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• Graduate Studies in A&S

International Student Support Hub

Learn about resources across WashU for A&S international graduate students

The Office of Graduate Studies has designed this guide to bring together resources from all across campus for our ArtSci international graduate students. We are happy you are here and eager to support your experience throughout graduate school. If there is a resource or opportunity that you would like to see added to this guide, please email [email protected] .

Campus Resources

There are two offices specifically dedicated to international students at WashU: the Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS) , and the Office for International Student Engagement (OISE) . In addition, English Language Programs works with international students who need additional English language support. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports students from underrepresented and/or marginalized populations and works to celebrate the diversity we have at WashU. See below to learn more about these resources.

For more general resources, check out The Graduate Center’s resources page , which includes financial resources, student support, housing and transportation, academic resources and support, and child and family care resources.

Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS)

OISS is located at Alumni House (6510 Wallace Drive), just across Forsyth from the DUC, in an area called the South 40.

All compliance-based questions related to visa status, work authorization, travel signatures, etc. should be directed to OISS.

Scroll to the bottom of OISS’s website to check out their extensive online library of resources and forms, including what to do after U.S. arrival for international students , filing U.S. taxes as an international student , and the International Student Travel Signature Request Form .

Get to know your OISS advisor , and pay attention to email communications from OISS, as these will contain important information.

Office for International Student Engagement (OISE)

OISE is located in the Women’s Building, Suite 102 (above the Card Center and Parking & Transportation office).

OISE focuses on community building and engagement, providing a welcoming environment through programming, advocacy, and cultural enrichment. They support all international students across WashU’s schools, including undergraduates and graduate students.

OISE manages the International Student Medical Assistance Fund . This fund is designed to support students on F-1 and J-1 visas who may encounter unexpected medical expenses during their academic program in the U.S. See more information at the link above, and contact the Director of OISE with questions or to request use of this funding.

Sign up for OISE’s newsletter via this form , or email [email protected] to be added to their mailing list.

English Language Programs (ELP)

Arts & Sciences English Language Program (ELP) Courses

The English Language Program (ELP) offers courses, support, and assessment in academic and professional English language. ELP is housed in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS).

ELP administers  English language proficiency assessments  for incoming graduate students that some programs might require (separate from TOEFL/IELTS). ELP uses these assessments to identify the level of English language support needed and to make course recommendations. Check out  ELP Courses  and options for  individual supports . Courses focus on three pathways: Presentations & Teaching, Conversation Skills, and Academic Writing.

The Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) encourages students to discuss these course recommendations with their advisor or Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and make an effort to complete their ELP courses in a timely manner. Reach out to your department’s administrative coordinator or  schedule an appointment with ELP’s Program Manager for more information about your program’s policies.

The OGS will cover the tuition for up to 6 credit units of English Language Program courses for full-time Arts & Sciences international graduate students who seek to improve their academic writing and speaking skills in English. If a student wishes to take additional ELP courses, they will need to obtain department approval and to cover the tuition with their own funds.

We encourage students to seek additional support from The Writing Center as well as the Center for Teaching and Learning as they pursue their research and roles in teaching opportunities.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from underrepresented and/or marginalized populations, creates collaborative partnerships with campus and community partners, and promotes dialogue and social change among all students. Key areas of focus at the CDI include education, advocacy, research and scholarship, engagements, and social justice. Scroll down on the CDI's website and select "Graduate and Professional" and "International" under "Narrow by student type" to see more resources.

The CDI manages WashU's Bias Report and Support System (BRSS) , through which students, faculty, staff, and community members who have experienced or witnessed incidents of bias, prejudice, or discrimination involving a student can report their experiences. The BRSS team will support students who have witnessed or been the target of bias-related incidents, refer community members to appropriate university and local resources, and more. Reports can be made through the online form (make sure to select BRSS from the drop-down menu) or by calling 314-935-7535 during business hours (8:30am-5pm Monday through Friday).

Important OISS Forms

On OISS’s website , you can scroll to the resources towards the bottom of the page and click on “Forms” under “Narrow by content type.” You should also maintain close contact with your OISS advisor, who will share important forms and deadlines with you. This list shares just a few important forms for you to be aware of.

New International Graduate Student Status Form

All new international graduate students should fill out this form as soon as possible after admission to WashU. The I-20/DS-2019 cannot be processed without it.

International Student Travel Signature Request Form

If you do not have a travel signature that is less than 12 months old on your I-20 or DS-2019, use the Travel Signature Request Form before traveling outside the U.S. You do not need a signature if you are traveling within the U.S.

For re-entry into the U.S., international students are required to have a travel signature on page 2 of their current I-20 or page 1 of their current DS-2019, and the date of the travel signature must be less than 12 months old. Travel signatures can be used for multiple re-entries into the U.S. within 12 months. Other documents are typically required as well, including a passport and a valid F-1 or J-1 visa in your passport. Work with your OISS advisor to make sure you have all required documents before traveling outside the U.S.

If you know you will be traveling outside the U.S. and need a travel signature, it is best to fill out the form as early as possible, especially since the signature will last for 12 months.

Don’t forget about making sure your spouse and/or children have the documents they need before traveling outside the U.S. as well. Your OISS advisor can help you with this.

I-20/DS-2019 Extension Application (Change or New Degree)

If you need to extend your program beyond the program length set on your I-20/DS-2019, you must submit an extension application to OISS at least three business days prior to the expiration of your I-20/DS-2019. We recommend submitting this as early as possible, though. The extension application is based on the change or addition of a new degree program.

There is a section of the form that must be completed by an academic advisor who can verify your eligibility for the program extension or change.

If you will need an extension, OGS recommends submitting the form to OISS as early as possible. Extensions are not possible after your program date has passed, which means that missing this deadline can have serious repercussions.

Transportation

There are many transportation options to get to and from campus and around St. Louis: public transportation (MetroLink / MetroBus), campus shuttles, biking, driving/parking, and ride-sharing services (Uber / Lyft). Explore your options below, and check out OISS’s Transportation Guide .

Metro U-Pass

All full-time registered students are eligible for a U-Pass, which allows individuals to ride the MetroLink and MetroBus for free. Request your U-Pass here and learn more information here . Note that the U-Pass has to be renewed each semester, and you have to show a valid WashU ID along with your U-Pass.

There are two MetroLink stations located on/near the Danforth campus: the Big Bend station, located at the intersection of Big Bend and Forest Park Parkway (southeast corner), and the Skinker station, located at Forest Park Parkway and Skinker (southwest corner).

The Central West End MetroLink station is on the Medical campus. See more info about Metro transit here .

Tips: The MetroLink has two lines: the Red Line and the Blue Line. Before boarding, look at the red or blue signs on the train to ensure you are on the correct train and heading in the correct direction. Operators will announce upcoming stations, and you can review the map in your train car to see how many stops you have to ride. Once on board, you will be asked to show your valid U-Pass along with your WashU ID.

Download the Transit mobile app to explore your options and view a map featuring real-time arrival countdowns as well as bus and train schedules and locations.

The Danforth Campus Circulator shuttle provides shuttle service from the MetroLink stations to various locations around the Danforth Campus and the South 40.

There are several  MetroBus  stops near WashU’s campuses. There are also a few routes designed specifically for the WashU community.

The following bus can be caught at the Mallinckrodt Bus Plaza on the Danforth campus or at the Central West End transit Center on the Medical campus:

• #1 Gold  (connects Danforth and Medical campus and services residential neighborhoods between both campuses)

The following buses can be caught at the Mallinckrodt Bus Plaza on the Danforth campus:

• #2 Red  (services neighborhoods north of campus, St. Louis Galleria mall, Brentwood Promenade (Trader Joes, Target, Micro Center) and Walmart)
• #5 Green  (services 560 Music Center, north of campus neighborhoods, U-City Loop, and the Lewis Collaborative)

Tips: As the bus approaches, signal to the operator that you want to board by raising your hand. Once on board, swipe your U-Pass through the card reader and show the driver your WashU ID. When approaching your destination, pull the cord or press the strip to indicate your desired stop.

Getting from campus to St. Louis Lambert International Airport

The MetroLink Red Line goes to the airport. The closest stations to the Danforth campus with Red Line stops are Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Delmar Loop.

From the Medical campus, go to Central West End station and use the Red Line.

Whatever station you start from, make sure to get on a train marked as Westbound to Lambert Airport.

The Transit mobile app can help you plan your trip.

WashU Campus Shuttle System

WashU has a shuttle system that is free for students with WashU IDs. You can use it to get around the Danforth campus or areas close to campus, such as the Delmar Loop, Skinker-DeBaliviere, Delmar-DivINe, and the Lewis Collaborative.

Use the TripShot app to track campus shuttles and plan your trip.

Check out resources, shuttles, and maps for the Medical campus.

Campus2Home (Danforth)

The Campus2Home shuttle is available 7 days a week to provide a safe ride home from the Danforth campus to off-campus residences within specified boundaries .

Request a Campus2Home shuttle using the on-demand feature of the TripShot app .

Biking is a popular way to get around campus and surrounding neighborhoods. WashU has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University.

If you park your bike on the Danforth campus, you can register your bike with WUPD to help protect against theft and facilitate the recovery of lost or stolen bikes.

WUPD recommends using a Kryptonite U-lock with your bike, which can be purchased at the WUPD office (South 40) for $33.

When you park your bike, make sure to lock it to a bike rack only. Your bike can be impounded if it is locked to anything except a bike rack.

