 visa in 2022 to…

We are always excited to welcome new international students to the University of Washington! Today, we held our make-up immigration orientation session for new F-1 international students. During this session, students were able to learn about the basics of their F-1 status. Immigration Orientation is required for all new students. Students who did not attend the in-person orientations or make-up sessions must watch the recording and complete the confirmation form so that ISS can track their attendance.

The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule change on January 4, 2023 that could affect UW students – those who are applying for OPT and STEM OPT or those who are applying to change their status within the U.S., or submitting reinstatement applications. The proposed rule is currently open for public comment through 03/06/2023. We encourage people interested in submitting public comments to review the Frequently Asked Questions and proposed rule in the Federal Register.