Current Students

Current Students: All F-1 visa holding students can submit requests, view announcements, send and receive messages to the ISSS team, and find access to relevant resources through the International Gateway.

For any questions about how to use the International Gateway, please message the office through the Messaging Center within the system or contact one of your DSOs.

Gregoria Zamora, Ed.D.

Director/PDSO
940-898-2196
Old Main Building, Rm 112B

CPT, Concurrent enrollment, online class questions, reduced course loads, reinstatement for current students, transferring out of TWU, termination of F1 record, adding dependents, social security letters, and travel endorsements.

Email Dr. Zamora

Valerie Borgfield

Assistant Director/Denton & Dallas DSO
940-898-2237
Old Main Building, Rm 112A

OPT, STEM OPT extension, acceptance process, initial and transfer I-20 requests, pre-arrival information, change of status, change of education level, change of major, program extension requests, letters of verification, Good Neighbor and TPEG scholarship information.

Email Valerie

Please read the following information on the new federal rule replacing Duration of Status with a Fixed Admission Period for all F-1 international students (scheduled effective date September 15, 2026).

The Fixed Admission Period will affect all F-1 visa holders (prospective, currently enrolled, and those on OPT). Please see the ISSS Events and Programs Calendar below for links to scheduled information sessions for students.

Fixed admission period for F-1 international students

The following chart indicates the differences in academic actions and extensions of programs for F-1 students on or after September 15, 2026. This new rule will affect all current F-1 visa holders in the United States and those entering after September 15, 2026. Therefore, please contact your ISSS DSO’s for questions related to your specific situation.

swipe to see the full table⇨

Policy Area	Duration of Status – D/S	Fixed Period of Stay
Admission Period	Students admitted to the U.S. for D/S (duration of status) No fixed end date if maintaining student status	Students admitted to the U.S. with a fixed “Admit Until Date” (AUD), corresponding with I-20 program end date or 4-year limit, whichever is shorter
Staying Beyond the Admit Until Date	Not applicable No end date while student maintains status	Students must depart the U.S. or obtain USCIS-approved Extension of Stay (EOS – Form I-539) before the AUD and/or before the end of the 30-day grace period
Program Extensions (same degree level)	I-20 extensions handled by ISSS based on academic need Limits enforced	USCIS EOS required to complete any program beyond AUD, or leave US and re-enter
Change of Degree Level (e.g. Bachelor’s -> Master’s -> Doctorate)	New I-20 issued by ISSS No EOS required 2nd degrees allowed	USCIS EOS required to remain in the U.S. for a new, higher degree level No lateral 2nd degrees
Undergraduate: Change of Major	Managed by ISSS, and can be requested at any time No impact on status if making academic progress	Undergraduates can only change major after one year in current program. EOS may be required if new major length exceeds approved length of stay
Graduate: Change of Major	Managed internally through ISSS and can be requested at any time No impact on status if making academic progress	Graduate students are prohibited from changing their major/program while in the U.S.
Undergraduate: Transfer to Another Institution	SEVIS Transfer coordinated between schools	Undergraduate transfers can only be approved after student has completed one year in their current program. May require EOS if new program length exceeds approved length of stay
Graduate: Transfer to Another Institution	SEVIS Transfer coordinated between schools	Graduate students are prohibited from transferring to a different school while enrolled in their academic program
Program Completion Grace Period	F-1 students receive a 60-day grace period after their program of study is complete	Grace period of 30-days to remain in the U.S. to either enroll in a new academic program, apply for OPT, change status, or plan to return home. EOS may be required if activity after completion exceeds approved length of stay
OPT	F-1 OPT requires USCIS work authorization, but stay is covered by D/S	After transition period (March 18, 2027) all new OPT applications will require additional I-539 for EOS

Events and programs

Please view the events calendar for dates and times of online information sessions as well as events hosted by, or in partnership with, the TWU International Student & Scholar Services office.

Scholarship information

The TWU scholarship office hosts a database of merit-based, departmental, endowed, and need-based scholarships. International students who are F-1 visa holders are encouraged to apply for scholarships for which they are eligible.

Scholarship/grant opportunities

TWU supports various scholarship and grant opportunities specifically intended for international students. Initial students are eligible for merit-based scholarships only for the first year.

TWU Pioneer Scholarship System

Texas Woman's University awards more than $10 million in scholarships annually which includes merit-based, departmental, endowed, and need-based scholarships. The TWU Pioneer Scholarship System provides a searchable database to identify potential scholarship opportunities.

