Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

If you are in a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. 

If you are experiencing a crisis for your immigration status, please call our 24 hour, 7 days per week hotline at 503-610-5765.

If you are trying to enter the U.S. and are having trouble at Customs and Border Protection, please call the hotline at 503-610-5765.

If you are experiencing a housing-related, natural disaster, personal issue, or some other kind of need where you need to talk to the International Advisor immediately, please call the hotline at 503-610-5765.

If you are seeking mental health support, there are many resources available to you.

  • Whether the crisis is big or small, Counseling staff want to help. Counselors are generally available 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session. Students in crisis during our office hours should come directly to our office. Our staff will meet with the student as soon as we can.
  • When our office is closed, requests for emergency counseling from Klamath Basin students may be directed to the Klamath Crisis Center at 884-0390 or 1-800-452-3669. These individuals may also call 911 or go directly to the emergency room at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls.
  • Resources for Portland students are available here. All Oregon Tech students may access the following national crisis line services 24 hours a day: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-SUICIDE; and National Hopeline Network, 1-800-442-HOPE. Students may also access the Ulifeline website, which is dedicated to supporting college students who need help and reducing the risk of suicide among college students.

If you need help and you are not in a crisis situation, please email International@oit.edu and the advisor will get back to you within 3 business days. You can also use the tool on this page to schedule an appointment during a time that works for your schedule. 

Yes. U.S. immigration law requires that all international students on F1 student visas maintain full-time enrollment. To be considered full time, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 quarter credits each term. Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 quarter credits each term to be considered full time.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an internet database that assists the U.S. government in tracking F-1 and J-2 international students, scholars, and dependents.SEVIS is administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The information in SEVIS is available to embassies and consulates, as well as many other U.S. government agencies.Oregon Institute of Technology is a SEVIS-approved school.

Designated school officials (DSOs) are located on several branch campuses and are certified SEVIS users.

Officials create I-20 documents for new and continuing students, utilizing the SEVIS program.Oregon Tech is required to report accurate and timely academic and personal information online regarding international students and scholars.

For questions about SEVIS, please email us.

SEVIS Fee
When you receive your I-20 from the Oregon Tech, you are required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online.

Print the receipt page for proof of payment.

For more information and payments accepted, visit the SEVIS I-901 fee website.The fee is collected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to maintain the SEVIS program. The SEVIS I-901 fee must be paid at least 3 business days before your visa interview.

Yes. On-campus employment is the only legal employment for international students. See the International Student Advisor for more details. 

Travel Checklist
For Reentering the U.S.Below are the basic requirements for an F-1 to reenter the United States after traveling abroad for five months or less:
I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO.
A current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry or, if you are from one of the countries listed, a passport that is current through the date of entry. 
A valid, current visa or you traveled to contiguous country or adjacent island for less than thirty days.
Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses.
Bringing your most recent I-94, Departure Card, will facilitate your reentry, if reentering through a land POE.
If you are flying, the airline will collect your I-94 prior to departure and you will complete a new one upon reentry.

For more information on reentering the U.S., visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.

Practical training is the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in your degree program to off-campus work in your major field. OPT is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S.C.I.S.). This authorization can take 2 to 3 months to obtain. The maximum amount of time granted to work on F-1 OPT status is 12 months per degree level plus a possible H1B cap gap extension OR 17 month extension for those who qualify (see info below). You may use some or all of the available 12 months of practical training during your course of study or save the full twelve months to use after you graduate.

Find out more.

All international students (and accompanying dependents) are required to complete an income tax return each year. For most students, this will mean completing the form required to file an income tax return even if you have no income to report. Scholarship funds are considered income and must be included on a tax return.

Even if you did not work, you must file paperwork each year.

The U.S. tax system encompasses many different types of taxes such as income tax, social security tax, sales tax, personal property tax, and at several levels: local, state, and federal. Therefore, international students have obligations at several levels.

Sources of U.S. income may include on-campus employment, scholarships, graduate assistantships, practical and academic training, and any compensation received for labor. International students do not have to pay taxes on interest paid to them by U.S. banks.

Note that “income” is not limited to wages paid in cash, but also includes that portion of scholarships, fellowships, assistantships that is applied to housing and meal expenses. The portion applied to tuition fees, books, supplies is not counted as income. Be sure to inquire about the applicability of any tax treaty that might exist between a students’ home country and the United States.

International Admissions Questions

A.

There are options for international students to navigate from an Oregon community college to Oregon Tech, however dual enrollment applications are not intended for this purpose.