WashU has a student-owned and operated bike company called Bears Bikes , which offers bicycle rentals, repairs, and storage. They are located on the South 40 along the Gregg walkway (underneath Gregg House), closest to the clocktower.

Be on the lookout for self-service bike repair stations on campus, which include air pumps and other tools for performing minor repairs.

The Danforth campus has an Active Commuter Hub on the East End of campus on the lower level of Schnuck Pavilion. You can apply to become a member to access showers, cubby-style lockers, and/or Z-style lockers, for anywhere from $20-40. Undergraduate and graduate students can request a discount.

Parking at WashU

If you are planning to drive to the Danforth campus, a parking permit is required to park on campus, unless you park in visitor garages, which are paid hourly. All vehicles parked in non-visitor parking spots on WashU property must display an appropriate parking permit and be registered with Parking & Transportation Services.

See Graduate Permit Options via WashU Parking & Transportation. Options include a commuter permit (ParkSmart) to park at West Campus and take a shuttle to Danforth campus, a Daily Usage permit for occasional parkers, and a regular parking permit (Graduate Student Yellow).

Most “yellow” spaces on campus, including surface lots and garages, can be used for parking without a permit after 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 5 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. on Monday. Check signage to make sure.

If you do not have a permit but want to park on campus during business hours (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), you can park in visitor parking at Danforth garages; you will pull a ticket at the garage entrance and pay by the hour when you exit.

For parking at the Medical campus, see here .

Driving in the U.S.

OISS has put together a guide about how to apply for a Driver or Non-Driver License in Missouri . A Non-Driver license is a state photo identification card and can be used as a primary or secondary document for proof of identity, but this card will not permit you to drive.

OISS also has a guide to purchasing a vehicle in Missouri . This guide includes information about the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining a vehicle in the U.S. (including taxes and insurance), paperwork required in Missouri, relevant terminology related to purchasing a vehicle, and more.

Health and Wellness

Your health and wellness during graduate school are of utmost importance, but navigating the U.S. health care system can be challenging and confusing. OISS has put together a guide on Health Care and Insurance for International Students . Check out that guide and the resources below to become familiar with the support available to you.

International Student Medical Assistance Fund

The Office of International Student Engagement (OISE) manages the International Student Medical Assistance Fund . This fund is designed to support students on F-1 and J-1 visas who may encounter unexpected medical expenses during their academic program in the U.S. See more information at the link above, and contact the Director of OISE with questions or to request use of this funding.

Health Insurance

WashU has a mandatory health insurance program . Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa are automatically enrolled in the University Student Health Insurance Plan (through UnitedHealthcare) and are not allowed to waive out of the plan unless they are on a U.S.-based employer plan through a U.S.-based insurance company.

Full-time eligible graduate students in Arts & Sciences-funded programs on the Danforth campus will receive a health fee subsidy provided by the Office of Graduate Studies. The subsidy pays for a large portion of the premium for the Student Health Insurance Plan and student health fees.  Note that it is not a 100% subsidy: you will still pay for part of the insurance premium and student health fee. These fees will be billed to your student account. If you are eligible for a subsidy, do not worry if the full insurance premium and student health fee are posted to your account; the subsidies are typically added later, and you can wait to make the payment until the subsidies are posted.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible to receive the health subsidies, you can ask the Director of Graduate Studies in your department or email [email protected] .

If you are in a program housed on the Medical Campus, contact your program administrator for information on health fee coverage.

Student Health and Wellness fee (Danforth campus)

There is a required student health and wellness fee for all full-time, degree-seeking students on the Danforth Campus. The fee covers membership to the Sumers Recreation Center , health education/prevention efforts, and other benefits including no-cost counseling visits.

The fee is billed to your student account each semester. If you are eligible for health fee subsidies, the subsidy will cover a large portion of the student health and wellness fee.

Habif Health & Wellness (Danforth campus)

Habif Health and Wellness Center provides medical, mental health, and health promotion services for all non-DBBS graduate students in Arts & Sciences.

Use Habif’s online booking system to make an appointment related to the treatment of illness or injury, preventative health care, or counseling and psychological services. You can also call Habif at 314-935-6666.

Student Health Services (Medical campus)

The School of Medicine’s Student Health Services provides medical and mental health services for all DBBS students.

Call 314-362-3523 to schedule an appointment, and find more information about appointments here .

Mental health care (Danforth campus)

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CCPS) at Habif Health and Wellness Center offers therapeutic services, outreach, and prevention programs. Therapy appointments with CCPS can occur in-person or via Zoom. You can access a certain number of therapy appointments per academic year at no charge; contact CCPS for more information.

CCPS offers “Rapid Access” Zoom Counseling Appointments at the end of each semester. During this time period, students can schedule both return and new appointments with a counselor beginning 16 hours prior to the appointment time. This allows quick access to counseling appointments at particularly stressful times of the year.

Mental health care (Medical campus)

Student Health Counseling at the School of Medicine works with students to resolve personal and interpersonal difficulties. Services include individual, group, and couples’ counseling, crisis counseling, and referrals.

Group Therapy Services- International Chat & Dissertation Support (Danforth campus)

CCPS’s Group Therapy Services typically include an International Chat Workshop Series, designed to address unique issues related to the international graduate student experience, and a Dissertation Support Group, designed to support PhD students who are struggling emotionally, relationally, or academically in their dissertation writing process. Dr. Karolyn Senter runs both of these groups, and you can reach out to her for more information.

TimelyCare (Danforth campus)

TimelyCare is a telehealth app with licensed physicians and counselors who are available 24/7 for virtual medical and mental health visits through the app’s video conferencing platform. This is a great option for graduate students, who often commute to campus, to receive health care at home. This is also a great option when there are longer waiting times for appointments at Habif.

TimelyCare is free for all students who pay the student health and wellness fee (including graduate students who receive health fee subsidies). Make sure to register for the TimelyCare app using your WashU email account.

Sumers Recreation Center (Danforth campus)

Sumers Recreation Center is the gym and fitness facility on the Danforth campus. All students who pay the student health and wellness fee (including graduate students who receive health fee subsidies) have access to Sumers Rec at no cost. Use your student ID card to swipe into the Rec’s facilities.

In addition to operating as a traditional gym with cardio machines and weightlifting equipment, Sumers Rec has a wide variety of options to support your fitness and wellbeing , including group exercise classes (called BearFIT classes), relaxation chairs, and cooking classes.

Personal safety and online safety

WashU has resources to help you feel safe on campus and stay safe online. Take the time to read OISS’s guide to Personal Safety , which includes robust information for international students.

Personal Safety

WUPD offers several resources for personal safety , including:

• Self-Defense Programs
• Free personal safety devices (i.e., safety alarms and whistles to use in case of emergency)
• Bear Patrol (student workers who provide walking and golf cart escorts on campus from 8am-2pm)
• WashU SAFE app , which includes a Mobile Blue Light feature that helps you quickly call public safety if in a crisis on campus, while sending your exact location so that officers can immediately respond.

Check out WUPD’s full list of safety tips to help prevent yourself from being vulnerable to crime. We highlight just a few tips here:

•  Always lock your doors (apartment door, car door, etc.), even if you will only be gone for a short amount of time.
• Never prop open exterior doors.
• Do not leave valuables (e.g., laptop, phone, wallet, purse, etc.) unattended or out of your line of sight. Do not leave these items in your car, either.
• Travel and park on well-lit streets, and be aware of your surroundings.

Preventing identity theft

Check out OISS’s guide to preventing identity theft , particularly if you have applied for and received a Social Security Number (SSN).

The Office of Information Security has also published tips and resources for protecting yourself against identity theft .

Avoiding scams

Scam calls and emails are extremely common. Don’t believe every call you get or email you receive: if something looks or sounds suspicious, consider whether it could be a scammer. Be incredibly cautious of anyone who contacts you asking for personal information.

OISS has a thorough guide on Looking Out for Scams for international students. Read the guide to learn more about how you can avoid becoming a victim of scams, including IRS scams, employment scams, ransom scams, online trading scams, and more.

Check out the extensive resources from the Office of Information Security for more information about avoiding scams and staying safe in the digital world.

Filing U.S. Taxes

All international students must file a U.S. tax return, regardless of whether or not they receive income. Additionally, the stipends that most graduate students in A&S receive are considered taxable income.

OISS has published extensive resources and information on their website for filing US taxes as an international student . Financial Services also has a useful tax guide for fellowship stipend recipients , broken down by tax status (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, resident aliens, nonresident aliens). Most international students at WashU have access to Sprintax to assist with filing tax returns. See below for further information about filing taxes, but please read through the guides linked above as well.

Keep in mind that neither OGS nor OISS staff are qualified or legally able to give tax advice or to assist with filing taxes.

Important dates and deadlines

From January to March of the current year, look out for your tax documents from the previous year (“tax year”), which should come in the mail. You will receive tax documents from WashU and any other U.S. organizations from which you received income.

The tax deadline (often referred to as “tax day”) for federal and state taxes occurs in mid-April of the current year, for the previous year’s taxes. Traditionally, tax day is on April 15th, but sometimes the tax deadline is later than that, depending on which day of the week April 15th falls. You can search “U.S. tax day” and the year to find the deadline.

If you are required to make estimated tax payments (see more on that below), the estimated payments are due quarterly on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th, and January 15th of the following year. Then you would file taxes on “tax day” and enter the estimated payments that you made in the past year. For example, let’s say you arrived on campus in July of 2023 and started receiving your stipend in August of 2023. You would make your first estimated tax payment by September 15th, 2023, for the 2023 tax year. You would make your second estimated tax payment by January 15th, 2024, for the 2023 tax year. You would then file your 2023 taxes by April 15th, 2024 (or “tax day”) and make your first estimated tax payment for the 2024 tax year.

