Incoming International Student Information
Visas for Studying in the United States
- How do I receive an F-1/J-1 visa?
Students living outside of the U.S. must obtain a passport from their home government and take student visa documents and supporting documentation to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for F-1/J-1 student visa status.
- Who issues your Graduate School Certificate of Eligibility visa application documents in order to receive the F-1/J-1 visa?
The University of Washington Office of Graduate Admissions.
- What if I have been accepted by several U.S. schools?
If you have been accepted by several U.S. schools, DO NOT apply for your F-1 student visa until you decide which school you want to attend. Please only use the University of Washington Graduate School "I-20 Certificate of Eligibility Form" to apply for a visa and enter the U.S. if you are planning to attend our university.
- How do I transfer TO the University of Washington Graduate School FROM another U.S. school?
If you decide to attend the University of Washington from another school in the U.S., you need to complete the "UW-Office of Graduate Admissions Transfer SEVIS Release Form". Send an email request to: gradvisa@grad.washington.edu (include your UW-student number in the email message.)
This form will be completed by you and the International Student Advisor at the U.S. school you are currently attending with your intention to transfer to UW. Your adviser will update your SEVIS record, "releasing" you to study at the UW. Only your current school has access to your SEVIS record, therefore, the UW cannot issue your UW I-20 until AFTER the "release date" has been entered into SEVIS by your current advisor. In most cases, the release date will be the last day of your term at your current school.
- What if I decide to attend a summer program at University of Washington-Educational Outreach-(UWEO), BEFORE starting my graduate program in the fall term at the University of Washington?
If you decide to attend summer program at UWEO, contact the International Student Advisor at UWEO to receive the initial I-20 to enter the U.S. When you have completed the summer program, the International Student Advisor at UWEO will help you with the transfer visa process. (refer to #4 above.)
If you have a question when you receive your visa documents from the Office of Graduate Admissions, please send your question to: gradvisa@grad.washington.edu.
English Language Requirement
Occasionally students with a TOEFL score below 580 (paper-based), 237 (computerized), or 92 (internet-based) or IELTS score below 7.0 are admitted to the LL.M. program on a conditional basis. The condition of admission is attendance at Academic English Program (AEP) courses run by the University of Washington (separate and additional fees apply). Placement in the AEP classes is determined by the scores received on the TOEFLiBT or IELTS. If a TOEFLiBT or IELTS score is not received, the student is required to take the AEP Diagnostic/Placement Test before the beginning of the fall quarter. (See more information about the AEP Diagnostic/Placement Test.) Additionally, students can take the AEP Placement Test to see if they are able to test out of any additional English classes or they may choose to take the TOEFL again. If they receive a TOEFL score higher than 580, 237 or 92, they will need to submit an updated score to Graduate Admissions to be re-evaluated and determine if the English Language requirements will be waived. The LL.M. degree cannot be conferred on a candidate who gains conditional admission before the completion of these compulsory AEP courses. Go to the following link to review the Graduate School English Language Competence Policy: http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/gsmemos/gsmemo08.htm.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
All candidates in the IP program are expected to have a high level of ability in reading, writing and making presentations in English. We recommend that students who are not confident in all of these areas or have a TOEFL score that is close to 580 (paper-based), 237 (computerized) or 92 (internet-based) participate in a summer institute program or English language program. Students may attend any or more than one of the summer programs: Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice, CASRIP Patent and Intellectual Property Law and Practice Summer Institute, and Advanced Academic Preparation Skills (AAPS).
If you choose to attend ANY summer institute program or English language program, the Graduate Admissions Office will not be able to issue visa materials until you have arrived in the U.S. on your summer term I-20 since an international student can be a holder of only one I-20 student application form at a time. At the end of the summer term program, the Graduate Admissions Office will send a transfer of program I-20 to your updated mailing address in Seattle. Also, you must notify the IP Program’s Manager if you decide to participate in any summer institute program.
- Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice
All international candidates in the IP program are encouraged to participate in the Summer Institute in Transnational Law and Practice at the University of Washington School of Law in preparation for the LL.M. program.
