Student Status

Social media On April 9, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would begin considering social media activity of foreign nationals— including F and J visa holders—when evaluating USCIS immigration benefit applications. This could include applications for work authorization, change of status, or reinstatement. Read the April […]

Your SEVIS ID is unique to you. The United States government uses it to track and manage your immigration record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) throughout your stay in the U.S. It begins with the letter “N” followed by a series of numbers (e.g., N0012345678). Find your SEVIS ID number in […]

If your visa has expired and you are traveling outside the U.S., you must apply for a new visa stamp through the same process as your initial visa application, in order to re-enter the U.S.

International students applying for or extending their F-1 immigration status must show evidence of funding for one year before WashU can issue an I-20. Students applying for or extending their 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, […]

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 […]

WashU is proud to host international doctoral students in a number of disciplines across campus. Doctoral students have several rights and responsibilities that vary from students at other levels. Find University PhD Policies & Requirements online. As a doctoral student, there are two stages to your academic program. The first is completion of coursework that […]

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 […]

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records travel in and out of the U.S. electronically through the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record for all international non-immigrant visitors to the U.S. This record lists your entry date, port of entry, and immigration status in which you were admitted to the U.S. The I-94 record may be required as proof […]

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 […]

Maintain your contact information in Workday Federal immigration regulations require WashU to report specific contact information for all F-1 and J-1 students to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). We report the following information from your Workday Student account to SEVIS: If you have a pending or approved USCIS petition (i.e. I-539, I-765, […]