What is the "tax year"?

On tax day in mid-April, you file taxes for the previous calendar year, and that is the tax year. For example, the 2023 tax year runs from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and taxes for the 2023 tax year must be paid by the mid-April tax day in 2024.

What is “tax status”? How do I determine whether I am a resident alien or nonresident alien for tax purposes?

For tax purposes, non-U.S. citizens can be considered nonresident aliens or resident aliens, and that is your tax status. Most international students on F or J visas are considered nonresident aliens. International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are automatically considered nonresidents for their first five (5) calendar years in the U.S., while scholars/researchers on J-1 visas are automatically considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the U.S.

If you have been in the U.S. for longer, the Substantial Presence Test is used to determine your tax status.

If you create a Sprintax account and log in, Sprintax will ask you a series of questions to help determine your tax status. See also Sprintax’s blog post: Your US Tax Residency Status Explained .

From there, if Sprintax determines that you are a nonresident alien, you can continue to use Sprintax to file your taxes. However, if Sprintax determines that you are a resident alien for tax purposes, you will not be able to use Sprintax and will be directed elsewhere (see more below).

Keep in mind that even if you are considered a resident alien for tax purposes, this does not change your visa status.

Am I required to make estimated tax payments?

Whether or not a stipend recipient is required to make estimated tax payments depends on whether or not taxes are withheld from (i.e., taken out of) your paycheck monthly.

This further depends on your tax status. If you are a nonresident alien for tax purposes , WashU is generally required to withhold federal taxes on your stipend payments but generally not allowed to withhold state taxes on your stipend payments. This means that you would not have to make estimated payments for federal taxes but would have to make estimated payments for state taxes.

If you are a resident alien for tax purposes , WashU is generally not allowed to withhold federal or state taxes on your stipend payments. This means that you would have to make estimated payments for both federal and state taxes.

For more information, read Financial Services’ guide for fellowship stipend recipients and explanation of quarterly estimated tax payments .

Filing taxes

For step-by-step instructions, visit OISS’s guide on filing U.S. taxes and scroll down to “Step-by-Step How to File US Taxes with Sprintax”

You will first collect your documents and determine your tax status in Sprintax. If you are considered a nonresident alien , you will continue to prepare your tax return in Sprintax. If you are considered a resident alien , Sprintax will prompt you to use TurboTax to prepare your tax return, as Sprintax is specifically designed for nonresident aliens.

For resident aliens , keep in mind that there might be a fee to use TurboTax. This is how many domestic students file their taxes.

If you are looking for free, in-person tax assistance, try using the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program . This is an IRS-sponsored program that offers free tax help to qualified individuals.

Sprintax blogs and support chat

Sprintax has a blog with extensive articles related to nonresident taxes. If there is a tax-related topic that you would like to learn more about, use the search function to identify relevant articles. 

Sprintax offers an online live chat 24/7 for support with your tax questions. To chat with the Sprintax team, simply create your Sprintax account or login here .

Professional Development and Career Support

For a variety of career resources targeted to graduate students, check out the Center for Career Engagement’s Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Resources . This includes information about workshops and programs, non-academic career searches, and academic career searches.

The Office of Graduate Studies has also assembled a wide variety of resources for diverse careers , including academic and non-academic careers.

Resume support

Check out the Center for Career Engagement’s extensive guide on Resumes & CVs for Graduate Students and Postdocs to learn more about the differences between resumes and CVs and what to include on each document.

On the Center for Career Engagement’s website , a live chat button will appear in the bottom right corner where you can connect live with a Career Peer for resume & material review and learn about CCE’s resources. Career Peers also hold drop-in hours Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm in DUC 110. Career Peers are fellow WashU students (including undergraduates) who are trained in giving resume support.

You can also schedule an appointment with a WashU career coach for resume/CV review.

Meeting with a career coach

When you schedule an appointment with a WashU career coach , you can select the option to show recommended coaches, which will then populate automatically based on your degree level and school.

You can also filter by specialty under the “Coaches by Specialty” section, including specialties such as academia/faculty, data science, research/science, and exploring/deciding (for those who want to explore a variety of career options).

When you meet with a WashU career coach, you can discuss anything from exploring career paths to identifying your skills to crafting job materials (resumes, cover letters, CVs, etc.), to interviewing.

Mock interviews

On the Center for Career Engagement’s scheduling page , if you select “Mock Interview,” you can schedule various types of mock interviews with WashU coaches.

WashU also subscribes to Big Interview , which is an online tool for improving your interview skills through lessons and mock interviews.

Professional development opportunities at WashU

Pivot 314 is a year-long program presented by The Graduate Center and the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The program is intended for mid-career PhD students to explore possible career pathways outside and alongside of the academy, through engagement with the St. Louis entrepreneurial community. Pivot 314 includes curated programming focused on professional development, strengthening leadership, and experiential learning through a 10-week paid internship with an early-stage startup in St. Louis. For the summer internship, international students must apply for and receive CPT. To ensure CPT approval, international students must select an internship that is aligned with their academic program/research.

The Professional Development in Teaching Program presented by the Center for Teaching and Learning is designed to be the starting point for a career that includes teaching. The program is specifically targeted for graduate students and postdocs. The program emphasizes the practice of scholarly teaching, which is defined as teaching that draws on evidence-based classroom strategies suggested by current educational research and that prioritizes self-reflection and assessment.

Exploring career paths

As you explore various career paths, check in with yourself: what skills do you already have? What skills can your graduate program help you develop? What career paths exist that require those skills? What do some potential career paths look like for people with similar credentials and interests as you?

Spend some time with online career exploration resources, including Imagine PhD (primarily for humanities and social sciences), MyIDP (primarily for careers in the sciences), Versatile PhD (primarily for PhDs), and InterSECT Job Simulations (job simulation exercises for career transitions).

You can also connect with WashU alumni in careers of interest to you on the WashU Alumni LinkedIn page and WashU CNX , which is the university’s official online networking platform.

If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend starting with Imagine PhD , as it is user-friendly and includes assessments to help you determine your career interests and priorities.

Handshake career management platform

Handshake is WashU’s career management platform. On Handshake, you can interview for jobs and internships on campus, find career tips and Q&As, stay connected with peers and job-related news, navigate upcoming employer events on campus, and register for career fairs and events put on by the Center for Career Engagement. We recommend setting up a profile so that you can stay up-to-date with all things career management at WashU.

On Handshake, there is an option to filter by employers who hire international students .

Learn more about Handshake and access how-to videos here .

Events, workshops, and career fairs

The Center for Career Engagement hosts a wide variety of events and workshops that can be found on their website and on Handshake .

We recommend the Graduate/Professional Job Search Series (“Navigating the Job Search for Grad Students”), put on by the Center for Career Engagement and The Graduate Center. Visit The Graduate Center’s monthly calendar and filter by “Professional Development” to see scheduled job series events.

We also recommend the Center for Career Engagement’s regular career-related workshops for international students. Keep an eye out for these workshops, which OGS regularly features in our newsletters and communications.

The Center for Career Engagement hosts a career fair every year, typically in February. On Handshake’s events page , click on “Career fairs at your school” and look for the All Campus Internship & Job Fair. The employers tab of the career fair page will give you the option to filter by employers who accept OPT/CPT and/or employers who will sponsor or don’t require U.S. work visas.

Working as an international graduate student

Read through OISS’s guide on F-1 Student Employment & Training for detailed information on employment as an international student on an F-1 visa. That guide includes much more information; OGS has pulled out a few key details below.

Generally speaking, on-campus employment is allowed without requiring the Department of Homeland Security’s authorization. It is still a good idea to check with your OISS advisor before starting on-campus employment, as starting employment that is not authorized or allowed is a violation of status and accrual of unlawful presence.

All off-campus employment must be pre-authorized with assistance from OISS. Keep in mind that even volunteer work can require pre-authorization, as immigration laws interpret any kind of service that receives compensation (even just compensation in the form of experience) as work. When in doubt, contact your OISS advisor.

F-1 students can utilize CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training) to obtain on-the-job training in the student’s field of study to supplement and complement the academic program. In most cases, F-1 students cannot undertake practical training until they have been in lawful full-time status for a full academic year (i.e., both fall and spring semesters). Typically, CPT is used during the academic program and OPT is used after completing the academic program, but there are options for pre-completion OPT.

CPT must be part of a structured program offered in the curriculum. In other words, CPT is tied to a registered course. Each individual school at WashU determines what counts as a CPT-approved course. Keep in mind that students who use 12 months of full-time CPT are no longer eligible to use any OPT; please talk to your OISS advisor before undergoing 12 months of full-time CPT.

F-1 students are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT for use during (pre-completion) and after (post-completion) the completion of the academic program. Some F-1 students in specific STEM fields could be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Keep in mind that when you apply for OPT, you will need to be able to make the case for the connection between the job or work experience and your academic program. Click here for detailed information about applying for OPT.

If you have any questions or doubt about work-related activities, please contact your OISS advisor. Working without authorization can severely affect your visa status, so it is always best to ask.

Getting Involved

There are so many ways to get involved and foster connections as a graduate student at WashU. You can explore some of your options below. Feel free to email [email protected] if you want to get involved but do not know where to start; someone from OGS’s student affairs team can help find the best path for you.

