CPT at WashU – an online course
The CPT at WashU online course is required for any F-1 student wishing to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their program. The course is offered through the OISS “Homebase” platform (implemented in Fall 2024). Follow the directions below to access and complete the course. If you do not already have a Homebase account […]
H-1B Department Intake Instructions
This page is for WashU departments who want to sponsor an employee in H-1B status and are completing the H-1B Department Intake Request. We will guide you through the steps needed to complete and submit the request and the necessary intake forms. Review this page thoroughly before submitting the Intake Request. This will help reduce errors and streamline the application […]
OISS Tax Workshops & Webinars
The following events are hosted by OISS and are specific to WashU international students and scholars who were in the U.S. at any time during the 2025 tax year (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025). All times are listed in U.S. Central Time Zone (UTC-06:00). Click on the link to learn more and to register […]
H-1B Site Visits: Compliance Reviews
USCIS operates two major programs to ensure immigration compliance and prevent fraud: Both are managed by the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS), empowering officers to conduct thorough compliance reviews. What is a compliance review? FDNS immigration officers perform compliance reviews to verify that both petitioners and beneficiaries are adhering to the terms of […]
FNIS for Departments
The Foreign National Information System (FNIS) collects data from foreign national (FN) employees so that Payroll Services can correctly tax their WashU paychecks and generate applicable tax documents. Without a fully updated FNIS record, FN paychecks may be taxed incorrectly. FNIS process Within about 1 week of hire, FNIS Support notifies newly hired FNs to complete FNIS and provides guidance for entering data […]
Payments for Foreign Nationals
This page and linked chart below provide guidance on WashU payment policies for foreign nationals, based on immigration status and visa type. The chart specifies allowable payment types, including wages, stipends, independent contractor payments, honoraria, travel reimbursements, prizes/awards, and scholarships. This chart and the explanation are important because they serve as a single, authoritative guide […]
DHS Ends Automatic Extension of EADs
On October 29, USCIS published an announcement, “DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization.” The announcement refers to the interim final rule published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on October 30, 2025, “Removal of the Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents.” This rule ends automatic extensions of work authorization while a timely-filed […]
Duration of Status: DHS Proposed Changes
On August 28, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule to end duration of status: “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.” This is a […]
J-2 Dependents: Work Authorization
J-2 visa-holders may be authorized to work in the U.S. if they obtain approval from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). In order to qualify for a J-2 EAD, both the J-1 exchange visitor and J-2 dependent must be maintaining legal status and the J-2 must be physically present […]
Change of Status
When you enter the United States in nonimmigrant status, you do so for a specific purpose, such as study, work, or travel. You may enter the U.S. with one purpose and later wish to change your purpose. When this happens, you may need to obtain a new visa status. Different visa categories allow different activities. […]