Current International Students

Maintaining Your Status

As an international student (F-1 or J-1 status), it is important you know and understand the laws and regulations governing your visa. The U.S. government has an important website to ensure international students understand their status and to answer questions.

Reporting Obligations

Students must notify the International Programs and Services Office for any of the following:

  • Address changes (update the Mailing Address type in SIS for local address change and the SEVIS address for foreign permanent address change)
  • Change of major
  • Transfer
  • Graduation date change (Change in date of completion of studies)
  • Change in period of study
  • Change in OPT employment
  • Change in CPT employment
  • Change in dependents
  • Terminations or Leaves of Absence including medical (Prior authorization required.)
  • Any drops below full-time status (12 credit/hours per spring/fall semester for undergraduates; full time in summer required (6 credit hours) if this summer is first or last semester of enrollment. Authorization is required prior to any drop below full-time status.
  • Disciplinary action
  • Suspensions/expulsions
  • Felony convictions

Note that the above list is not necessarily comprehensive. Students should contact the International Programs Office if there is any question about maintenance of status.

Also see SEVP's webpage on maintaining status.

Important Services for International Students

Campus Mail Services

Each student, residential or commuter, may register for a free campus mailbox number on the 4th floor of the Slemp Student Center. For more information, contact Mail Services at 276-328-0209. A campus mail address would be:
STUDENT NAME
UVA Wise
1 College Avenue # _____
Wise VA 24293-4412

CAVS Card

In addition to being your official college ID, the Cavs Card gives you access to a variety of campus services, acting as your: 

  • Meal plan card
  • Debit card (for campus vending machines, dining dollars, Bookstore)
  • Library card
  • Laundry card in campus residence halls
  • Electronic key for residence halls and other designated areas
  • Athletic pass (for all regular season home events)

Learn more about your CAVS card.

International Student Health Insurance

UVA Wise does not currently provide health insurance for students to purchase, but UVA Wise does require students to have insurance. Although we do not recommend a specific policy, many students purchase International Student Insurance (ISI).

For more information on student health requirements, please review the UVA Wise Pre-Entrance Health
requirements.

Transportation

METGo! provides campus and local transportation for students. Campus routes run continually throughout each day and requests can be made by calling 276-523-RIDE (7433) or downloading the METGo! app. Free rides are available throughout the Town of Wise and City of Norton.

Student Affairs coordinates shuttle service to and from Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) for various breaks throughout the year. Contact Student Affairs for more information at 276-328-0214.