International students may first attend a community college, which issues the I-20 for the F-1 visa. As the student progresses through their lower-division coursework they have the option of taking Oregon Tech classes as a non-degree student until they are ready to enroll exclusively in Oregon Tech courses for bachelor’s degree completion. During this transitional phase they must comply with INS requirements for concurrent enrollment (not dual enrollment). They must work closely with their community college international student advisor to remain in compliance with their I-20 reporting requirements and academic plans. When they’re ready for sole enrollment and admission to Oregon Tech, they may submit an online international application, a $50 app fee, the statement of financial responsibility, and all the official documents. The I-20 is transferred to Oregon Tech for completion of an Oregon Tech degree program.

If we have a complete application missing only proof of English language proficiency, and if we determine that you are admissible to Oregon Tech, we will provide a letter of conditional admission. After we receive sufficient TOEFL or IELTS scores, we offer a letter of admission and issue the I-20. We do consider other performance measures of English language proficiency, such as college coursework, on a case-by-case basis.

Admissions eligibility is similar to U.S. undergraduate admission, however students from other educational systems meet math, writing and other competencies in different ways. A thorough review of transcript evaluations are essential to our ability to assess an international student’s potential for success in Oregon Tech programs.

Yes, please Apply Now to complete your online international application. We do require that the Financial Statement of Responsibility be sent to us along with original bank statements to verify your financial ability to pay tuition and living expenses while at Oregon Tech.

Oregon Tech does not currently offer an English language program, however there are multiple options for this in Oregon. Southern Oregon University is closest to Oregon Tech in geographical proximity, and students may opt to complete some of their general education requirements there before transferring to a technical program at Oregon Tech.

At the end of the application you have the ability to pay the $50 non-refundable fee by credit or debit card, check, or money order.

At this time Oregon Tech is certified to admit students on F-1 visas only.

To find the program applications refer to the graduate program web page. There may be different application documents required for each program. Please pay special attention to the instructions on each program's application.

International applicants to the graduate programs must also complete and submit the International Supplement to the Graduate Application and meet the university’s international student requirements regarding financial ability, English language proficiency, and international transcript evaluations.

To apply for admission to Oregon Tech, there is a $50 non-refundable application fee. To pay this fee, send a money order or check made out to Oregon Tech for fifty US dollars.

Oregon Tech Admissions processes graduate applications until the file is complete. Once your application is complete your file will be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. The Oregon Tech Admissions Office will notify you of the committee's decision. The application deadlines for international graduate admission are the same as those for undergraduate international admission:

  • Fall term entry: May 1
  • Winter term entry: September 1
  • Spring term entry: December 1
  • Summer term entry: April 1
International Map

It depends on your situation.

The Klamath Falls campus offers a larger variety of majors, including all four years of course work in the campus's bachelor degree programs. The Klamath Falls campus offers two choices for campus housing and the traditional student experience at a small Oregon university in rural Southern Oregon. Freshman international students who do not already have the equivalent of two years of college coursework are advised to apply to the Klamath Falls campus in order to take advantage of a fuller array of student services.

Oregon Tech Portland-Metro is located in Wilsonville, one of several thriving suburban towns in the vicinity of Portland, which is the state's center of commerce, culture and population. The campus offers a full portfolio of high-demand Bachelor and Master degrees. The Portland-Metro campus offers an industry focused university experience at the heart of the Silicon Forest. University housing, intercollegiate athletics and other traditional student life aspects are not offered at the Portland-Metro location. Many Portland-Metro students are commuting between home, work and other professional commitments as they take advantage of the campus's evening, weekend and daytime course scheduling.

No, but some students may opt to take either the SAT or the ACT as an option for showing English language proficiency.

International students and their accompanying dependents are required to have health insurance while enrolled at an Oregon institution. For F-1 visa compliance, the U.S. government sets minimum requirements for health insurance coverage. The Aetna International Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) offered through Oregon Tech is designed to meet the needs of international students, including visa requirements.

New International Students

No. Oregon Tech does not currently offer an English language proficiency program, and international applicants must first complete their ESL program at another institution. 

International applicants are required to demonstrate their level of English-language proficiency during the application process.

Student should have one of the following to prove his English Language Proficiency:
-TOEFL: A minimum score of 520 in paper-based, 190 in computer-based, or 68 in internet-based.
-IELTS: A minimum score of 6.
-ACT or SAT test scores are not required for international admissions; however students may choose to take either test as justification to waive TOEFL or IELTS.
-Completion of a Level 112 course at an ESL Language Center or grade B or better in WR 121 from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

Not normally. Contact the Office of Admissions if you have questions about U.S. college entrance exams.