OGS GradWell Programming

GradWell is the Office of Graduate Studies’ holistic programming to support graduate student wellbeing in Arts & Sciences. Part of GradWell programming includes monthly social and community-building gatherings. GradWell events are designed to be inclusive and welcoming. Check out the events calendar for upcoming events.

The Graduate Center

The Graduate Center (TGC) is a place for all graduate and professional students at WashU to develop, gather, and connect. While the Office of Graduate Studies in A&S focuses specifically on Arts & Sciences graduate students, The Graduate Center works to support graduate and professional students across WashU’s eight schools.

Visit The Graduate Center at the lower level of the Ann W. Olin Women’s Building in Suite 005. You can also reserve study rooms and meeting rooms in The Graduate Center’s space.

Check out the news and events page or TGC Monthly Calendar for upcoming events.

University-wide Graduate Student Groups

The Graduate Center oversees many university-wide graduate student groups , including groups such as the Africa United Graduate Association, Black Graduate Student Association, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, Korean Graduate Student Association, Latino Graduate Student Alliance, and more.

The Graduate Center also oversees two different graduate student governing bodies: the Graduate Professional Council (GPC) and Graduate Student Senate (GSS) . GPC is the university-wide governing body for all graduate and professional students at WashU, with representatives from all eight of WashU’s schools. GSS represents all PhD students at WashU, including representatives from Arts & Sciences, McKelvey Engineering, Brown School, Olin Business School, and the School of Medicine. Both organizations often offer social, academic, and professional programming. Look out for their email communications, and email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

Find more information about these groups and browse any upcoming events on WUGO (Washington University Group Organizer). On the organizations page , you can select “Graduate Center” from the “Categories” drop-down menu to see these university-wide graduate groups.

A&S Graduate Student Association (GSA)

The A&S Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a new governing body just for Arts & Sciences graduate students, including Masters and PhD students as well as students in DBBS. While University-wide student groups are run in collaboration with The Graduate Center, GSA is run in collaboration with the A&S Office of Graduate Studies. Each school has its own graduate student governing body, and this is ours.

Stay tuned for communications about opportunities and programming from GSA.

DBBS Student Groups

DBBS has many additional organizations and campus groups to join: see here for more information. DBBS’s Student Advisory Committee (SAC) includes an international student committee.

Peer mentoring

Grad Peer Circles is the Office of Graduate Studies’ peer mentoring program, which supports peer mentoring within A&S departments as well as across A&S programs. If you’re interested in learning more about Grad Peer Circles, serving as a peer mentor, or being connected with a peer mentor as a mentee, email [email protected] .

Social Media

Follow the Office of Graduate Studies on Instagram @washu_gradartsci to keep up with events on campus, the Meet the OGS video series, graduate student highlights, and more. OGS regularly shares events from campus partners and opportunities to get involved.

Dining on campus

WashU Dining partners with local businesses to offer a variety of unique food and beverage options around campus.

Dining options

Looking for coffee or food on the Danforth campus? Check out locations and hours of on-campus dining options .

Looking for coffee or food on the Medical campus? Check out locations and hours of on-campus dining options . There are many food options near campus on Euclid as well.

Mobile ordering (Danforth campus)

Many of WashU’s on-campus options now include mobile ordering on the Grubhub app . Download the app and connect to WashU’s campus (if you download the app while on campus, this process should occur automatically). You can then connect your Grubhub account to Bear Bucks if you would like.

Bear Bucks is an optional cashless account accessed through your student ID card. Using Bear Bucks allows you to make tax-free purchases at on-campus dining locations. You can add funds to your Bear Bucks account here and check out a comprehensive list of every merchant on campus who accepts Bear Bucks .

Handling conflict within departments

As a graduate student, you are developing your own identity as a researcher and scholar, while working with faculty who also have their own identities as researchers and scholars. You will likely have different values, interests, and priorities than the faculty members who teach your classes and supervise your research. This is perfectly normal and expected, but it does mean that you might not always see things the same way as faculty with whom you work, which can lead to conflict. OGS hopes that you will feel comfortable articulating your perspective if conflicts arise.

We encourage you to seek perspectives from trusted faculty mentors and staff in your department if you need support handling conflict related to your program. You can also reach out to [email protected] to engage OGS’s Director of Graduate Student Affairs, who has significant training and experience in conflict mediation.

Mentoring agreements

The Office of Graduate Studies has created mentoring agreements as a way to promote a stronger and more uniform culture of mentoring for A&S graduate students. The agreements allow faculty and graduate students to come to a shared understanding of how they will collaborate and interact with each other, promoting greater transparency around common concerns in the mentor/mentee relationship. Working with a faculty mentor or advisor to complete this agreement will help you get on the same page with each other, which can alleviate potential conflict throughout your program.

The agreements, as well as an FAQ, can be found under “Mentoring Resources” here . Use the Humanities agreement or Natural Sciences and Social Sciences agreement depending on your discipline.

Grade disputes

If you believe a grade you have received – whether referring to a single assignment or to the course grade as a whole – is inappropriate, arbitrary, or assigned for non-academic reasons, you have the right to discuss any grade(s) with the instructor and to request a change of grade(s). It is important to file grade appeals as soon as possible after the grade is assigned.

You can find more information about graduate grade appeals on OGS’s policies and procedures page. You are welcome to speak with your advisor or with a member of OGS’s academic affairs team ( [email protected] ) to discuss the possibility of appealing a grade.

Guidelines and procedures for handling student grievances

OGS maintains student grievance guidelines and procedures for graduate students to follow if they feel they have legitimate complaints regarding academic matters or an interaction with a faculty member, staff member, or fellow students. The procedures ask that the student first seek resolution from their faculty advisor, then from their Director of Graduate Studies, then from the Chair of their degree program. If the complaint remains unresolved, the student can engage the Office of Graduate Studies ( [email protected] ) to work toward a resolution. Read the grievance guidelines for more information.

If the complaint is related to bias, prejudice, or discrimination, consider reporting the allegation using the Bias Report and Support System (BRSS) . If the allegation is related to sexual or gender-based harassment or discrimination, consider engaging the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center and/or the Gender Equity and Title IX Compliance Office (GETIXCO) , in addition to BRSS. Keep in mind that the RSVP Center is a confidential resource, while GETIXCO might or might not be able to guarantee confidentiality.

Finding a comfortable place to live, not only in a new city but also in a new country, can feel daunting. The vast majority of graduate students at WashU live off campus. We recommend reaching out to other graduate students in your department/program to ask where they live, how they found their apartment, and any other questions you have related to housing. You can also reach out to the Office for International Student Engagement with questions ( [email protected] ).

OISS resources

Read through OISS’s guide on housing in St. Louis for international students and Housing Handbook from 2023-24. The handbook includes information about things to remember during your apartment search, neighborhoods near WashU, an apartment search checklist, and more.

OISS has also compiled information on laundromats , furnishing your apartment , and renter’s insurance companies . Renter’s insurance covers damages to your possessions when you rent an apartment or house; some landlords require renter’s insurance as part of the lease.

Transition housing for new international graduate students

WashU offers temporary on-campus housing at a reduced rate for international graduate students from early June to early August. On OISS’s housing guide , scroll down to the “Transition Housing” section for more information about how to reserve this housing.

Quadrangle Housing

Quadrangle Housing manages several off-campus apartments near the University, owned by WashU. You can browse properties for graduate students, faculty, and staff and explore their resources for international students .

Apartment Referral Services (ARS)

Apartment Referral Services (ARS) includes various off-campus housing options. Keep in mind that ARS is a referral service: the housing options on ARS are owned by private landlords or companies, not by WashU. ARS also includes lists of people looking for roommates.

Parallel Properties

Parallel Properties rents a variety of apartments to both WashU and non-WashU students, all located between the Danforth and Medical Campuses.

GSS Off-Campus Housing Blogs

The Graduate Student Senate published four off-campus housing blogs in 2021, in which graduate students wrote about their experiences living in neighborhoods near the Danforth campus. The four featured neighborhoods are Skinker-Debaliviere, Maplewood, University City, and Richmond Heights. Check these out if you want to get a sense of what it’s like to live in these neighborhoods as a graduate students.

Exploring St. Louis

We hope you will come to find that St. Louis is a great place to live , especially as a graduate student. Part of the magic of St. Louis is that there are so many opportunities to experience art, culture, and community without breaking the bank. Cost of living is much lower in St. Louis than it is in other large U.S. cities, and St. Louis has many free attractions, including the St. Louis Art Museum, STL Zoo, Missouri History Museum, and more. In fact, WashU boasts that there are more free, world-class attractions in St. Louis than any place in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C.!

Visit Explore St. Louis to learn more about St. Louis’s neighborhoods , communities and traditions , attractions , food and drink , and more.

St. Louis is known for our toasted ravioli (deep-fried ravioli, affectionately called “t-ravs”), St. Louis-style pizza (thin-crust, square-cut pizza using Provel cheese – you’ll either love or hate this), and gooey butter cake (an extra buttery, gooey dessert, true to the name).

Outside of these signature food items, St. Louis has a fantastic dining scene with all different types of cuisine for all budgets. We especially recommend checking out the restaurants on South Grand , which hosts a diverse array of international dining options.  The Loop and the Central West End (CWE) also have a lot of popular restaurants and dining options. Both neighborhoods are close to WashU and fun to walk around in. Many graduate students live and hang out in these neighborhoods.

Sports teams

St. Louis has several major sports teams , and tickets to sporting events are often less expensive here than they are in other cities. Plus, there are plenty of sports bars all over St. Louis if you want to watch the games, including Ballpark Village , which is right by Busch Stadium (where the Cardinals play).

