Most students take a vacation quarter during the summer. However, sometimes you may want to take a vacation quarter a different quarter to take a break from studies or go home and visit family. In this case, you will need to apply for an Alternate Vacation Quarter. What is a vacation quarter? Immigration regulations allow one vacation quarter each year. This is an annual exception to the full-time enrollment requirement. Most students are eligible for and take their vacation quarter…
Category: Newsletter
Weekly updates and notices.
Making Academic Progress
F and J international students are expected to make academic progress during their studies, but what exactly does this mean? The UW issues I-20s and DS-2019s for the average time it takes students to complete your degree program. During this time, you should maintain full-time enrollment and work towards the completion of your program by the end date listed on your document. We encourage you to discuss with your academic adviser your degree plan so that you can complete your…
All about Social Security Numbers
Written by Jennifer Oppliger A Social Security Number (SSN) is a number that identifies U.S. citizens and other selected residents. Noncitizens can generally only receive SSNs if they are employed in the U.S. An SSN is used to track your annual income. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is in charge of the SSN application process. How do I apply for an SSN if I am working on-campus? Receive an on-campus employment letter. Submit an “SSN/ITIN Support Letter” request in MyISSS….
Surviving and Thriving: Your First Year at UW – A Guide from a Seasoned Husky
Written by Jessica Jie Wang, UW Senior Welcome to the pack! How does it feel for the first week of school? Excited? Overwhelmed? I felt the same way in my first week/month at UW as there were so many things on the checklist to be done and so many “surprises” (good or bad) happening every day. As I reflect on my experience, I’d like to share some personal insights and tips to help you make the most of your first year…
Dos and Don’ts for Check-in
Immigration Check-in can be a confusing process. To help, we’ve written up a list of things to do and not do to have a successful Immigration Check-in process. Do! Read our Post-arrival Check-list for step-by-step instructions. Wait 3 days after you entered the U.S. to get your I-94. Check your UW email – we will contact you if there are problems with your check-in. Don’t! Don’t forget to enroll full-time. We cannot register your immigration record if you are not…
Returning to Seattle soon? Make sure you’re prepared.
International Student Services (ISS) is excited to welcome back more than 5,000 continuing international students to our Seattle campus. We hope that you had a wonderful summer break and are ready to begin another academic year at UW. Please remember that ISS is here to help you on all things related to your immigration status. What do I need to re-enter the U.S.? To re-enter the U.S., we recommend you bring the following documents: Passport Visa I-20 with valid travel…
Enrollment Requirements for Autumn 2023
International Student Services (ISS) staff are happy to welcome more than 8,000 new and returning international students to the Seattle campus. We know that the beginning of the academic year is an exciting but busy time for you. With that said, we wanted to take some time to help you understand your enrollment requirements for the upcoming quarter. Credit Requirements Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 credits per a quarter. Graduate students typically must enroll in at least…
Meet Our Advisers – Max
ISS recently welcomed three new advisers to our team! To introduce them to you all, our blog will feature Adam, Brittany, and Max throughout the week. How did you become interested in working with international students? I became interested in working with international students while I was a TA here at UW. It was so great getting to work with the UW international student community that I wanted to continue doing so Are you originally from Seattle? I’m originally from New…
Meet Our Advisers – Brittany
ISS recently welcomed three new advisers to our team! To introduce them to you all, our blog will feature Adam, Brittany, and Max throughout the week. How did you become interested in working with international students? I spent about 8 years travelling and working with students around the world, and through those experiences I developed a passion for working with international students. I knew that I wanted pursue a career working with international students once I returned to the US. Are…
Meet Our Advisers – Adam
ISS recently welcomed three new advisers to our team! To introduce them to you all, our blog will feature Adam, Brittany, and Max throughout the week. How did you become interested in working with international students? During my Undergraduate and Graduate studies at the university I attended, I worked for a First-Year experience office. In that role I was a peer leader for many international students, where I introduced them to campus resources, arranged for study times, helped with conversational English…