The following is an attempt by members of the Genome Sciences Community to provide answers to frequently asked questions from International Students in our community. We want to acknowledge that there are many other resources where some of this information can be found.

VISAS

What type of visa do I need?
Check the International Student services website.

While most international students will need an F1 visa, there are certain variables, such as a government funding source, that may require a J1 visa. If you think you might require a J1 visa, please check with Graduate Enrollment Management Services.

1. There is NO guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa, unless your visa appointment specifically requires tickets and travel plans.

2. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.  A visa only allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States.

What is an I-20/DS-2019?
An I-20/DS-2019 is an immigration document issued by a U.S. government-approved school certifying your admission into a program. The document reflects your biographical, academic program, and financial support information as well as work authorizations.
New student I-20s/DS-2019s are issued by admissions units rather than International Student Services.

How do I apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa?
Once you are issued an I-20 or DS-2019 by the UW, you can apply for your visa. Please refer to the ISS website on this process.

What type of visa can my partner/family get to visit or move with me?
If your spouse or child will travel with you to the U.S., they should apply for a dependent visa. Check the International Student Services dependents information.

What is a social security number (SSN) and do I need it?
If you work in the U.S., make sure you have work authorization and a SSN. See more details on how to apply for SSN here. 
For information on F1 work authorization, review the ISS website. J1 students can find more information here.

What happens when my visa expires?
A valid visa is needed anytime you attempt to enter the United States. If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., this is okay. Your immigration status is not in jeopardy.
However, your I-20/DS-2019 should never expire. We encourage you to check your I-20/DS-2019 Program End Date each quarter.

I will be traveling outside Washington State, what do I need to do?
Make sure you have your I-20 or DS-2019 on you at all times. If you are traveling abroad, you must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 to return to the U.S. For more information, check the ISS information for re-entry to the USA, travel within and outside USA.

As a grad student, what happens at the end of the grad program?
Check the Final Quarter & Graduation Planning checklist by ISS. This link has information about post-graduation work, travel and more!

ID, PAYROLL, AND TAXES

How do I obtain a Washington State driver license or identification card?
Apply through the Washington State Department of Licensing. Follow this ISS link to learn about the different kinds of identification cards for Washington State and find instructions on how to apply.

I already have a driver's license. Do I need to obtain a Washington State driver license?
Driver licenses issued by another country to a nonresident are valid in Washington State for one year (RCW 46.20.025). You will need a Washington State driver license for longer periods of time.
If you have a valid license from another US state (including District of Columbia, US Territory or possession, or US Department of State), British Columbia (Class 5 only; Class 7 doesn’t transfer), Germany, or South Korea, you do not need to take any tests if you are 18 years or older. Individuals with other driver licenses usually are required to take a written and driving test. Read more on this page by the Department of Licensing.

How do I determine my tax obligations?
Every international student (F and J status) has an obligation to file.  Review the ISS website for more information.

Do I have to pay the same taxes as everyone else?
Largely, yes. If you are on a J-1 or F-1 visa, you can get an exemption from the deductions to your payslip that are paid into the Washington Cares Fund. See this FAQ.

People from some countries might benefit from a tax treaty. Check if this option is available and apply to it. The Glacier system provided by the ISS to assist in filing taxes should notify you when you first register your profile (Note the link needs UW NetID login).

Do I have any retirement fund options?
You have the option to participate the UW Voluntary Investment Program. This program does not have an employer match. There are fees associated with participating in the program, the cost varies depending on the specific services you receive and specific funds you contribute to. Please refer to the program website for details. You may also contact the UW benefit office (benefits@uw.edu) or Fidelity for additional assistance.

You may also contribute to non-UW related retirement plans on your own.

HEALTHCARE

What health insurance is available to me?
As a graduate student (Academic student employees, or ASEs), you receive health insurance through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). You can find more details about GAIP here.

Healthcare covered by your insurance plan usually comes at a lower cost to you. Health insurance plans are either Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) or Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). Read about the difference on MedlinePlus. If you have health insurance through UW, you can also enroll your spouse or partner, and your dependent children under the age of 26.

There are several different types of healthcare you can receive:

1. Primary care is the healthcare you seek for day-to-day health and medical needs.

2. Preventative care services usually come at no cost to you; read about preventative services on HealthCare.gov.

3. Emergency care is for medical emergencies that require immediate attention, including life-threatening emergencies. If you need an ambulance or paramedics, call 911.

4. Urgent care is for when you are not having a medical emergency but need to be treated right away and cannot see your regular doctor. Urgent care and emergency care are both same-day medical services, but urgent care facilities do not address life-threatening emergencies.

Mental health, counseling, and vision services are usually included as part of your health care plan. Dental health care is included in the graduate student plan.

What forms of payment does the healthcare system use?