The St. Louis Cardinals baseball team plays home games at Busch Stadium. The St. Louis Blues hockey team plays home games at Enterprise Center. The St. Louis CITY soccer club plays home games at CITYPARK.

While we no longer have an NFL team (National Football League) – and yes, many St. Louisians are still upset about this – we do still have American football through the St. Louis Battlehawks, who play in the XFL league.

St. Louis has so many museums and galleries to explore. We especially recommend the St. Louis Art Museum and Missouri History Museum, which are both free and near the Danforth campus in Forest Park. We also suggest checking out the City Museum ; while not free, the City Museum is a truly unique attraction – an artist-built playground featuring artifacts from all over the world.

St. Louis has a vibrant theater scene , including the Grand Center Arts District, which Forbes has called “America’s most exciting emerging arts district.” OGS often partners with The Sheldon Concert Hall to bring graduate students to performances. If you’re here in the summer, we especially recommend catching a show at The Muny , an outdoor theater in Forest Park where the last nine rows (over 1400 seats) are always free .

The St. Louis area hosts dozens of parks . If you’re at WashU, you will certainly experience Forest Park, which is (fun fact!) twice the size of Central Park in New York City. The zoo, art museum, history museum, Muny outdoor theater, planetarium, and other attractions are located in Forest Park.

Other beloved city parks include Tower Grove Park, which frequently hosts farmers’ markets and other events, and Francis Park, which includes a beer garden in partnership with a local brewery.

Civic and Community Engagement

WashU’s Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement has put together a guide called  New in the Lou , which is designed to help students become engaged members of the St. Louis community. Even though international students cannot vote in local, state, or national elections, there are so many other ways to approach civic engagement in St. Louis, and Gephardt can help you explore those options. Gephardt hosts a weekly dinner series,  Civic Café , where students share a meal together and learn more about different topics, as well as  other programming  that Graduate Students can join in for. In addition, the Gephardt Institute's  St. Louis Impact Fund  is designed to catalyze and support mutually beneficial relationships between Washington University students and community organizations aiming to advance efforts critical to community needs. Graduate students are encouraged to apply!

• News & Events

Travel Arrangements FAQs

Here are some common questions when arranging travel.

Foreign Nationals on a non-immigrant visa have unique travel conditions that may delay or restrict their travel plans. It is always recommended that students and scholars contact their OISS Advisor prior to any travel abroad. In addition, F-1 and J-1 visa holders may need a travel signature endorsement on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 to reenter the US.  These signatures are only provided by the OISS Advisor.

While the university does not have a preferred vendor, our students, faculty and staff have successfully used CIBT visas .

For a list of travel agencies, see Travel Agencies on WashU Resource Management .

• Courier and Expeditor Companies (state.gov)
• How to Get my U.S. Passport Fast (state.gov)
• Travel Policies | Finance & Accounting Services
• Olin Business School developed Quick Reference Guide , which has helpful information.

For travel funded by the federal government, the Fly America Act applies.

International Studies & Programs

Office for International Students and Scholars

Travel and Visas

F-1 students, to get a travel signature, students must complete the  request a travel signature e-form. an electronic i-20 will be emailed to students within 7-10 business days., travel signature.

You do not need to be in East Lansing to request a travel signature. You can request a travel signature from anywhere in the world. Students must complete the  Request a Travel Signature e-form. 

What is a Travel Signature?

A travel signature is a signature from your Designated School Official (OISS advisor) on your I-20. The signature serves as a confirmation that you are maintaining your F-1 status. A valid travel signature is required for re-entry to the United States., including trips to Canada, Mexico and the various island around North America. 

How can I check to see if I have a valid travel signature?

F-1 students can find the travel signature on the bottom of page 2 on their I-20. Travel signatures are located under the Travel Endorsement section on page. Each travel signature is valid for ONE year if you are an enrolled students. So if your most recent I-20 lists a travel signature of November 15, 2023, then you are eligible to continue using this travel signature until November 14, 2023. 

Students on OPT or STEM OPT have SIX months validity.

How do I request a new travel signature?

To request a travel signature, you must

• Check your most recent I-20 to confirm if you already have a valid travel signature.

If you do not have a valid travel signature

• Complete the Request a Travel Signature e-form . An electronic I-20 will be emailed to students within 8-10 business days.

How do I download my updated I-20 with travel signature?

Once you submit a travel signature request, the request will be reviewed by your OISS advisor within 8-10 business days. An electronic I-20 will be issued and emailed to your MSU email address. You need to carefully follow the instructions to download the I-20. You must PRINT and sign page 1 of your I-20 by hand. You must present your valid I-20 with travel signature and passport when entering the United States. 

What happens if I try to enter the United States without a valid travel signature?

If you arrive at a U.S. port of entry without a travel signature or required travel documents, the customs officer may deny you entry into the United States. 

Alternatively, the customs officer may issue a Form I-515A. 

Documents Needed to Return to the U.S

During your studies at MSU, you may wish to travel outside of the United States from time to time.  In order to return to the United States after a temporary absence, F-1 students must present specific documents to the immigration inspector at the port of entry:

• A valid passport (valid six months into the future)
• A valid F-1 visa stamp (not required for Canadians)
• A valid I-20 Form with a travel signature on page 2 within the last year (for continuing students)
• Students on OPT: An EAD and an employment letter from the current employer
• Students on OPT: Travel signature on your I-20 that is less than six months at the time of entry
• Original financial documentation
• A copy of your academic transcript
• A copy of your  SEVIS Fee  Payment Receipt

What happens when I arrive in the United States?

• At the port of entry, the U.S. Customers and Border Officer will inspect your I-20 Form and give it back to you.
• The Border Officer will also inspect your passport and F-1 visa (if applicable), issue an admission stamp, write "F-1/DS", and return your passport to you.
• The Border Officer may or may not request to see the other documents listed above.

Visa Stamp Renewal

OISS recommends that you contact your home country's U.S. Consulate for details regarding visa issuance and renewal requirements.

U.S. Consulate Application and Appointment

• Go to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy website where you will apply for a list of required documents, forms, and instructions on how to apply for an F-1 visa. Please be aware that each consulate or embassy may require different information and have specific application procedures.
• If allowed, schedule a visa appointment in advance with the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
• Find a U.S. Consulate or Embassy website on the  U.S. Department of State  website .

Required Documents

• Passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you reenter the U.S.
• Valid I-20 with a travel signature from OISS that has been signed within past 12 months (6 months for students on OPT and STEM OPT). Make sure that your I-20 is accurate and up-to-date, especially funding information.
• Updated funding documentation matching the information displayed on your I-20.
• For students on post-completion OPT and STEM OPT:
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• Letter from your employer that verifies your employment

Other Documents Consulates May Request

• MSU Transcripts . If you have been dual enrolled with another institution such as Lansing Community College, you must also have transcripts from the other institution.
• Proof of past, present and future enrollment at MSU. This can include transcripts, StuInfo print outs, or an  Enrollment Verification Letter .
• Current financial documents such as a copy of a bank statement, assistantship offer letter, or other documentation.
• All previous I-20s.
• Proof of your social and economic ties to your home country.

For more information, please consult with an  OISS advisor .

Tips to Apply for a Student Visa

Before you apply for your student visa it is important to prepare yourself. Not only is it important to have your documents organized, it is also important to prepare for the visa interview. Here are two websites that offer valuable tips to help you get ready. 

U.S. Department of State - Education USA

U.S. Department of State - Education USA Tips to Apply For Your U.S. Student Visa

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

NAFSA 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa

I received a Form I-515A. What do I do next?

It is very important to work with OISS to address the Form I-515A within the 30 days given to you. It is serious and can become a problem if you do not address the matter. Not taking action could mean that you will not be able to remain in the United States.

If you receive a Form I-515A, you must do the following, immediately:

• Meet with an OISS advisor the next business day after arriving in the U.S.
• Respond to the I-515A Notice with the help of an OISS advisor.
• Submit required documents to CBP within 30 days of your entry date.

If you fail to complete any required actions or send all of the required documents to SEVP within 30 days of entering the U.S., your SEVIS record and I-20 may be Terminated. If your SEVIS record and I-20 are Terminated, you will be required to leave the United States immediately or file for Reinstatement to F-1 status with USCIS, if you are eligible. 

Travel to Canada, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands

Individuals with expired visas may be eligible to reenter the U.S. after a short trip of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. Learn more on our Automatic Visa Revalidation webpage .

In order to enter Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands you may need a visa issued by the government of the country you are planning to visit. It is your responsibility to know what documents you need to enter other countries and to find out how to get a visa for the countries you are planning to visit. OISS does not advise students on how to get non-U.S. visas. Here are links to the Government of Canada and Government of Mexico websites: 

Government of Canada Visit Canada

Government of Mexico Visas  

Travel in the U.S.

When traveling in the U.S. take the following documents with you:

• Unexpired Passport
• Valid I-20 
• Electronic I-94 form or paper I-94 card. You can get and print your electronic I-94 form on the  U.S. Customs and Border Protection website
• Another form of photo identification such as a driver's license, state ID, or MSU ID

You do not need a valid visa or travel signature on your I-20 to travel within the U.S. This includes travel to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

J-1 Students

To get a travel signature, students must complete a Travel Signature request e-form in MyOISS.msu.edu. An electronic DS-2019 with travel endorsement will be emailed to students within 3-5 business days.    