Yes; depending on the situation. However, all the requirements must be met before getting the I-20 issued. Contact the Admission Office for more details. 

The deadline for applying for fall term is May.1st, for winter term is Sept.1st, for spring term is Dec.1st, and for summer term is Apr.1st. You should complete your application by the deadline for the desired term. The sooner you start, the faster and easier it will be. You should start working on the application as soon as possible. 

It might take up to six months to get all the forms and paperwork done. You should apply as soon as you can. Once you complete your application,the International Student Advisor is going to contact you after your application have been reviewed. 

No. Tuition and fees are due during the first week of each term.

International students cannot apply for federal financial aid. A few scholarships are available for international students.

Check this link for more information- Scholarships

Yes. All students must have health insurance. Contact the International Advisor for more details. International students enrolled at Oregon Tech are required to purchase the International Student Health Insurance, and will be automatically enrolled. For information regarding benefits and rates, please see the International Student Insurance FAQ to view details regarding the plan offered through Gallagher Koster, underwritten by United Healthcare.

Yes. The record has to be in English, signed and has the date on it. Information about required immunizations will be sent to you by the International Student services with the I-20 form.

It is important to fill the form out and submit your immunization record; otherwise, you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts, Transcript Evaluation, and Transfer Credits

In order to perform a comprehensive review of each student and their unique academic history, it is necessary to receive official transcripts directly from the institutions where the coursework was completed. Receiving the transcript from each institution in the original language helps Oregon Tech to verify that the transcripts are official. It is also necessary for us to see an official translation of those transcripts into English (if necessary) and into U.S. standards. We ask for an evaluation on a course-by-course basis so that we can compare your courses with the subject requirements that we ask of domestic students. While international students aren't required to meet precisely the same requirements as American students, we need enough information for a comparable academic history.

An official document is:

  • Provided by the college or university where you completed your degree or course work.
  • Received by Oregon Tech Admissions in a sealed enveloped mailed directly from the issuing institution.
  • Issued in the original language of the institution.
  • Oregon Tech will accept official transcripts sent from an approved foreign transcript evaluation agency.

An official document is NOT:

  • A photocopy of a document in your possession
  • A document that you deliver or mail in an unsealed envelope
  • A translation of a document
  • A document authorized by an official notary or government office

If your country issues only one official copy and you have the copy in your possession, mail a photocopy of the original to the issuing institution and request to have it attested. The institution should indicate by signature or an official seal that this is an accurate representation of your academic history and it should be mailed directly to Oregon Tech by the institution.

Official transcripts or certificates must be mailed to:

Oregon Tech Admissions
3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls OR 97601

We can give you general information about how your background might apply to an Oregon Tech program, but we are unable to make admissions decisions until we receive a complete application and official transcripts.

Even though the English language was used in instruction, we will still ask for an evaluation of your transcripts into U.S. standards. Please be sure to request a course-by-course evaluation for this purpose.

Many course equivalencies can be found on Oregon Tech's Transfer Articulation page. The Registrar's office also provides a complete transfer evaluation after admission so you will know which courses transfer to Oregon Tech from other universities. This includes courses taken in other countries. In order to determine which international courses transfer, we will also require official transcripts and a translation of those transcripts into English (if necessary) and into U.S. standards on a course-by-course basis.

Standards for licensure and academic coursework vary considerably around the world. Because of these differences it is very difficult for Oregon Tech to grant credit for previous coursework in medical profession majors. International students must complete all of the pre-requisite and major coursework for undergraduate programs in health profession majors, even if they are already practicing in their home country.

Tuition & Fees, Scholarships, and Other College Costs

You can use the tuition and fee calculator to estimate costs for the major of your choice. International students pay Non-Resident tuition rate. Tuition and fees are subject to change from year to year.

Unfortunately, Oregon Tech does not currently provide scholarships or financial aid to international students, except for Leadership & Diversity Scholarships. 

Taxes

We utilize a company called Sprintax to help you electronically file your taxes! Each year, look for emails from your International Student Advisor on how to access Sprintax.

Some of the most common tax forms for international students include:

  • 8843 – Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition.
  • 1040 NR Form – U.S Individual Income Tax Return
  • 2017 OR-40 Form – This is the Oregon individual income Tax Return for full-year Residents.

In order to complete the forms above, the student needs to have their 1098T which is the tuition statement internal Revenue and any existing W-2.