Citizens of Mexico (Border Nations Waiver)

The Citizens of Mexico (Border Nations Waiver) allows a small number of Mexican citizens demonstrating financial need to pay the resident tuition rate. To apply, students must:

Gather proof of Mexican citizenship
Obtain a copy of their I-20
Submit these documents to the TWU Registrar's Office

Applications are due by the semester census date, which can be determined by reviewing the current academic calendar.

External Scholarships

In addition to scholarships offered by TWU, students are encouraged to seek out external scholarships as well. Please be aware that there may be scholarship scams online. Do not share information about bank accounts, credit/debit card numbers, or social security numbers to scholarships that you have not identified as reputable sites. Search scholarships through large corporations, such as Coca Cola, Sallie Mae, Chick-Fil-A, etc., employing companies you are familiar with, schools or religious organizations and other institutions that you may have a direct connection with. College Board posts some opportunities as well: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search.

Take the time to do additional research into each scholarship listed, its criteria, guidelines, and stipulations.

Student resources

Multiple TWU offices provide resources to enrolled students who are navigating varied academic and developmental paths throughout their time at the university. Although not exhaustive, the list below provides information on frequently accessed resources.

Wellbeing and support services

Campus Alliance for Resource Education

(940) 898-2789

The Campus Alliance for Resource Education (CARE) office is all about providing resources for students with needs such as food insecurity, child care, emergency resources, scholarship programs, and transportation resources.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Denton CAPS, (940) 898-3801,
Houston CAPS, (713) 794-2059
Dallas CAPS, (214) 689-6655

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides mental health services to enrolled students on all three TWU campuses. Their mission is to support the development of the whole person by fostering student resiliency, emotional wellbeing, interpersonal effectiveness, and academic success.

Disability Services for Students

(940) 898-3835

Disability Services for Students (DSS) works with all people of the TWU community: faculty, staff, students, and guests, to provide accessibility and accommodations to TWU students that need it and to educate the overall TWU community on disability inclusion. They provide accommodations for both faculty and staff, everything from assistance for exams to campus resources. DSS also assists with having service animals on campus and provides a guide to doing so here: Guide to Animals on Campus

Student Health Services

(940) 898-3826

Student Health Services provides many health resources and services for students such as telehealth appointments, mental health resources, an on-campus medical staff, health promotion for presentations regarding student health, and resources for emergencies/after hours sites. For more information, see the SHS website.

Academic & career services

Academic Testing Services

(940) 898-2961

The testing center offers proctored tests to students and members of the community who are wanting to take the CLEP, TSI, and Pearson VUE exams. If you need to take one of these tests, call the center or send an email to them to schedule an appointment.

Career Connections Center

(940) 898-2950

The Career Connections Center provides students with many career preparedness resources such as one-on-one consultations with their career consultants, resume and cover letter prep, dress prep for job interviews, self-assessments to see your individual values as it relates to your career, career fairs, mock interviews, and other events to help you with anything you need to take the next step in your professional career!

As international students are looking for CPT or OPT opportunities, you can work with a Career Connections consultant to help you with the skills listed above. However, Career Connections is not a job placement office, nor do they have all of the information needed to answer questions about F1 student employment regulations. Please reach out to the ISSS office with questions.

Pioneer Center for Student Excellence

Denton (940) 898-3755
Dallas (214) 689-6687
Houston (713) 794-2031

The Pioneer Center for Student Excellence provides resources and services to students on all three TWU campuses. These include academic coaching, academic advising, internships, experiential learning opportunities, dissertation boot camp, three-minute thesis programs for master and doctoral students, TRiO student support services, the McNair Scholars program, and the Promise Summer Bridge program. Regardless of major and degree program, the Pioneer Center is here to assist all students.

Tutoring centers

Dr. Don Edwards Mathematics and Technology Success Center

(940) 898-2169

The Mathematics and Technology Center is a tutoring center offered to students who are enrolled in math, technology, and statistics courses. They provide both group and individual tutoring and are both in-person and virtual. Their mission is to help students in these courses help reach their academic goals. For more information on their specific hours and tutors, please visit the website or contact Paul Ingram, the tutoring coordinator at pingram@twu.edu.

Science Learning Resource Center

(940) 898-2553

The SLRC assists students with science courses by giving them access to tutoring, textbooks, microscopes, a printer, and more resources to help with success in understanding their homework. Students are able to sign up for group tutoring sessions online.

The Write Site

(940) 898-2341

The Write Site is a tutoring center that provides both one-on-one and group writing tutoring. They can help students with any part of the writing process both in-person and online through Online Writing Lab (OWL). Registration and appointment instructions may be found on their website.

Page last updated 8:53 AM, August 5, 2026