• Valid DS-2019 with a travel signature from OISS signed within the past 12 months
• Check the expiration date. If your visa stamp is expired, you must renew your visa at a U.S. Consulate during your travel outside the U.S. Canadians do not need J visas to enter the U.S. Individuals with expired J visas may be eligible to reenter the U.S. after a short trip of less than 30 days to Canada and Mexico. Click on the Travel to Canada, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands tab for more information.  
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended date of entry into the U.S. If your passport is valid for less than 6 months, then you should renew your passport prior to re-entry or you risk being denied entry into the U.S.

Re-entry to the U.S.

• At the port of entry, the U.S. Customers and Border Officer will inspect the DS-2019, passport, and J-1 or J-2 visa.
• If the officer is satisfied with the documentation, you will be granted admission to the U.S. The officer will document the admission with a stamp in your passport that says “J-1 D/S” or "J-2 D/S".
• If the officer has further questions about your documentation or your status, you may be sent to secondary inspection. This may delay your travel plans.
• If your documentation is found to be lacking, you may either be denied entry to the U.S. or be issued an I-515A, which only allows you to stay in the U.S. for 30 days. In order to extend your stay beyond the 30 days, you must see an OISS advisor immediately for assistance.
• Visit the U.S. Consulate web site for a list of required documents, forms, and further instructions on how to renew your visa. Please be aware that each consulate may require different information and have specific application procedures.
• If allowed, schedule a visa appointment in advance with the U.S. Consulate.
• Find a U.S. consulate nearest to where you will be .
• Valid DS-2019 with a travel signature from OISS that has been signed within past 12 months. Make sure that your DS-2019 is accurate and up-to-date, especially funding information.
• Updated funding documentation matching the information displayed on your DS-2019.
• For students on post-completion Academic Training, obtain an updated confirmation letter from your employer.
• All previous DS-2019s.

Individuals with expired visas may be eligible to reenter the U.S. after a short trip of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. Learn more on our Automatic Visa Revalidation webpage .

• Valid DS-2019

You do not need a valid visa or travel signature on your DS-2019 to travel within the U.S. This includes travel to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

J-1 Scholars

To get a travel signature, s cholars and student - interns must complete a Travel Signature request e-form in MyOISS.msu.edu. An electronic DS-2019 with travel endorsement will be emailed to s cholars and student - interns within 3-5 business days.   

Documents Needed to Return to the U.S.

• Updated J-1 scholar invitation letter from your MSU host department.

In order to enter Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands you may need a visa issued by the government of the country you are planning to visit. It is your responsibility to know what documents you need to enter other countries and to find out how to get a visa for the countries you are planning to visit. OISS does not advise scholars on how to get non-U.S. visas. Here are links to the Government of Canada and Government of Mexico websites: 

Government of Mexico Visas

Out of Country Permission

J-1 Research Scholars or Professors who plan to depart the U.S. for more than 30 days and will continue to engage in their J-1 program from abroad must have prior permission from OISS in order to maintain J-1 visa status during the absence. OISS must process an out-of-country permission in SEVIS in order to keep the J-1 record active. 

If you plan to be absent from the U.S. for more than 30 days while pursuing your program goals abroad, you must complete the J-1 Scholar Out-Of-Country E-form located in “J-1 Scholar Services” in  http://myoiss.msu.edu . The e-form describes the requirements for this process, including an endorsement letter from your host department. You may contact OISS with any questions at:  jvisas(at)msu.edu .

Please note that if you plan to be absent from the U.S. for more than 30 days and will NOT pursue your program activities, your J-1 status will end on your date of departure. Please file the Notice of Planned Departure e-form located in “J-1 Scholar Services" in  http://myoiss.msu.edu .

H-1B Employees

If you plan to travel outside the U.S. you must do the following before leaving the U.S:

• Email oiss(at)msu.edu to request to pick up your I-797 approval notice
• Check your documents to make sure everything is current and valid. Documents include: H-1B visa stamp, passport, and H-1B approval notice. If your H-1B visa stamp is not valid, before or soon after you leave the U.S. contact the U.S. Consulate in the country where you will apply in order to schedule a visa interview.

Documents Needed to Reenter the U.S.

• Passport that is valid for 6 months beyond the date of reentry
• Valid H-1B visa (Canadians do not need a visa)
• Original H-1B approval notice

H-4 Dependents:

• Valid H-4 visa (Canadians do not need a visa)
• Copy of the H-1B Approval Notice
• Copy of birth or marriage document establishing relationship to H-1B
• Valid Passport

Non-immigrants need to have valid passports when entering the U.S. and at all times while in the U.S. Every time you travel, your passport expiration date will be checked. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry into the U.S. If your passport is not valid for the entire length of your intended stay in the U.S., the DHS officer has ability to limit your stay to the expiration date on your passport. Check your I-94 form and entry stamp in your passport after every trip abroad for accuracy. 

At the time of entry, the H-1B or H-4 visa in your passport must be valid. If your visa is not valid, you must apply for new visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad (usually in your home country) before returning to the U.S.

Visa stamp expiration dates and number of entries can vary. Always check to make sure your H-1B or H-4 visa is valid on the date that you will enter U.S.

H-1B Visa Required Documents

• Original and valid H-1B approval notice, copy of form I-129, and copy of Labor Condition Application. Email oiss(at)msu.edu to request these documents.
• Updated employment verification letter from your department stating that you are currently employed, dates of employment, salary, job title and brief description of job duties or several recent paystubs confirming H-1B employment.
• Previously in J status in the U.S. If you were subject to the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement and you received a waiver of the requirement, when you apply for a H-1B visa you will need the original I-797 approval notice for the waiver Form I-612 from the Department of Homeland Security.

H-4 Visa Required Documents

• Copy of the I-797 H-1B approval notice

Visa Application Procedures

Every U.S. Consulate has different requirements. Consult the website of the U.S. Consulate you plan to visit to schedule an appointment and to learn the specific document requirements. Find the website of the U.S. Consulate you plan to visit on the  U.S. Department of State website . If you can, make your visa interview appointment before leaving the U.S.

I-94 Record

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) admit you to the U.S. with an electronic I-94 at the Port of Entry or a paper I-94 when entering at a land border or sea border and other limited circumstances. Travelers will also receive a CBP admission stamp in their passports.

• The new admission stamp will have the date of admission to the U.S., the class of admission (H-1B or H-4) and the date when the H-1B or H-4 status will end.
• After entering the U.S., you will need to print out your I-94 on the I-94 website . Your I-94 printout will show your admission number. You will need your I-94 printout to apply for immigration and public benefits such as a Driver's License or Social Security Number.
• After you print out your I-94, verify that all information is correct. For example, make sure the end date matches your current I-797 approval notice. If the I-94 information is incorrect, please contact OISS. OISS can advise you on how to request a correction. Also check dependent I-94 records.
• When you leave the U.S., if you have a paper I-94 card, you will still give it to your airline at check-in or to CBP. If you have an electronic I-94, CBP will record your departure using Manifest information obtained from the commercial carrier.

Security Clearance (Security Advisory Opinion-SAO)

What causes a SAO?

An SAO may be required for many reasons, including:

• being a national of certain countries
• conducting research in an academic field on the Technology Alert List (TAL). Boston University published the 2002 Department of State TAL  on the International Student and Scholar Office website. While this list may no longer be accurate, it will give you an idea of the types of academic fields that the Department of State may consider sensitive for security purposes. For example, most visa applicants with a degree in physics should expect a security clearance. 

How long does an SAO take?

Most security clearance checks are done in 30 days or less, but some can take longer. Many in the academic community have reported wait times of 2 to 4 months or longer. 

Can OISS or MSU do anything to speed up the SAO?

There is nothing that OISS or MSU can do to speed up the SAO. We can send a support email to the Consulate if an email address is available, report the delay to professional organizations that advocate for improved immigration policies and practices in the U.S., or notify our Congressional representative. However, none of these actions have been particularly successful for individual cases. For the most part, these notifications only serve to help advocate for overall immigration reform in the U.S. 

Can I provide any documents to the Consulate in order to avoid an SAO?

There is no specific list of documents that guarantee that you will not be subject to an SAO. However, it may be helpful to provide the Consulate a letter from your Principal Investigator or Supervisor at MSU. The letter should briefly state, in simple terms, and in 5 bullet points or less:

• applications of the research you will conduct
• the type of research (basic or applied)
• other information to help the Consular Officer determine whether an SAO is needed or not

Travel While the Change of Status to H-1B is Pending

DO NOT travel outside of the U.S. while your change of a status is pending.

USCIS considers you have abandoned the change of a status portion of the petition, if you travel outside of the U.S. while your change of a status is pending.

If you left the US while an application for change to H-1B status was pending and then reenter the US in another non-immigrant category, you are not considered to be in H-1B status. In that case, the individual would have to leave the US with the approval notice, obtain an H-1B visa stamp and re-enter in H-1B status.

Travel While Extension/Amendment Of H Status Is Pending

Those currently in H-1B status who have a pending H extension/amendment may travel as long as their current I-797 H-1B approval notice is valid and the visa stamp is valid.

Note: if the I-797 H-1B approval notice has expired, the applicant cannot enter into the U.S in H-1B status. Individuals in this situation should consult OISS before traveling.

Travel to Canada and Mexico

Individuals with expired visas may be eligible to reenter the U.S. after a short trip of less than 30 days to Canada and Mexico. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. Learn more on our Automatic Visa Revalidation webpage .

