University of Washington

Visiting your child at UW means flying into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), about 18-20 miles south of campus. Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is the international gateway, about 18-20 miles south of the city. The Link light rail 1 Line runs from inside the airport up through Seattle; Sound Transit/King County Metro buses and the Seattle Streetcar cover the rest. Tap with an ORCA card. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from SEA to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.

• Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
• You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
• The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
• Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.

Just admitted to UW? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) - ~18-20 miles south of campus.
• From SEA, the Link light rail 1 Line to University of Washington Station (~$3.25) is the easy budget route.
• Once enrolled, use the Husky Card U-Pass for unlimited Link and Metro transit.
• Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
• Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.

Seattle is expensive but cheaper than the Bay Area or NYC for comparable city life - figure about $1,800-2,600 a month all-in sharing and cooking. A real edge for students here: the UW U-PASS gives University of Washington students unlimited light rail, bus and ferry for around $54 a month, and the light rail runs from campus straight to the airport. Living in Renton, Bellevue or South Seattle trims rent.

Monthly cost of living in Seattle (a student estimate)

That's roughly $22,000-31,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Seattle rent is high but eases outside the centre. Most students share apartments on a transit line, or take UW housing for the first year.

• UW students: the U-PASS (~$54/mo) covers unlimited transit and is far cheaper than a standard ORCA pass.
• The light rail links the U-District, downtown and Sea-Tac airport - live near a station to skip a car.
• UW NightRide runs a free late-night shuttle - useful for safe evening travel.

Working part-time

On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.

Safety & student support

Seattle is generally safe in campus and residential areas; use normal big-city awareness downtown and at night, and research the specific neighbourhood.

• UW runs security escorts, the free UW NightRide shuttle and safety apps - use them after dark.
• The U-District and Eastside suburbs (Bellevue, Redmond) are well-regarded; parts of downtown need more caution at night.
• Property crime (car break-ins, package/phone theft) is the most common issue - don't leave valuables visible.

Indian community & food

The Seattle area has a large and growing Indian community, especially on the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond) thanks to the tech sector - groceries, temples and restaurants are easy to find.

Indian grocery stores

• Mayuri and Apna Bazar on the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond) - large desi supermarkets, some with a hot-food cafe.
• Spice SPC and Pride India Groceries in Seattle proper for students near the U-District.
• India Bazaar and Bombay Grocers in Kent for a bigger south-end shop.

Student community

• UW has a large, active Indian/South Asian student community with major Diwali/Holi events.
• The Eastside (Bellevue/Redmond) tech corridor hosts large Indian cultural events and several temples.

• Plenty of Indian restaurants on the Eastside, in the U-District and across Seattle.

Cost & living figures for Seattle last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.