Getting Started Students

Congratulations on your admission to the Sever Institute Summer Connect for Engineering program at WashU! We are excited to welcome you to campus. Focused on preparing undergraduate students for either WashU’s MEM or MISM graduate degrees, this 6-week residential summer program allows admitted students to take two (3-credit) graduate-level courses. These courses count toward the MEM […]

Transferring your F-1 or J-1 status to WashU from another school in the U.S. is a multi-step process. Carefully review the information below and follow the steps to transfer your SEVIS Record. If you are a student newly admitted to WashU in F-1 or J-1 immigration status sponsored by another U.S. institution, you must transfer […]

The SEVIS ID number is located in the upper left corner of your Form I-20. It begins with the letter “N” followed by a series of numbers (e.g., N0012345678). This is unique to your and is used by the U.S. government to track and manage your immigration record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information […]

If you cannot arrive in the U.S. for the academic term start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to defer your immigration document to a future academic term. Below are the steps to defer your immigration document with the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).  Admission deferral There is a […]

Students and scholars must apply for and obtain a valid visa stamp (also simply referred to as a “visa”) before entering the U.S.

What to expect at a U.S. Port of Entry Upon arrival to the U.S., proceed to the terminal area for arriving passengers to begin inspection. As you approach the inspection station, ensure that you have the documents listed in the section below. You will be asked to state the reason why you wish to enter […]

International students applying for F-1 immigration status must show evidence of funding for one year before WashU can issue an I-20. Students applying for J-1 immigration status must show evidence of funding for the entire academic program before WashU can issue a DS-2019.  Funding must cover all required tuition, fees, living expenses, and any applicable […]

On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) published a revised Exchange Visitor Skills List. The new list includes several large charges. The biggest change removes 34 countries, including Brazil, China and India, from being subject to the two-year home residence requirement. What is the Skills List? DOS created the Exchange Visitor Skills […]

J-1 Exchange Visitors (EVs) and their J-2 dependents, whether students or scholars, can be subject to a two-year home country physical presence requirement. This rule is located in section 212(e) in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the law that covers topics related to immigration and citizenship. This is why you will hear this rule […]

The OISS team of advisers serves as your primary resource for immigration support. We are here to answer questions about your immigration status, federal immigration regulations, immigration documents, work authorization, changing status and more. Please note: Adviser appointments should NOT be scheduled to complete routine requests such as “check-in” or “travel signature” requests. Follow the […]