In order to enter Canada or Mexico you may need a visa issued by the Government of Canada or Mexico. It is your responsibility to know what documents you need to get a visa and enter Canada or Mexico. OISS does not advise on how to get non-U.S. visas. Here are links to the Government of Canada and Government of Mexico websites: 

When traveling in the U.S. or to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands take the following documents with you:

Inviting Family to Visit the U.S.

Learn more about  Inviting Parents and Relatives to the U.S. (PDF)

Visas to Enter Other Countries

You may need to apply for a visa to enter other countries. Check with the embassy of the country you wish to visit at least three months before your trip to find out if you need a visa and how to apply. It is your responsibility to know what documents you need to enter other countries and to find out how to get a visa for the countries you are planning to visit. OISS does not advise students on how to get non-U.S. visas.

GoAbroad.com maintains a list of Embassies located in the United States. This list is not affiliated with or maintained by OISS or MSU. GoAbroad.com Embassies Located in the United States

Visas to Enter Mexico and Canada

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Life at WashU

Campus resources.

• English Conversation Practice: Each week, WashULaw offers a casual English conversation about local and American culture to all international students and their families. For more information, please reach out to Mark Bass .

• English Conversation Hour : Join the Graduate Center and English Language Programs in this co-sponsored weekly event to strengthen your proficiency in conversational English in a fun and supportive environment. This is a free program open to all Graduate and Professional Students.  

• Writing Center & Speaking Studio : WashU provides free, one-on-one tutoring to all students for any writing or public speaking project.

• TeachESL : This is a student-run tutoring group at WashU that pairs native and non-native English Speakers together to work one-on-one to strengthen your English speaking skills. Registration is on a continuous basis with tutors that work with your schedule. For more information, reach out via email: [email protected]

• WashU Chinese Table : Come practice your Chinese/English-speaking ability in a language partner program. In this student-run group, Chinese/English speakers are paired together to practice the languages together.

• WashULaw Housing Consultation : Upon request, WashULaw Admission Officer offers a free housing consultation before signing the housing lease. Click here to schedule an appointment.

• OISS Advisor Consultation : Jeanne Pizarro is an OISS Advisor responsible for international students pursuing a law degree. Please contact Jeanne by phone (314-935-5904), email ([email protected]), or make a  virtual appointment to consult about immigration matters, including OPT and CPT.

• Travel Signature : F-1 students need a travel signature on page 2 of their I-20 when re-entering the United States. It can be used for multiple re-entries, and it must be less than 12 months old upon re-entry. Travel signatures are  requested online  and can take up to two weeks to process. So plan ahead!

Transportation

• WashU Campus Shuttle System : WashU campus shuttle offers all students to get around campus or one of the seven neighborhood shuttles that extend to areas to and from the core of campus for free.

• Campus2Home Shuttle : The Campus2Home shuttle is available 7 days a week for free to provide a safe ride home from WashU’s Danforth Campus to off-campus residences within the specified boundaries.

• WashU Rental Car Vendor Information (Discount): WashU offers discount information for the rental car vendors.

• Enterprise CarShare : WashU offers a car-sharing service to the campus community.

• Motorist Assist Program : Free battery jumps and vehicle lockout services 24 hours a day!

• Habif Health and Wellness Center : Habif offers medical services to students, including free immunization shots for COVID-19, Influenza, and HPV.

• Free safer sex supplies, including condoms, lube, and are provided at the Habif Health and Wellness Center and the Zenker Wellness Suite in the Sumers Recreation Center. Free pregnancy tests are also available at both sites.

• Bear Bucks : Bear Bucks is a cashless payment system on the WashU ID card that can be used tax-free on-campus and at select off-campus merchants.

Student Discounts

• Spotify & Apple Music : Both music providers offer a “3 months free” deal. Apple Music comes with Apple TV+ access, and Spotify comes with Hulu and SHOWTIME included. Both Spotify and Apple Music cost $4.99/month for students, which is nearly half the normal price.

• Amazon Prime : Amazon Prime for students is half the price of regular Prime and comes with 6 months free. Student Prime offers fast delivery and discounted prices for Whole Foods and Prime Video, Prime Music, and Amazon Photo accessibility.

• New York Times : Create an account using your wustl.edu email address. See the  New York Times Libguide  and  FAQ . To register for an account, 1) Follow the link to accessnyt.com 2) Type and select “Washington University – Saint Louis” in the box. 3) Create an account and complete the registration fields.

• Wall Street Journal : To access, go to WSJ.com/WUSTL . Log in with your WUSTL key and create an account using your WUSTL email as your user ID.

• St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) : The SLSO, the second-oldest professional symphony orchestra in the United States preceded by the NY Philharmonic, offers student discounts for selected concerts starting at $10. Each year, the SLSO also offers two FREE concerts:

1) Forest Park Concert at Art Hill in September (no reservation required); and 2) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert at Powell Hall on the third Monday of January (MLK day) (reservation required).

• Faculty & Staff

International Travel Registry

Students traveling abroad for learning, fieldwork or research are required by UW policy to register their travel. Students on programs offered through UW Study Abroad are registered as part of their enrollment and no further actions are required. Students who are employed in some capacity by UW are required to register their travel as students (ie. staff appointments, researchers, HFS, etc.).

Employees (faculty, other academic personnel, staff, including medical residents) on official UW travel abroad are strongly encouraged to register their travel and should follow their units’ specific policies or requirements.

Graduate and undergraduate students

Curricular travel (student).

Examples : Dissertation or thesis research, internships, practicum, clinical electives, fellowship programs (whether or not you plan to earn credit).

Non-Curricular Travel (Student)

Examples : Travel to conferences or any other travel that is not curricular or not degree-related.

Faculty, other academic personnel, and staff

Individuals on uw official travel (employee).

Examples: Faculty traveling for research (including sabbatical), travel by research staff, travel to conferences, or travel on official UW business. For more information on faculty and staff travel registration, see our FAQs .

Leading Non-Curricular Programs For Students (Employee)

Examples : MBA Study Tours, travel by UW performing arts groups, other group travel that is not for credit or not for degree purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is required to register travel.

• All UW official travel should be registered through UW Global Travel.
• This applies to anyone at UW who is on official international travel for research, study abroad, conferences, events, or meetings.
• If UW is involved in travel in any way (funding, salary, credits, sponsorship, etc.) it is official travel.

Note: if you are taking UW classes for credit, you are considered a student and should register your trip as a student (even if your travel is related to employment. This includes graduate and postgraduate research fellows).

What are the benefits of registering?

• Access to 24/7 UW emergency response services.
• Receive travel notifications from UW Global Travel and enroll in our risk management service.
• Help UW Global Travel reach you in an emergency.
• Enrollment in overseas emergency medical insurance.
• Advice on State Department Travel Advisory Levels.
• Trip confirmation is often required for reimbursement.
• Pre-travel briefing email from International SOS, with country-specific health and safety information.

OISS Resources for WashU Departments

• Check-In & Appointments

New employees and scholars must check in with the OISS and provide copies of their immigration documents upon arriving at Washington University in St. Louis.

Current employees and scholars are welcome to meet with us whenever our advice or services are needed.

Scholar Check-In

After arriving at WashU, new employees and scholars must check-in with the Office for International Students and Scholars and provide immigration documentation for themselves and any dependents that arrived with them.

New J-1 exchange visitors must also attend orientation. Registration for J-1 Orientation is required at oiss-scholars.wustl.edu .

Immigration documents required at check in include, but are not limited to:

• U.S. Entry Visa
• Entry stamp in passport
• I-94 Admission Record (available at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/ )
• Status Document (i.e., H-1B Approval, DS-2019, EAD, etc)
• Same documents for dependents

Danforth Campus

Alumni House, West Wing 6510 Wallace Drive St. Louis, MO 63105

J-1 Scholar Orientation & Check-In

Wednesdays, beginning at 10:00 am Registration required at oiss-scholars.wustl.edu

Scholar Advising & I-797 Pick Up for H-1Bs

Appointment required at go.oncehub.com/OISS

Check-In for Students & All Other Scholars

Check-in and SEVIS Registration and Validation for students is completed online. Please visit https://students.wustl.edu/oiss-check-in/ for more information.

Check-in and SEVIS Validation for Scholars is also completed via email. Please visit Scholar Check-In section above for more information.

Payroll Related Updates/Documents

Student walk-in advising.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (9AM- 12PM; 1PM-5PM)

Medical Campus

Mid Campus Center (MCC) 4590 Children’s Place, Suite 2043 St. Louis, MO 63110

J-1 SCHOLAR ORIENTATION & CHECK-IN

Wednesdays Registration required at oiss-scholars.wustl.edu

Scholar Advising & H-1 Check-In

Appointments required at go.oncehub.com/OISS

Payroll & Other New Employee Check-In

• Visa and Status: A Common Confusion
• Documenting Status – Forms & Functions
• Terminology & Definitions
• Short-Term Visitors
• International Student Researchers

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Is Southwest about to end its free-for-all seating?

The company says it is ‘very seriously studying’ alternatives to its signature open-seating system.

Southwest Airlines fans know the drill: Check in to your flight exactly 24 hours in advance and secure your spot in line to board the plane. What seat you’ll end up in? That’s a mystery until the last minute.

A puzzle to some and an invigorating challenge to others, Southwest’s unique boarding process and one-class cabin are now under the microscope as the airline looks for ways to prop up its financial performance. In a call with investors Thursday, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said executives are “very seriously studying” seating and the way passengers board the planes.

“It’s been several years since we last studied this in-depth, and customer preference and expectations change over time,” Jordan said. “We are also studying the operations and financial benefits of any potential change.”