The Summer Institute is a two-week intensive non-credit program at the Law School specifically designed to introduce international law students and attorneys to the structure, culture and thinking of the American Legal System. The program focuses on three areas—Introduction to the American Legal System and Practice, Legal Skills and Methodology, and Legal English. Sample topics include the United States Constitution, government branches and sources of law, the criminal and civil court systems and procedures, how to read and brief cases, and persuasive legal writing and argumentation. All will be taught by law faculty and practitioners who are experienced in cross-cultural communication.
Details about the Summer Institute, schedule, accommodations, registration and visa procedures are available at the Summer Institute for Transnational Law and Practice website at: http://www.law.washington.edu/AsianLaw/SummerInstitute/
- CASRIP Patent and Intellectual Property Law and Practice Summer Institute
The Center for Advanced Study and Research in Intellectual Property Summer Institute offers education and training in the fundamentals of United States and international intellectual property law. The Summer Institute provides engineers, attorneys, agents, patent and licensing department staff or others without experience in intellectual property law with a concise and reasonably priced means of acquiring an understanding of this subject area. Because Summer Institute participants typically come from the United States, Japan, Europe, and elsewhere, there are unique opportunities for networking with other international practitioners of intellectual property law. Admitted students to the IP LL.M. Program will receive a 20% discount on the registration fee. Please note that this program will only issue the B-1 visa. For more information go to http://www.law.washington.edu/Casrip/.
- Advanced Academic Preparation Skills (AAPS)
• AAPS is a 5-week academic preparation program that focuses on developing
advanced English language skills students need for successful academic
performance; preparing for academic work in an US graduate program; introduction
to a wide variety of well-known professors and lecturers at the UW; improving
presentation skills by participating in a poster session, a graduate-level
secondary research project and a final oral presentation of that research paper;
increasing awareness of American culture and building a network of peers and
friendships to support students through their life in the US. More information
on this program can be found at:
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/elp/programs/2310/
.
Student Housing Information
There are a variety of housing options available to UW students. Some students may be interested in on-campus housing, but there are also numerous off-campus housing choices as well. International graduate students typically arrive in Seattle and stay in a hotel or with a homestay host family for a short period of time before finding an apartment or other housing. Many neighborhoods in Seattle offer a variety of benefits. Different neighborhoods will be better suited to different needs depending on what is important to you (proximity to the University, transportation options, price, etc.)
- On-Campus Information
The University of Washington offers residence hall accommodations, single-student apartments, family housing, and apartments for married students or students in a registered same sex domestic partnership. For more information on the types of housing available through the University, please visit the Housing and Food Services website at http://hfs.washington.edu. You may also call (206) 543-4059 or email hfsinfo@u.washington.edu and the Student Services Office is located at 301 Schmitz (1400 NE Campus Parkway).
- Off-Campus Information
For listings of off-campus housing, you may go online to any of several Seattle newspaper and look in the classified section.
- Homestay
If you would like to live with a host family for a short time before finding permanent housing, we recommend that you make arrangements through the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS). For more information about homestay programs, please visit the website at http://www.fiuts.org.
Student Insurance Information
Federal and state laws require that international students maintain adequate health insurance while attending the University of Washington. All matriculated international students in F-1 or J-1 status are required to purchase the UW Student Health Insurance Plan.
Orientation Information
The LL.M. Orientation is scheduled for a full day during the week preceding the beginning of the fall quarter. You will then schedule a meeting with both the director and the associate director during this week to discuss registration for fall quarter and your academic plan for the year. All students should plan on participating in these orientation activities.
Expenses
Graduate tuition is typically paid quarterly by students and is due the 3rd Friday of every quarter. 2012-13
tuition rates for the IP LL.M. student will be $800 per credit, in addition to
various administrative fees. Payments must be received by Student Fiscal
Services no later than the tuition due date. Below is an estimate of the
expenses for students for one year:
Estimated fees and expenses
Address Change
Updates to your mailing address can be made at http://www.myuw.washington.edu/.
Intellectual Property Law:
- Bob Gomulkiewicz: (IP LL.M. Program, Director)
- Signe Naeve: (IP LL.M. Program, Associate Director)
- Jennifer Snider: (IP LL.M. Program, Program Manager)