International Students

While not required, all international students are highly encouraged to have health insurance. Without medical coverage, an unexpected illness could cause financial hardship for you and your family and make it financially difficult to continue your education.

Western does not endorse any specific companies. However, several insurance companies offer international student insurance, such as HTH Worldwide, International Student Insurance, Simple Insurance, or Shondeck Insurance. These health insurance providers can offer coverage for prescriptions, doctor’s visits (related to injury or sickness), and other inpatient and outpatient care. The Campus Health Center can provide most of your common medical services.

Please Note: If you are an intercollegiate athlete, you are required to follow the health insurance requirements provided by the Athletic Department at Western Colorado University.  Please contact your coach in order to best figure out which health insurance plan you should purchase. The health insurance provisions and benefits are subject to change.

As a student in the U.S. in F-1 status, you are required to follow specific federal laws. This is meant to provide a generic overview of certain F-1 requirements; it does not contain all laws for every situation. If you ever have questions or concerns, always contact the Office of Student Affairs for specific guidance.

As an F-1 student, it is your responsibility to maintain your non-immigrant F-1 status. Failure to follow the laws for F-1 status can result in you losing your legal ability to be in the U.S., and may harm your chances of getting a new visa in the future. To ensure you are following F-1 laws, you must:

• Keep your passport valid at all times, in most cases for at least six months into the future.
• Ensure your I-94 card is always marked as F-1, D/S when you re-enter the U.S.
• Complete your class registration by the published registration deadline.
• Update your change of physical address (where you live in the US) with the Office of Student Affairs within 10 days of the change. This address cannot be a P.O. Box or a departmental address. More information can be found here.
• Pursue a full-course of study each fall and spring semester, defined as 12 semester hours for undergraduate students and nine semester hours for graduate students.
• Obtain permission from the Office of Student Affairs if you need to enroll in less than a full-course of study, using the Part-Time Enrollment Authorization form.
• Obtain permission from the Office of Student Affairs before withdrawing from all your courses.
• Make normal progress toward completing a course of study. This includes graduating when you are eligible to graduate and not delaying graduation for non-academic reasons.
• Not let your I-20 expire. You must remember the expiration date on your I-20, and process your program extension prior to the expiration date listed on your current I-20 if you are not able to complete your studies by that time.
• Restrict your on-campus work to a weekly total of 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. You may work full-time during the winter and summer vacations.
• Refrain from beginning off-campus work until you have obtained the necessary authorization in advance from either the Office of Student Affairs or the USCIS.
• If traveling outside the U.S., ensure you have a valid visa (except citizens of Canada and Bermuda) and a recent travel signature on your I-20.
• Notify the Office of Student Affairs if you will be outside of the U.S. for more than five months.
• Contact the Office of Student Affairs if you wish to transfer to another U.S. school.
• Not work after completing your program of study unless you have been authorized for Optional Practical Training.
• Depart from the U.S. within 60 days after completing your program of study.

The information on this page applies to International Students ONLY. Any links provided are not companies endorsed by Western, and students are encouraged to do their own research regarding tax filing as well. Please use this site as a guideline only.

Instructions directly from the IRS can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-519

Examples of different tax situations provided by the IRS can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/alien-residency-examples

For more information about who needs to file taxes, and other details, please refer directly to the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-students-scholars-teachers-researchers-and-exchange-visitors

Even if you don’t work, you may need to file taxes for other reasons, including receiving scholarships.  Please refer to the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/withholding-federal-income-tax-on-scholarships-fellowships-and-grants-paid-to-aliens

What might  I need to file my taxes?

• Visa
• Current and previous passports
• Form 1-20
• Social Security Number or ITIN (you may have to apply for an ITIN)
• Current and foreign/permanent address
• U.S. entry and exit dates (stamps in your passport, or your travel history listed on your I-94 entry documentation, which can be found at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home )
• Any tax forms you have received.
• Western Information
  • 1 Western Way, Gunnison, CO 81231

Deadlines

Taxes must be submitted by April 15.

**If you are only filing IRS Form 8843, it is due by June 15.**

Should I keep copies of my tax return forms?

Absolutely! Please make sure that you filed them.

• Once a student has been accepted, On-Campus Employment can be found through the Job Hub in Workday or Handshake.
  • F-1 visa holders may work on campus.
  • Any off-campus work MUST be pre-approved by a P/DSO and may require additional government approval.
  • Prior to starting ANY work, the student should inform a P/DSO.

While attending courses, students may not work more than 20 hours per week.

• IRS page
• Obtaining a Social Security Number or Driver’s License
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Social Security Administration