Unlike most airlines, Southwest doesn’t have a premium section on its planes that commands higher fares. Where other carriers might charge extra for a cushy seat in the first few rows or an extra-legroom option near the front, Southwest customers can grab whatever seat is open. A spot near the front won’t come with any additional frills, however.

In a news release announcing quarterly earnings, a conference call discussing those results and an interview with CNBC , representatives said they were taking a deep look at customer preferences around seating and boarding. The current open-seating system was put in place when airliners were generally less full, the company said, noting that preferences change as planes fill up.

“There’s no decision, there’s nothing to report other than we are seriously looking at this,” Jordan said in response to a question about seating. “But early indications both for our customers and for Southwest look pretty darn interesting.”

While Southwest has contemplated the possibility of assigned seating for nearly two decades at least , the review has accelerated over the past six months, the CEO said. Jordan said the company will say more during an event for investors in September. The company has also recently said that it is preparing to add red-eye flights in the next couple of years.

Today, Southwest passengers can pay more to end up in a better seat, even without picking that seat in advance. Upgrades that provide priority boarding and early check-in give customers the first pick of spots. The airline makes “hundreds of millions of dollars” from those upgraded boarding options, executives said last year.

“They’re in kind of a pickle regarding revenue generation, so they’re looking at everything,” said Robert W. Mann, a consultant and former airline executive. “I think what they have seen is that when they’ve tweaked their existing cattle call … they find it to be very lucrative.”

He said that if the airline could deliver a more “pleasant” boarding process, or seat selection for a fee, it would probably be attractive to travelers.

“There’s nothing about their boarding process that they couldn’t improve,” Mann said.

Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group , said he did research more than a decade ago that found a large number of people avoided Southwest because it did not offer extra-legroom seats, assigned seats or a premium business-class cabin. He said that the airline could make “an enormous amount of money” by adding assigned seating — and that travelers would probably welcome knowing what seat they would end up in.

“I think it could be an incredibly positive thing for the airline, but I recognize that Southwest has a more-than-50-year history of being egalitarian, of having open seating and being different from other airlines,” he said.

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

• Faculty & Staff

Travel & Visas

Travel signatures.

Review the process for obtaining a Travel Signature .

Reentry Into the U.S.

Be prepared to present the following items at the port of entry into the U.S.:

I-20 (F-1 Students) With Valid Travel Signature

• Be sure you have the new I-20 version; I-20s were redesigned in 2015, and the new version was required by July 1, 2016.
• Your I-20 must be signed by an adviser in International Student Services (ISS) before you leave the U.S. All students are required to obtain a travel signature that allows you to return to the U.S.
• This signature is valid for one year (12 months) after the signature date and can be used for multiple entries.
• If you are on OPT, you must obtain a travel signature every  6 months .
• To obtain a travel signature, complete an online travel signature request . Allow up to one month for ISS processing. Carry all I-20s you have ever been issued, not just the most recent one.

DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Visitors) With Valid Travel Signature

The DS-2019 must be signed by an adviser in International Student Services (ISS) (not an academic adviser, not a professor, not the football coach) before you leave the U.S. All students are required to obtain a travel signature that allows you to return to the U.S. This signature will be valid for one year (12 months) and can be used for multiple entries. To obtain a travel signature, complete an online travel signature request . Allow up to one month for ISS processing. Carry all DS-2019s you have ever been issued, not just the most recent one.

Valid Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months when seeking admission or readmission to the United States, unless your country has an agreement with the United States. For a list of countries under this agreement, review the list on the Immigration Customs Enforcement website. Your passport should remain valid throughout your stay in the U.S.

Valid U.S. Visa

You must present a valid, unexpired visa in the category for which admission is being sought each time you enter the U.S. (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement; however, landed immigrants of Canada are generally required to obtain a visa.) If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., the next time you travel abroad you must obtain a new visa in the proper category in order to be readmitted to the United States. Apply for the visa in your home country, unless circumstances or travel plans make this impossible. If you apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in another country, your application may be reviewed more critically than if you applied at home. In-person interviews are required for most visa applicants. You are encouraged to contact the U.S. consulate as early as possible to schedule the visa interview appointment. Anticipate delays in visa issuance due to enhanced security reviews.

An exception to the rule requiring a valid, unexpired visa exists for students in F-1 and J-1 status who travel for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico or islands in the Caribbean except for Cuba. Your visa will be considered to be “extended” (and “converted” to the proper visa category if you had changed status while in the U.S.) to the date of re-entry, eliminating the need to obtain a new visa at a U.S. consulate before that particular re-entry. This procedure is known as “ automatic visa revalidation. ” Note that if you apply for a new visa while in Canada, Mexico, and islands in the Caribbean, you will not be able to return to the U.S. unless the visa is granted. Also, citizens of Iran, Syria, and Sudan are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation.

Financial Evidence

You must carry evidence detailing the source and amount of your funding. Consular and immigration officers exercise considerable discretion in determining whether your financial support is sufficient to cover all academic and living expenses.

Current Class Schedule

You can print your current class schedule from your “MyUW” page.

New Students for initial entry : bring a copy of proof of admission to the UW.

SEVIS I-901 Fee Receipt

If you cannot find your SEVIS fee receipt, visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program SEVIS I-901 fee processing website to request a copy of your receipt. Students with I-20s or DS-2019s issued prior to September 1, 2004, did not pay the SEVIS fee.

Travel Within the United States

You and your dependents may be surprised to learn that federal law requires that you carry “registration” documentation at all times. This includes a basic identity document such as a passport, plus your current I-20 and I-94 card. For day-to-day purposes, we suggest you keep these documents in a secure location, such as a bank safe deposit box. However, if you are traveling within the U.S. you should carry these documents with you. If you are traveling by air, train, bus, or ship, you may be required to produce these documents before boarding. Keep photocopies of all your documents in a separate location, in the event your documents are lost or stolen.

Entry Into Another Country

Before you leave the United States, contact the consulate of the country to be visited to inquire about visa and travel procedures. If you plan to visit Canada, contact the Canadian Consulate to determine if you need a visa to enter Canada.

Travel After Completion of Studies

F-1 students: If you do not apply for OPT, you have a 60-day grace period after the last day of your final quarter. Once you leave the U.S. (including short trips to Canada and Mexico) after completing your studies you cannot reenter the U.S. with your current I-20 . The grace period is for travel within the U.S. and preparation for departure.

J-1 students: If you do not apply for Academic Training, you have a 30-day grace period after the last day of your final quarter. Once you leave the U.S. (including short trips to Canada and Mexico) after completing your studies you cannot reenter the U.S. with your current DS-2019. The grace period is meant for travel within the U.S. and preparation for departure.

Travel and OPT

Before graduation, if your post-completion OPT application is pending, you may travel and reenter the U.S.

After graduation, if your post-completion OPT has been approved and your EAD issued, you may not reenter the U.S. unless you have evidence of employment. You should carry the following documents with you:

• I-20 signed for travel by an international student adviser within the last 6 months
• Valid passport
• Unexpired F-1 visa (unless returning from a short trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean)
• Evidence of employment in your field of study (letter of employment, written job offer)

Stage and screen legend Nathan Lane to receive Signature Theatre’s Sondheim Award at The Anthem

Jason Fraley | [email protected]

April 26, 2024, 4:05 AM

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He made us laugh on stage and screen from “The Lion King” to “The Birdcage” to “The Producers.”

The prolific Nathan Lane will receive Signature Theatre’s Sondheim Award at The Anthem on Monday, April 29.

“You start to feel really old, you start to think that this was the kind of thing they gave Angela Lansbury,” Lane told WTOP. “[Stephen Sondheim] was a hero to me and I was very lucky over the years to work with him many, many times, so it has a real significance on a personal level too, just to be getting this. Somewhere Steve is laughing, but yeah, it’s a lovely honor and I’m happy to be coming to Washington.”

Lane won his first Tony Award for the 1996 revival of Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” They teamed up again on a 2004 adaptation of “The Frogs,” in which Lane starred and revised the book.

“He was drawn to really interesting and surprising subjects,” Lane said. “He’s sort of known for being brainy, an intellectual and sophisticated, but I think he writes about what people are going through: the longing and the loneliness. He writes about the human condition. … He was extraordinary in his musicianship, his lyric writing was extraordinary as well, and it has made him the person who has truly changed the face of musical theater.”

Lane will enjoy tributes from past co-stars, including Faith Prince, who won a Tony across Lane in the Broadway revival of “Guys & Dolls” (1992); Krysta Rodriguez, who starred with Lane in Broadway’s “The Addams Family” (2010); James Caverly, who played his son in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” which won Lane an Emmy; and Susan Stroman, who directed Lane to his second Tony win for Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” (2001) on Broadway.

“‘The Producers’ was just that once in a lifetime phenomenon,” Lane said. “It was a zeitgeist hit. For some reason that’s what the audience really wanted. It was a throwback to old-fashioned musical comedy with an emphasis on comedy. … Whenever we did it, people just went crazy.”

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Disney’s “The Lion King” (1994), in which Lane sang “Hakuna Matata” as the meerkat Timon to Ernie Sabella’s warthog Pumbaa, one of the great comic-relief duos in animated history.

“In May, we’re doing this Elton John and Hans Zimmer [event], it’s a ‘Lion King’ 30th anniversary concert at the Hollywood Bowl, so Ernie and I will be singing ‘Hakuna Matata,'” Lane said.

Hear our full conversation on the podcast below:

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

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Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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