Urgent issues or emergencies may come up outside of OISS office hours. Normal OISS staff hours listed below exclude holidays when the university is closed. During normal office hours, contact OISS directly. Follow the guidelines below when OISS is not open.

Danforth Campus

Danforth Campus OISS:
Alumni House
6510 Wallace Dr.

Office hours: Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 5 p.m.

After Hours

Contact WashU Police Department (PD):
314-935-5555

Medical school campus

Medical Campus OISS:
McDonnell Medical Sciences Building, Suite 102

Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday
9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m.

After Hours

Contact WashU School of Medicine Protective Services:
314-362-4357

WashU PD and WUSM Protective Services are available 24/7. They will be able to reach OISS staff in the event of emergency or urgent issues that occur after hours

Immigration-related emergency

Examples
  • Issues at the U.S. port of entry interacting with Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • Immediate danger of deportation from the U.S.
  • Arrest by the police or conviction of a crime
What to do
  • Call WashU PD at 314-935-5555.
  • Tell WashU PD you are an international student or scholar and that you have an immigration-related emergency. Give brief specific information.
  • WashU PD will contact the OISS Executive Director or appropriate staff to follow up with you.
  • When you are able, send an email to oiss@wustl.edu with details of your immigration-related emergency. If you are an employee (H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.), copy your department host or supervisor on this email.

Other emergencies

Examples
  • Hospitalization
  • Personal inquiry
  • Automobile accident
  • Victim of a crime such as robbery or assault
Know Your Rights

All students and scholars have certain rights while in the U.S.

What to do
  • NOT life-threatening: Call WashU PD at 314-935-5555 and explain the situation.
  • Life-threatening (physical): Call 911 and explain the situation.
  • Life-threatening (mental health): Call 988 and explain the situation.
  • When you are able, send an email to oiss@wustl.edu with details of your emergency. OISS will provide support when the office reopens. If you are an employee (H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.), copy your department host or supervisor on this email.

NON-emergency, immigration-related

If you are traveling without a valid travel signature (F and J status only):

  • F-1 and J-1 students: Submit a Reprint I-20 or Reprint DS-2019 request in MyOISS. You will receive an email within 3 business days from OISS staff and access to your signed immigration document.
  • J-1 scholars: Submit a J-1 Scholar Travel Signature Request. You will receive an email within 3 business days from OISS staff with your signed immigration document.
  • If you are re-entering the U.S. in less than 3 business days, also send an email to oiss@wustl.edu to explain the urgency for an updated I-20/DS-2019 with travel signature.

If your passport is lost or stolen while you are traveling outside the United States:

  • Contact your local embassy to apply for a replacement passport. Let them know if the passport was stolen. If so, your embassy may require a police report.
  • If you are returning to the U.S. in your WashU student or scholar status, you must apply for a new visa stamp for your new passport. See Apply for a Visa Stamp for information.
  • F and J students do not need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again. Go to the I-901 fee website and click CHECK I-901 STATUS to print a copy of your I-901 payment confirmation receipt.
  • You do not need to request a new WashU immigration document unless something has changed from your most recent immigration document (change of program, name change, travel signature expired, etc.).