Current International Students

The International Student Office at Northwestern Oklahoma State University offers a variety of immigration, health insurance, work permission, and advising services and special programs for NWOSU international students and scholars, and for the NWOSU staff and faculty who work with them. 

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Support services 
For help on immigration matters, financial aid, health insurance, work permission, advising on personal concerns, or any topic of special interest to international students, please contact the International Student Advisor. 

Appointments 
There are two types of appointments: (1) regular 30-minute appointments that will give students time to discuss more complex situations; and (2) five- to ten-minute drop-in appointments for quick questions. It is a good idea to schedule regular 30-minute appointments, but the International Student Advisor is always there to help you. You just need to ask for help. Drop-ins, however, are on a first-come, first-served basis. The Office of the International Student Advisor is located at Ryerson Hall, Room 126 and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays (Summer hours: 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday). 

Immigration Information 
F-1 Visa 
It refers to the visa status given to an international applicant who wishes to enter the U.S. temporarily and solely for the purpose of study. 

I-20 Form 
The Certificate of Eligibility for non-immigrant student status for academic and language students is commonly referred to as the Form I-20.  On the initial entry, the admitting immigration official retains the School Copy (page 1-2). 

I-94 (Arrival/Departure record) 
Form I-94 is the DHS Arrival/Departure Record issued to aliens who are admitted to the U.S. The Form I-94 has been automated. If a student is required to have a paper version of Form I-94, it is available here. 

On-Campus Employment 
Students may work on-campus without prior approval from the USCIS, provided they are enrolled full-time. On-campus work is limited to 15 hours per week while school is in session. Please see the International Student Office.

Optional Practical Training 

International students in F-1 status who have completed nine months at NWOSU may apply for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training, which is an immigration status that allows them to work in the U.S. Please visit the International Student Office. 

H-1B Visa (Temporary Non-Immigration Work Status in the U.S.) 
An H1B visa is a work permit issued by a US Consulate/Embassy to an "alien"/foreign worker enabling him/her to work in the US temporarily. There are other options available for those who wish to work in the United States temporarily, like getting an intra-company transfer visa (L1), or a business visa (B1), or even a green card. The H1B work permit visa is the most common one. 

Obtaining Permanent Residence in the U.S. 
An immigrant visa is the visa issued to persons wishing to live permanently in the United States. These are popularly known as "Green Cards."

Congratulations! You’ve been issued your F-1 visa and you are an official student in the USA. With this victory comes big responsibility. Now that you are in the US, you must maintain your F-1 visa. To remain in legal F-1 visa status, you should follow the guidelines below very carefully.  You may also look for further guidance by visiting the Study in the States website. Links are provided at right.

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Check in with the NWOSU International Student Office within 30 days of your arrival
You will be required to provide your local address, phone number, and email address in order to keep your SEVIS records up-to-date. If you change your local address at any time during your stay, you will need to notify them.

Keep your passport valid
Your passport should be valid at least six months into the future. Passports can be renewed by your home country’s consulate or embassy.

Maintain full-time enrollment
Students who are studying in an undergraduate programs are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester during the academic year. If you are unable to enroll full-time, or wish to withdrawal from a course that would put you under full-time, you will need authorization from the International Academic Advisor before doing so. The International Academic Advisor will only allow this under extenuating circumstances as lined out by SEVP.

Graduate students are required to be a minimum of nine (9) credit hours to be considered “full-time”. Again, you will need to receive authorization from the International Academic Advisor before you are allowed to drop below full-time and will only be considered under extenuating circumstances as lined out by SEVP.

Maintain "Presence on Campus" 
F-1 students are required to be seen on campus. They are not allowed to take a full course of study in online courses.  Only 3 credit hours of online courses is allowed each semester.  Undergraduate students must enroll in 9 credit hours of traditional courses before they may enroll in a 3 credit hour online course. Graduate students must enroll in 6 credit hours of traditional courses before they may enroll in a 3 credit hour online course.  There are very limited exceptions to this rule.  Please contact the International Academic Advisor for specification.

Extend your I-20 as needed
If your program will require more time that originally granted, you will need to notify your International Office at least 30 days prior to the end date in Section 3 of your Form I-20, in order to allow enough time to obtain the necessary documentation to maintain your F-1 visa.

Apply for a new I-20 as needed
If you are beginning a new program, you must apply for a new I-20 at least 60 days before the completion of your first program. Evidence of funding may be required.

Obtain special permission to work
WORKING OFF-CAMPUS WITHOUT PERMISSION IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF YOUR F-1 VISA AND COULD RESULT IN YOUR DEPORTATION! The visa you have obtained is listed as a Student visa, which means you are in the U.S. to study, not to work. For this reason, you are required to prove Financial Support that will allow you to study without having to work. Should you wish to obtain employment while you are at NWOSU, F-1 students are very limited on your options.