A premium is what you pay every month for your health insurance plan. A deductible, co-payment, and co-insurance are different forms of payment when you visit the doctor. Read about the differences on the UW HR website. If you visit a healthcare provider not covered by your health insurance plan, you pay out-of-pocket.

I found the health coverage and medical terms too confusing, can you explain?
This glossary might help!

CREDIT

What is a credit score? What is a credit score used for?
A credit score indicates your ability to make payments on time and is used by lenders, such as when you are applying to rent an apartment or buying a car or home. Read more about credit scores and suggestions of how to build credit here and here.

How do I determine my credit score?
You can get a free credit score once per year by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Some banking institutions also provide monthly credit scores for free. Learn more about obtaining credit reports on this federal website.

LIVING IN SEATTLE

How do I find affordable housing in Seattle?
On average Seattle has expensive rent compared to some other major cities (check out costs here), but there are definitely a wide variety of options depending on personal preference around the type of housing you want. This UW website has information on finding off-campus housing in neighborhoods around the university.

The University also has housing for graduate students. You can find more information about that option here.

Social media networks, such as UWPA facebook for postdocs or the classifieds section in the UW Daily can also be helpful in locating housing.

If you decide to rent, knowing your rights as a renter is helpful. For example, Seattle has a First-in-Time ordinance that requires landlords to offer a rental agreement to the first qualified applicant who submits a full application. More information on all of Seattle’s renter laws can be found here.

What transportation options are there in Seattle?
Public transportation:
Seattle has a pretty decent network of public transportation options (Link Light Rail, Metro transit buses, Seattle streetcars) and this is an important thing to take into consideration as you look into housing options.

All employees of the University are given a U-Pass that allows for free transport on these options, among other things.

Biking:
Rain or shine, seasonally or all year round, many UW workers commute by bicycle. Lots of bike lanes make biking relatively easy and accessible from many neighborhoods in Seattle and Seattle’s Burke Gilman trail, an extensive paved roadway for bikers and walkers, leads directly to campus.

Check out “Bike Commuting 101” from the UW Transportation Services for more information.

UNION REPRESENTATION

I heard that there is a union at UW. Who does the union represent?
If you are a graduate student (Academic Student Employee), postdoc, or research scientist/engineer, you are represented by UAW Local 4121. The union is a local chapter that negotiates with UW on behalf of these three groups (bargaining units). You choose whether or not to join the union.

What role does the union play in my benefits?
Certain benefits are governed by a contract between UW and UAW Local 4121. These contracts usually expire every few years and must be renegotiated during bargaining periods. If you are represented by UAW Local 4121, you are covered by the contract regardless of if you joined the union. Each bargaining unit has its own contract. You can read more about the union contracts on the UAW Local 4121 website.

ARRIVAL TO THE US

When you first arrive in the US, there are several things to do in order to get settled. To make this process easier, we have compiled the following checklist based on recommendations from international scholars in Genome Sciences.

1. Prior to arriving in the US, book a hotel or Airbnb for your first week or two and make appointments to tour apartments. Some landlords will request an application fee, holding fee, and/or your work contract before offering a lease contract to you.

2. Get a SIM card for your cell phone.

3. Complete your immigration check-in

4. Once you have proof of address (such as a bill with your name and address), open a bank account.

5. Apply for a SSN as soon as possible, if eligible.

6. Choose a healthcare plan when you are notified by the university through Workday.

CAMPUS RESOURCES

What resources do I have on campus?
Here is a knowledge database where you can look up all sorts of campus resources you might need.

Over the years, the Graduate School has created hundreds of articles aimed at helping students and postdocs get the most out of their experience at the UW. They are searchable here.

Is there a list of student organizations on campus that might provide a supportive community?
UW has hundreds of community organizations on campus. You can find these organizations or lists of community events here. You can search these organizations via filters for cultural/international organizations here.

What sources of funding are available for international students?
A list of graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, compiled by UW, can be filtered into those available to international scholars here.

The Bonita and David Brewer Fellowship is available to all GS graduate students who use a model organism in their research. More information can be found here.

Additional opportunities for international PhD students can be found in this database.

Funding databases for postdocs, including those with filters for searching by citizenship, can be found here.

Who can I reach out to ask additional questions?
The following resources are available at multiple levels if you have more questions!

The University:
International Student Services largely assists students on F-1 or J-1 student visas.
Resources for international scholars can be found here.

The Department:
Josh Malamy - Assistant to the Chair and Director and Faculty Affairs (jmalamy@uw.edu) - Can assist with most questions!
Brian Giebel (bgiebel@uw.edu) A good resource for questions about the graduate program and courses.
Serena Newhall (serenn2@uw.edu) Human Resources Manager

Your fellow international colleagues!
Genome Sciences is developing a buddy system to pair incoming international students and scholars with those who have already made the transition into the department. Stay tuned for more information!