The West Virginia University Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), located in E Moore Hall on the downtown campus, is an Office of Student Affairs and is a link to students and research scholars from over 90 countries around the world. With the diversity in these students’ and scholars’ cultural backgrounds and values, they have one thing in common: the challenge and adventure of living in a new culture. Leaving family and lifetime friends, as well as coping with a new language, social and physical environment, and daily customs, can add to the pressure of study or work. International student’s adjustment to life in the US can be greatly eased by meeting people who would like to share friendships and exchange ideas and information about the world.
The Office of International Students and Scholars offers various cross-cultural programs and activities in which you can be involved. Don’t miss these opportunities to make your learning experience at WVU a most memorable one. The OISS is a symbol of the diversity at WVU and of the opportunity that WVU students have to expand their knowledge about the world.
Get involved! While you’re here, have some fun – tell Karen what activities you’re interested in as a participant or as a volunteer.
SCHEDULED EVENTS:
The orientation for the Fall 2008 Session is on Monday, August 11. Please see attached schedule for more information.
International Student Organization (ISO) meets each Thursday at 6:00pm in the E. Moore Hall Hall Conference Room. The point of contact is: Ayumi Tsuda, atsuda@mix.wvu.edu
International Teas – E.Moore Hall Lounge at 4:00pm on Thursdays. The teas are free and open to the public. This monthly event permits intercultural exchange and are usually sponsored by international student associations, WVU councils/departments and /or community organizations. If you or your student organization would like to sponsor at tea, please contact Karen at Karen.Bird@mail.wvu.edu.
Required Immunizations
- West Virginia University now requires that all new incoming international freshmen receive two (2) doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) and one dose of meningitis vaccine before entering WVU. All transfers must have the two (2) doses of MMR. For more information, please contact the WVU Admissions and Records Office.
Changing Your Address
- Please remember that if you have moved, you MUST fill out an AR-11 and bring it to our office. DO NOT SEND it to USCIS. OISS takes care of that through the SEVIS system. If you have applied or will apply for OPT, and you know you will move during the process, please put the address of a good friend to assure that you will receive your EAD card in a timely manner. Changing your address during the processing of an OPT application causes serious delays and complications, and in some cases, a repeat application at your own expense.
Tuition Merit Award
- A tuition waiver offered to qualifying undergraduate international students, is now online.
Apply in February 2008, if you have financial need and good grades, and are in at least your second semester at WVU.
Taxes
- If you have worked while in the US, you have paid taxes. You have recieved or will soon receive a W-2 form from your employer, saying how much you’ve earned and how much you’ve paid in taxes. You may be able to get some or all of the taxes you’ve paid refunded! Isn’t that great news? If you go to Internal Revenue Service, you can download Federal Tax Forms and West Virginia Tax forms here, but it will be easier for you to go to International Student Taxes and prepare your tax return online.
Health Insurance Requirement—Reminder
- All international students are required to have health insurance the entire time that they are in the US to attend school or work on OPT with an I-20 or DS-2019 from WVU. If you are a current student at WVU, you MUST show verification of your health insurance coverage (the policy) to Carolyn Matthews at the Student Health Service, unless you have the WVU-sponsored policy (United Health Care), as soon as the new Semester begins.Your insurance papers MUST be in English and show your coverage in US dollars. If you do not do this, your records can be put on hold, preventing you from registering for classes. Please direct your enquiries on this matter to Carolyn Mathews (304-293-2315 or cmatthews@hsc.wvu.edu).
Applying for OPT or CPT? Are you in CEMR?
- We now have a list of faculty & staff authorized to write your recommendation letter. Please see attached List..
Important Reminder to F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders
- YOU are responsible for maintaining your visa status. The OISS is responsible for making sure you have the information your require in order to do so. For persons on either visa status, the following are your legal requirements.
- You MUST update your contact informationat the OISS within 10 days after a change.
- Your I-20 must NEVER expire while you are a student
- Your I-20 MUST match your actual academic major
- You MUST be enrolled FULL-TIME unless you have received permission to be registered less-than-full-time BEFORE the beginning of the semester and if you have completed your studies, your visa status is expired no matter what your visa or your I-20 states.
- You MUST meet with the OISS Director, Mr. Michael Wilhelm, before withdrawing from school.
- For a refresher on precisely what is required and what to expect, please read this page thoroughly. Remember: failure to comply with these requirements may result in deportation.
NEW! Answers to OPT Questions!
- We have compiled answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about Optional Practical Training! If you have a question you think we should add, please let us know.
Bus Service
- The Mountain Line, Morgantown’s Bus Service has several routes through the community. It also has added the Grey Line route to Pittsburgh, to replace the closed Greyhound service. The fare is $25 from Morgantown to the Pittsburgh airport, or from the airport to Morgantown. Full information is available at http://www.busride.org.
- International Student Handbook is now available online. Whether you’re brand-new to education in the U.S. or you’ve been in Morgantown for several years, you’re likely to find something of interest.
Travel for F-1 Students or J-1 Students or Scholars
Current regulations require that those individuals holding nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status turn their I-94 arrival/departure record card when leaving the U.S. Failure to do that will result in the departure not being recorded properly in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) system and the individual being regarded as overstaying his/her authorized stay. This can have serious consequences on future entry into the U.S., visa validity including danger of the individual being returned immediately to the foreign point of origin.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection ( CBP) has issued guidance on how individuals holding nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status can record a departure from the U.S when his/her I-94 arrival/departure record was not collected. If you discover after departure that you are still in possession of your I-94, you should IMMEDIATELY follow the departure validation procedures at: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/ .
- Please go to the SEVIS website for complete information on Travel FAQ for F-1 or What an Exchange Visitor Can Expect. Please remember to bring your I-20 or DS-2019 to the OISS at least two weeks before you leave the U.S. so that we can make sure that your I-20 has been signed within a year of your intended return to the U.S.
Applying for a West Virginia Driver’s License
- Please plan to arrive at the DMV Office before 2:00 pm for testing and licensing because of the additional time required to verify documents and legal presence status, check with Help Desk, enter the unique license term information to sync license expiration and length of legal stay and the longer period of time it will take you to complete the testing. Complete application information is on our website.
Are You A New Student This Semester?
- Did you participate in the International Student Orientation? Please share your opinion by completing our online evaluation form
International Student Organization
- requests your participation in a short survey so that they can better meet your interests.