Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
F Status
- My F-1 Visa stamped in my passport has expired. What do I do?
- I am a part-time commuting Canadian student. How often do I have to renew my I-20?
- I am a full-time commuting Canadian student. What do I have to do if I want to change to part-time commuter?
- How do I qualify for CPT?
- How do I qualify for OPT?
- How do I determine the begin date of my post-completion OPT?
- How many days can I stay in the U.S. after my OPT end date?
- Can I travel while my OPT application is on pending?
- I plan to visit my home country. What do I need to do before I depart?
- When do I need to receive an OISS Work Authorization?
- How do I add my spouse as a F-2 dependent?
General
- How do I obtain a F-1 Visa?
- What if I am denied a visa?
- I need to leave the country suddenly for a family emergency. What should I do?
- How many "distance learning" courses may I take during a semester?
- Do I have to take 12 credits for undergraduate and 8 credits for graduate every semester?
- I think I need to drop a class. How do I do this?
- How do I transfer to another college?
- Can international students get financial aid?
- Can I work, either on campus or off campus? How can I get a social security number?
- How do I get an invitation letter to my parents?
- I'm an international student. I have to go to another country for my research during the summer break. What should I do before I go there?
- I'm a PhD student and I have transferred from one department to another. Should I visit OISS to have my I-20 changed, ow will someone take care of it for me?
- I'm traveling aborad this summer. I had my I-20 endorsed last winter. Do I need a new I-20 endorsement for this summer's travel?
H Status
- I will have a gap between my OPT end date and the H-1B start date (October 1). Do I have to maintain my immigration status?
- What is premium processing? Do I need it?
Health Insurance
- What kind of plan is this?
- What is a PPO?
- What does "within the PPO limits mean"?
- How do I find a doctor or hospital in the PPO limits?
- What happens if I go to a doctor that is not within the PPO plan?
- Does this plan provide 100% coverage?
- Do I have to pay for prescriptions?
- What does Inpatient/Outpatient mean?
- Will I have to pay the deductible & co-pay upfront or will they send me a bill?
- What does deductible and co-pay mean?
- What is Reasonable Expense?
- Can I use the health insurance in my home country?
- I travel outside of Michigan, will I be able to use the plan?
- When will I receive my health insurance card?
- What is a Certificate number and when do I use it?
- Will I be able to go to the doctor before I receive my insurance card?
- What do I need to show if I do not have my card yet?
- Do I need to file a claim?
- Does travel insurance meet the health insurance requirement?
Taxes
- What happens if I fail to file my tax returns?
- I'm an F-1 or J-1 student, and I had no U.S. earned income or scholarships for 2010. Do I need to file?
- I only arrived in the U.S. in December of 2010, and I didn't work. Do I still have to file Form 8843?
- I had bank interest on my checking or savings accounts. Is that earned income and must I file other tax forms?
- I only worked for a very short time in 2010, and I didn't earn very much. Do I still have to file?
- I'm married and have a child who was born in the U.S. Can I claim personal exemptions for my wife and child?
- I tried to get a social security number for my spouse or dependent child and was refused. What do I do?
- I am from one of the countries that can claim an exemption for my spouse and/or child. Can I claim them if they don't have a social security number or an ITIN?
- My young children live with me. Can I claim the Child Care Tax Credit?
- I am a nonresident for tax purposes. Can I claim the HOPE or Tuition Tax Credit or the Earned Income Credit?
- I have a student ID starting with the numbers 997 or 995 or 999 that looks just like a social security number. Can I use this number as my taxpayer identification number?
- I just received my W-2 for the wages I earned in 2010. Can I file my taxes now?
- My country has a tax treaty with the U.S., and I earned below $5000, which is the amount of wages exempt by my treaty. Do I still need to file?
- I had a teaching assistantship or graduate research assistantship at WSU. Is this the same as a scholarship or fellowship?
- I had a GTA or GRA position. Can I deduct or exclude the cost of my tuition, books and/or fees?
- Can I deduct the cost of a computer as a valid educational expense?
- I am from India. Can I claim the standard deduction?
- Can students and scholars claim itemized deductions?
- Should I keep copies of my tax return and other tax forms?
- What is the deadline for filing my tax return?
- Where do I mail my tax federal return?
- If I owe federal tax, to whom do I make the check payable?
- I'm unable to file by the deadline, what do I do?
- I need tax forms or additional help or information. Where can I get the necessary forms or assistance?
- I am leaving the country before I can file my taxes. What should I do?
- My employer withheld Social Security and Medicare taxes from my salary. Can I get this refunded?
- My address in Detroit has changed since I began working at WSU, or I am on Curricular Practical Training and now living in another city. How do I notify Payroll of my address change so that I will receive my W-2 and/or 1042-S?
- I worked or attended university in another state and paid state taxes. How do I report this on my federal tax return and am I required to file a state tax return?