F-1 students are allowed to work part-time on-campus. It is the student’s responsibility to find a job on-campus. Once employment is obtained, the student will need to apply for a Social Security card. The International Office can assist in this step by providing the necessary items to apply for a Social Security card. Transportation to the Social Security office can be obtained by completing at Travel Request Form and paying the transportation fee.

Information regarding your other employment options can be found on our International Student Employment page. For security purposes, it is advised that you keep the International Student Office informed of any employment you have obtained to alleviate any concerns.

Carry your immigration documents with you at all times
It is advised for you to carry your passport, I-94, and I-20 with you, especially when you are traveling. You will need to be able to prove your legal F-1 visa status in the US. It is also recommended that you carry proof of enrollment (e.g. current course schedule) for further evidence of your valid status.

If you will be traveling outside of the U.S., you must have the International Advisor authorize your travel by signing the second page of your I-20 BEFORE your departure.

Change your status or depart the US in a timely manner
F-1 students generally have 60 days to depart the US after the completion of their program. As long as you maintain your F-1 visa status, you may be eligible apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), or you may be able to switch your immigration status. Be sure to apply for these changes prior to your program completion date.

Pay debts in a timely manner
It is customary to pay all debts, to Northwestern , to the Alva Community, or to anyone else you may owe within a reasonable time frame. Failure to do so can effect your ability to attend other schools or apply for future visas.

By following these steps, you will be able to maintain your F-1 visa and prepare yourself for any changes that may occur during your academic program. Retaining your legal F-1 visa status is extremely important to remain in the United States as an international student, or to obtain any future Visas
 

 For more information on maintaining your F-1 Visa, click here.

Transportation Requests

Northwestern Oklahoma State University provides transportation to and from the locations noted in the table below.  In order to request transportation, the Travel Request Form must be completed and submitted ten (10) days prior to the requested date to be considered.  Any requests submitted with less notification cannot be guaranteed. This form may be found here.

Destination	Distance from NWOSU	Estimated Time
Oklahoma City, OK -  Will Rogers Airport	163 miles/ 262 km	2 hours 43 minutes
Oklahoma City, OK -  Greyhound Bus Station	169 miles/ 271 km	2 hours 37 minutes
Wichita, KS -  Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport	107 miles/ 178 km	1 hour 59 minutes
Wichita, KS -  Greyhound Bus Station	114 miles/184 km	2 hours 2 minutes
Enid, OK	72.8 miles/117 km	1 hour 19 minutes
Alva (Walmart, Bank, etc.)

 

NWOSU has assigned approved travel dates for the beginning and end of each semester, which will be noted below.  If you are traveling on a non-approved travel date, you will be required to pay $90.00 USD to the NWOSU Business Office in order for your request to be approved. Transportation provided in Alva City Limits will not be charged a $90.00 fee.

*There is a two suitcase limit for all transportation needs in order to ensure that we have enough space for all requests. Any additional luggage may be shipped to Alva at the student's arrangment and expense. 

Beginning of Semester Travel Dates:

NWOSU will provide two complimentary shuttles per day on the *Wednesday, *Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday prior to the start of courses courses for the Fall and Spring semesters. Shuttles will arrive at 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM each day. Each shuttle will circle the airport terminal pick-up area for one hour before departing for Alva.

*NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION ON THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASSES. YOU WILL NEED TO SCHEDULE YOUR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY PRIOR TO THE START OF COURSES. TIME FOR ORIENTATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA EMAIL.

• Flights that arrive between 9:00 PM and 12:00 PM the next day  will be placed on the 12:00 PM shuttle.
• Flights that arrive between 1:00 PM and 9:00 PM will be placed on the 8:00 PM shuttle.

In order to confirm transportation details in ample time, the deadline to submit transportation requests for the Fall semester is two (2) prior to the first day of courses. Deadline to submit requests for the Spring semester is December 15th, due to Christmas Break. Any transportation requests submitted after the deadline cannot be guaranteed. Shuttles that are not filled by a minimum of one person after the request deadline will be cancelled. 

End Of Semester Approved Travel Dates

NWOSU will provide two complimentary shuttles per day on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following finals of the Fall and Spring semesters. Departure times for each shuttle is 6:00AM and 2:00 PM.  The International Office will place you on the shuttle best suited for you based on your flight departure time.  

• Flights between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM will be placed on the 6:00AM shuttle.
• Flights between 6:00 PM and 10:00 AM the next day will be placed on the 2:00 PM shuttle.  

In order to confirm transportation details in ample time, the deadline to submit transportation requests is ten (10) days prior to the final day of finals.  Any transportation requests submitted after this date cannot be guaranteed. Shuttles that are not filled by a minimum of one person after the deadline will be cancelled.

 

Should you have any questions about transportation, please contact international@nwosu.edu.