In the U.S., the tax year runs from January 1 to December 31 of any given year. Employers are required to take money out of your paycheck for taxes during that year. This process is called “withholding” money for taxes. That tax money is paid to the U.S. federal tax department which is called the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Oregon Tech Payroll Office (or another U.S. employer) determines the amount to be “withheld” out of your paycheck based upon U.S. tax treaties with your country and IRS regulations. In January through March of every year, employers and universities report wages, scholarships, and tax withheld to the IRS during the previous year and send statements to individuals by March 15th every year. Individuals then determine what the correct amount of tax liability should be through a form call a “tax return form.” The tax return form is due on April 15th every year. That return covers the previous year’s income.

A “tax return” is a form you fill out and send in (either by mail or electronically) to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The form is both for paying taxes that you may owe and also for getting back money that has been taken out of your paycheck.

All international students and scholars and their dependents are required to file at least one tax form with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - the Form 8843.

Even if you did not earn any income in the U.S., you are required to complete an 8843, recording your presence in the U.S.

All nonresident aliens who are presently in the U.S. under F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 non-immigrant status must file Form 8843. 

Form 8843 "Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition" must be filed even if NO income was earned during the tax year. 

Form 8843 must be filed if an individual is:
-present in the U.S. during tax year
-a nonresident alien
-present in the U.S. under F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 status

If an individual meets all three qualifications above, the individual must file Form 8843, regardless of the individual's age and even if the individual is not required to file a U.S. income tax return (Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ).

Every year, the deadline is April 15th (or the next business day after the 15th).

The following types of income are taxable:

  • Scholarship, fellowship or grant from a U.S. source that exceeded the amount of tuition and mandatory fees.
  • Wages from any U.S. job, on-campus or off-campus, including teaching or research assistantship.
  • Consulting fees for work done in the U.S. Dividends and/or capital gains from ownership of U.S. mutual funds or individual stocks or bonds.
  • Any other income (such as rent, royalties, copyright earnings) from U.S. sources EXCEPT for interest earned on a savings account or certificate of deposit in a U.S. bank.

The following types of income are taxable:

  • Scholarship, fellowship or grant from a U.S. source that exceeded the amount of tuition and mandatory fees.
  • Wages from any U.S. job, on-campus or off-campus, including teaching or research assistantship.
  • Consulting fees for work done in the U.S. Dividends and/or capital gains from ownership of U.S. mutual funds or individual stocks or bonds.
  • Any other income (such as rent, royalties, copyright earnings) from U.S. sources EXCEPT for interest earned on a savings account or certificate of deposit in a U.S. bank.

The W-2 form reports your wages you earned and any taxes the employer has withheld from your paycheck for federal or state taxes. If you earned income in the U.S., a W-2 should be sent to you by mid-February every year.

 

Any International student who is under CPT, OPT, or is working on campus must get a W-2 from their company.

If you did not earn wages in the U.S. in the tax year, then you will not be receiving a W-2. If you did earn wages and you have not received one, contact the employer. It is possible that they do not have the correct mailing address for you.

If your employer is Oregon Tech, contact the Oregon Tech Payroll Office at 541.885.1210.

1042-S reports scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards and any other payment made to you for which you did not work (i.e. NOT wages). It also reports earned income (wages) which are exempt from tax because of a tax treaty between your country of citizenship and the U.S. If you received these types of income, you are supposed to receive this form from the payers by March 15th every year. If you are not sure if you will be receiving a 1042-S form, you can contact the Oregon Tech Payroll Office at 541.885.1210.

 

If you did not receive the types of income listed above in the tax year, then you will not be receiving a 1042-S. If you are not sure, contact the Oregon Tech Payroll Office at 541.885.1210 or appropriate employer.

If you think you should have received one only for the tax treaty benefits, you can still claim the benefit of the tax treaty without having the 1042-S form.

Wages you earn in the U.S. that are exempt from tax due to a tax treaty should be reported to you on a 1042-S form.

All students have 1098T information generated for them.

IF they do not have a SSN in the system then your OIT ID# will be printed on the 1098-T.

Students are notified by the OIT Business Office that they are available on their web-for-student account to view and print.

Internationals filing taxes as Non-Residents should IGNORE the 1098-T form. This form is a tax document that reports to the student (and the IRS) tuition charges and financial aid for a calendar year.

For more information, visit https://www.irs.gov/uac/form-1098-t-tuition-statement.

 

To get a 1098-T form -

  1. Go to TECHweb and login with your Oregon Tech account
  2. Go to "Web for Students"
  3. Go to the Student Section
  4. Go to Tax Notification
  5. Print 1098T

Yes, you may apply for an ITIN: Individual Tax Identification Number so that you can file your taxes.

For the first 5 years of being in the U.S. in F-1 status, you do not have to pay social security or medicare. For more information, visit Social Security/Medicare and Self-Employment Tax Liability of Foreign Students.