Category: Newsletter

Starting your studies in the U.S. as an international student is super exciting, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming. To help make your transition smoother, we’ve put together some essential steps and tips for you. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee Before you head to the U.S., don’t forget to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. It’s a required fee, and not paying it can create problems with your immigration status. You can pay it online at the FMJfee website…

The International Student Services (ISS) physical office will be closed from August 19th to 30th. During this time, our staff will continue to work remotely to support you. Why the Closure? This temporary closure will allow our staff to focus on preparing for the upcoming autumn quarter, ensuring that we’re ready to support you during one of the busiest times of the academic year. We’re Still Here to Help – Virtually! While the office is closed, we’re still here to…

The 2024 Olympics in Paris features 18 current and former international student Huskies who represent 11 different nations and are competing in events across Track and Field, Rowing, and Golf. Meet Our International Husky Olympians Here are the UW athletes representing their respective countries: Izzi Batt-Doyle, Australia Women’s Track and Field Jacob Dawson, Great Britain Men’s Rowing Holly Dunford, Great Britain Women’s Rowing Brian Fay, Ireland Men’s Track and Field Kieran Lumb, Canada Men’s Track and Field Sophie O’Sullivan, Ireland Women’s…

How did you become interested in working with international students? When I moved to Seattle for undergrad, I knew I wanted to learn more about other cultures, and so I studied abroad in Granada, Spain. I earned my undergraduate degree in International Studies and Spanish, which then led me to work in the travel industry for 6.5 years, traveling all over the world. In 2022, I combined my passion for the power of education with my love of learning about…

Written by Ilham Mohamed of Student Legal Services Providing FREE to low-cost legal services to students since 1969. Student Legal Services is an on-campus law office that provides a safe and confidential space for all UW-Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma students who have legal questions or concerns. SLS offers free 40-minute consultations on a broad range of issues such as immigration, landlord/tenant, name and gender marker changes, contracts, discrimination, obtaining a protection order, traffic tickets, criminal cases, and other legal issues….

Written by Erin Lee of the Career and Internship Center We know that many of you are busy applying for summer internships or making post-graduation plans. The Career and Internship Center is here to help you navigate the job-search process. We’ve written a few tips below to help students both early in their studies and finishing their degrees. 1. Gain Experience as Early as Possible: Take initiative in class projects, engage in RSOs, and/or secure an on-campus job to gain…

Many of our F-1 international students are applying for summer internships and post-graduation jobs which we know is an exciting but stressful process. To work off campus, whether an internship during your studies or a job after graduation, you must apply for authorization. We’ve put together a few reminders about work authorization and  your immigration status. Internships, Trainings, and Off-campus Work Require Authorization To work off campus during your studies, you likely need to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)…

As an F-1 or J-1 international student, you are required to have health insurance. Most students are automatically enrolled in the International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) which has 2 different rates: quarterly and annual. What is the difference between the quarterly and annual rates? The Quarterly coverage is applied every quarter once you register for classes. If you do not register for classes in a quarter, including summer, you will not be enrolled in insurance. However, the Annual coverage…

Spring quarter means warm weather and cherry blossoms! For the ISS team, it is also the busiest time of the year. Many of our F and J international students are applying for summer or post-graduation work authorizations such as CPT and OPT. To better support you throughout this busy time, we are making a few changes to our services. Live Online Chat Support We are happy to announce that you are now able to connect directly with our team through…

By Paulina, International Undergraduate Student Spring is right around the corner! As the busiest time at the ISS office approaches, here are some tips for visiting ISS during the spring. Tip #1: Visit us as early as possible. Immigration requests usually include new and confusing language making them challenging for students to navigate. Getting ahead on requests can be very helpful when you have many questions or when a process is new to you. You can learn about something most…