International Students and Scholars

Please visit the Wake Forest coronavirus web page at coronavirus.wfu.edu. This web page provides links to information from government agencies as well.

For information from ICE/SEVP please visit their FAQs.

Yes. ISSS is currently operating remotely. We are responding to all email communications and using different web tools to provide the same care and services that the population is accustomed to from our office.

Per the Student Health Center “please call the Student Health Service (336-758-5218) or your primary health care provider. Seek medical attention if you experience fever, cough or difficulty breathing. It is recommended that those who think they may have been exposed call ahead before going to the Student Health Service, their primary care physician, or an emergency room.”

Students currently approved to reside on campus who need to remain in campus housing beyond noon on Saturday, May 9, must express their intent to the Office of Residence Life and Housing. To submit your intent please click here. Students should expect to move into a centralized community for Summer 2020. Additionally, students should be aware that access to many facilities and services – including dining, student health, recreation, and libraries – may remain limited. Meal plans will be available for Summer 2020, those details are still being finalized but will be shared with students soon. 

For Summer 2020, the following rates will apply:

• Session 1 (May 9 – July 2) and Session 2 (July 6 – August 21) –  $1,076 per session 
• Note that for Summer 2020, we only have single rooms available due to COVID-19. 

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us at housing@wfu.edu or 336-758-5185.

Yes, recently SEVP has issued guidance in coordination with the Department of State and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) stating that I-20s with electronic Designated School Official (DSO – ISSS staff) signatures can be used for visa interview and travel purposes.

The 5-month rule is generally considered to be in reference to an absence of more than five months that is unconnected to study. If you are continuing to make academic progress in your classes remotely and your visa status is kept Active you should be able to return to Wake Forest on your current visa and I-20. Be sure that you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019. Travel signatures are valid for one year.

Summer Session I and Summer Session II will be entirely online. On-Campus instruction is scheduled to resume in fall 2020.

WFU will announce plans for fall 2020 on June 30.

We hope to be able to answer this question soon. Right now ISSS is waiting for clear guidance from SEVP/other agencies and for the university’s “full plan” to be announced by June 30.

Undergraduates who will finish spring 2020 remotely but do not plan to return to campus for the fall 2020 semester should notify the Office Academic Advising of their plans and request a Continuous Enrollment Status (CES), Leave of Absence, or withdraw from the university as soon as possible. 

Graduate students who will not graduate in May and who will finish spring 2020 remotely but do not plan to return to campus for the fall 2020 semester must work with their individual departments to request a leave of absence, or withdraw from the university.

Please email iss@wfu.edu if you do not plan to return for the fall 2020 semester so that we can accurately update your immigration status.

The travel validation signature is required for re-entry to the U.S. The travel signature is not needed to depart the U.S. The I-20/DS-2019 signature is valid one year from the date signed. 

You can request most processing actions through your ISSDeacs (issdeacs.wfu.edu) account including requesting an I-20 reprint. We recommend that you first start a request in your ISSDeacs account and email iss@wfu.edu if you are having any trouble.

ISSS will provide instructions to you regarding the shipping of your new I-20 or DS-2019 document.

You cannot apply for OPT from outside of the United States. Your I-20 is set to complete on May 18, 2020. If your record completes before you are allowed to reenter the country, then you will not be able to apply for OPT. 

Please email iss@wfu.edu for advice on your individual circumstances. In general, all F-1 students who complete their degree programs are allowed a 60 day grace period to remain inside the U.S. This grace period is a “use it or lose it” situation. Meaning if you leave the U.S. at any point during the 60 day grace period you will not be allowed to reenter the U.S. in your F-1 status. Otherwise, you may remain inside the U.S. during the entire 60 day grace period. You can also apply for OPT during this time period if you did not apply before you graduate.

J-1 visa students are allowed a 30 day grace period to remain inside the U.S. This grace period is a “use it or lose it” situation. Meaning if you leave the U.S. at any point during the 30 day grace period you will not be allowed to reenter the U.S. in your J-1 status. Otherwise, you may remain inside the U.S. during the entire 30 day grace period. 

During your 30 or 60 day grace period you are not allowed to study or be employed (paid or unpaid) unless you have been approved for OPT.

Travel Restrictions

There are currently five different travel-related Presidential Proclamations in place that are banning entry to the U.S. from certain countries.  These proclamations will remain in effect until terminated by the President. The President has the authority to ban additional countries from entering the U.S. at any time.

NAFSA is a great resource to see updated information about travel-related Presidential Proclamations.  

If you want to obtain OPT, we recommend that you do not travel outside of the U.S. until after you receive your EAD card and/or the travel restrictions for reentry have been lifted.

If you no longer want to obtain OPT, you can withdraw your application from USCIS by calling their customer service number. You will not receive a refund of your application fee.

Please communicate with your supervisor to determine what steps you need to take to end or adjust your employment. Send iss@wfu.edu an email to confirm your plans and receive direct advice regarding your visa status.

Please review the ISSS web page to review all employment authorization options available to you and to confirm that your employment meets regulatory guidelines https://global.wfu.edu/iss/employment/. In general, any off-campus employment (employment not paid by WFU) must be authorized in advance by ISSS.

I-20 and DS-2019 Program Extensions are only available for academic or medical reasons. ISSS cannot extend your program end date based on employment.

We have reached out to SEVP for additional guidance on this issue. For now we recommend reporting unpaid or volunteer work related to your field to avoid using unemployment days. If you need help finding this kind of work, contact your academic department for ideas on unpaid or volunteer employment in your field.

Yes, ISSS has posted the OPT Information Session in the ISSDeacs OPT Appplication. Once you finish the ISSDeacs OPT Application you can sign up for a virtual OPT Review session here. 

Students wishing to engage in an internship during summer 2020 must apply and be approved for Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) employment authorization prior to the start of their internships. To apply for CPT, students will need to email iss@wfu.edu to schedule a meeting with an advisor.

Working off-campus without proper work authorization (paid or unpaid) can negatively impact your visa status. For more information and to apply for CPT please visit our website.