International Student Services
The Office of International Student Services (ISS) provides support services for prospective, incoming, and current F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
- Step 1: Applying to UAA
In order to receive an I-20 you must be admitted to a degree program at UAA.
For more information regarding the admission requirements, please go to the Admissions' web page.
English Proficiency:
All international students must show that they have obtained a certain level of English Proficiency.
Associate and Bachelor Degree Applicants:
Minimum TOEFL Score: 45 iBTMinimum IELTS Score: 5.0 Overall BandMaster and Doctoral Degree Applicants:
Minimum TOEFL Score: 79 iBTMinimum IELTS Score: 6.0 Overall Band
An English Proficiency Examination Exemption Request Form may be submitted if the student:
- Is a Native English Language Speaker
- Has attended a regionally accredited US college or university, and has
- received a "C" or better in a course equivalent to UAA's English 111 course, or
- obtained a Bachelor or Master Degree
UAA does not offer conditional admission due to incomplete or low English Proficiency Test Scores.
- Step 2: Creating your I-20
To obtain an I-20 you must have been admitted to UAA, and provided the Office of International Student Services with adequate proof of funding.
You must show that you have the ability to fund yourself for a minimum of one year while attending UAA. This includes tuition and fees, lodging and meals, and everyday expenses including health insurance.
Detailed information can be found by accessing the Affidavit of Financial Support located on our Forms page.
International Students are not eligible for Financial Aid, and must personally secure their own funding.
- Step 3: Getting your I-20 and Visa
Once you have been admitted to UAA and you have provided proof of your financial support, an I-20 will be created for you.
You will be emailed information to verify that your document is correct, and you will be provided with instructions on receiving the document with the use of eShipGlobal.
ISS will send you your acceptance packet which will include your I-20 and information on paying your SEVIS fee and arranging a visa interview.
- Semester Check-In
Students must let International Student Services know that they are on campus every semester.
Students must fill out a Check-In form and give it directly to a member of the ISS staff within the first two weeks of classes every Fall and Spring semester.
Students who do not check-in will not be registered in SEVIS, which will result in the termination of their student status.
In addition to the Check-In form, students must provide their health insurance coverage information to ISS every semester.
Students are encouraged to purchase the health insurance offered to UAA by PGH Global www.pghintlstudent.com .
If students do not purchase this insurance they must provide an insurance waiver form and detailed information showing their insurance coverage by the end of the check-in period.
International Student Health Insurance must include:
- $100,000 medical benefits per accident or illness
- Deductible of $500 or less
- Medical Evacuation coverage of at least $50,000
- Repatriation coverage of at least $25,000
Students who do not provide ISS with the proper health insurance coverage information may be subject to a hold on their student account until it is provided.
Students traveling outside the US must have the second page of their I-20 endorsed by a Designated School Official.
A signature is good for one year; however, students traveling over summer break should get it signed before they leave.
Students should email international@uaa.alaska.edu within 10 days of changing their address. - Coursework
Students are required to be in a degree program and take a full-course of study every semester.
Must be in at least 12 credit hours. Student may apply only one online class (3 credits or less) to this requirement.Must meet the full-time requirements for their program. This generally consists of 6 or 9 credit hours. Students may apply only one online class (3 credits or less) to this requirement.Students in their final semester may take less than a full-course of study if they do not need additional courses to graduate.
Students must be in at least 1 credit in a traditional course during their last term.
Summer is considered a vacation term for students. Students do not need to be enrolled during the summer, however, they can enroll in classes if they choose to do so.
- Employment
Students may work on campus up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session.
During breaks and vacation periods, students are permitted to work up to 40 hours per week.
Students may enroll in internships during their studies at UAA. Undergraduate students must have attended UAA for a minimum of 1 year before enrolling in an internship.
Students must be getting course credit and will arrange the details of their internship with their academic advisor and the Career Development Center.
- Taxes
US taxes are filed every year for the previous year’s earnings.
Persons in the US at any point in a calendar year are required to provide the IRS with tax documents the following year.
F-1 and J-1 students are able to apply for an exemption to be treated as non-residents for US tax purposes. Persons are able to apply for this exemption up to 5 times in their life. This exemption must be formally requested by providing Form 8843 to the IRS.
Persons who have been in the US in more than 5 calendar years should seek professional tax advice and will use the Substantial Presence Test to determine if they are a resident for tax purposes.
Students who were in the US for any part of the year and have not worked in the US, and who have not had any scholarship provided to them during the year, should complete and file Form 8843 with the IRS by June 15 the following year.Students who worked in the US during any part of the year must file a 1040NR/EZ and Form 8843 by April 15 of the following year.Students who have received a scholarship that includes money for room and board will receive a 1042-S in March from UA and must file a 1040NR/EZ and Form 8843 by April 15 of the following year.
All other scholarship recipients must file a Form 8843 by June 15 of the following year.
- Transferring to Another US School
Students who transfer to another US school need to have their SEVIS record transferred from UAA to their new school.
Student must provide proof of admission to the new school before UAA will transfer the SEVIS record.
- Work Authorization after Graduation (OPT)
Students may work in the US for one year after they graduate. OPT may take place anywhere in the US and the work experience must relate to their degree.
Students must apply through ISS and may begin their application no earlier than 90 days before their program end date.
Students in certain science, technology, engineering or math fields may apply for a 2 year extension to their regular OPT.
This extension may not be filed more than 120 days before the end of regular OPT.