From: VISA Office
Date: January 17
Subject: VISA News: Introducing Office of International Student Resources and Engagement (OISRE), VISA Office Reminders and MORE


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VISA Office Information

The VISA Office is open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.  We are located in Crawford Hall, Suite 215.

On Monday, Thursday, and Friday, we have virtual chat advising available from 11am to 1pm.  Access virtual chat from our website here.

You are also welcome to contact us for an in-person, phone, or virtual appointment.  Please email visa@case.edu to request an appointment or schedule from our website here.

Introducing: Office of International Student Resources and Engagement (OISRE)

The Office of International Student Resources and Engagement (OISRE) is now open in Tomlinson 143. 

OISRE is dedicated to ensuring international students have transformative experiences through the delivery of quality, intentional, and creative activities and events. The office will collaborate with international and cultural student organizations to foster a vibrant, inclusive community of global citizens. OISRE's purpose is to offer non-academic support such as assistance in opening a bank account, obtaining a driver’s license or state identification (ID), understanding your landlord/tenant lease/contract, as well as celebrating fun, cultural events such as Lunar New Year and Holi!

OISRE values a welcoming community of inclusivity and curiosity, ensuring all international students are prepared to thrive in an interconnected world.

For any questions, please contact OISRE at: international@case.edu or 216-368-2517

Meet OISRE Staff

Churyl Croone, Director, OISRE
 

MNO, Master of Nonprofit Management, Executive Leadership Development Experience (ELDE) graduate
 

Experienced international admissions counselor/recruiter in China and southeast Asia, ESL educator, career advisor focused on undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, instructor for First Year Experience, and professional development workshop leader

"As a student affairs professional, I am an enthusiastic bridge builder connecting students, faculty, and staff in order to advance cultural awareness and global competency."



 

Yassine Echcherki, Associate Director, OISRE

MS in Administrative Management and Information Technology with a specialization in Data Analytics
 

Expertise in business relationships, international partnerships, program management, metrics, KPIs, and market analysis
 

"I strongly believe in the power of cross-cultural education and international learning opportunities as catalysts for promoting peace and fostering meaningful friendships."

VISA Office Reminders

Check in

Check In with the VISA Office

If you are new to CWRU or beginning a new program at CWRU this semester, you need to check in online as part of the process to maintain your visa status.  This includes change of educational level students and students transferring their SEVIS record to CWRU.

To Check In:

Please access the Instructions on How to Check In and complete the process. Please note that you:

  • check in online AFTER you arrive in the US with your valid I-20 or DS-2019

  • must complete the check-in process as soon as possible. The VISA Office uses this information to comply with the US Government's time-sensitive reporting requirements related to your SEVIS record. If there is a delay, please notify us immediately

We cannot process any on-campus employment or Social Security Number paperwork until you have been checked in.

 

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Registration & Your Visa Status

We know that the start of a semester is an exciting, busy time for students and the VISA Office wants to help everyone get off to a good start!

As an F-1 or J-1 student you are required to register full-time every semester while you're studying in the United States. This is mandatory by US Federal Regulations.

There are very few exceptions to full-time  requirements and only the VISA Office can determine whether you qualify for one of them. Always register full-time and never drop below a full-time courseload without first speaking with an advisor in the VISA Office. Improper registration could have serious consequences for your visa status, including termination,

We will be verifying each student's registration over the next several weeks. If we detect a problem with your registration or have questions, we will be contacting you by email. It's extremely important that you follow up with us promptly and work to quickly resolve the matter so that your visa status is not negatively impacted.

If you have questions, contact our office at visa@case.edu or stop by Crawford Hall, Suite 215, M - F, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

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Working as an International Student

Found a job on campus? Thinking about gaining experience off-campus? Wondering what to do now? The VISA Office is here to help!

All international students must be properly authorized to work by our office before they may work on or off-campus.  NEVER BEGIN WORK until you’ve received approval from the VISA Office.

It is very important that you follow all steps as described and do so in a timely manner. Failure to complete the required paperwork can result in you not being paid for work you've done, loss of work permission privileges, or even the termination of your visa status!

You will find a lot of helpful information about working on our website.

 And please remember, only the VISA Office can advise you about employment and the impact it can have on your immigration status.

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Update Your Address in SIS

Federal regulations require that all international students report their current US address to SEVIS and any changes to your US address within 10 days of the change. It is also important that the university has your current address on file at all times.

The best way to ensure that you are complying with federal regulations and university policy is to check your address for accuracy in SIS and report any changes through SIS. Information in SIS is shared with the VISA Office's system (Terra Dotta) and then those changes of information get updated into SEVIS.

Ensuring that information is always reported to and updated in SIS ensures that you will always get the information that you need from CWRU and that you are properly maintaining your status as a student visa holder. Failure to report your address properly is a violation of status that can have serious consequences.

Please see the information here on how to update SIS with your current address.

Tax Information for 2023 Filing Year

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Important Tax Info: Get Your W-2

The W-2 is a critical document for properly filing taxes. Every year between January and February, the university generates W-2 documents for individuals who have earned income from CWRU.

When your W-2 is generated, it's sent to your Permanent Address as listed in SIS.  For international students, this is often a foreign address.  

If your Permanent Address is correct, but you would prefer to have your W-2 sent to another address, for example a US address, it is necessary for you to include that address under the W-2 Override option in SIS.  Using the W-2 Override function will maintain the integrity of your Permanent Address information and ensure that you receive your W-2 at the different, preferred address. 

See more W-2 information here: https://case.edu/controller/payroll

Please contact Payroll if you have questions about receiving your W-2.

 

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Sprintax Offers Tax Webinars to Prepare for Tax Filing Season 2023

The VISA Office partners with the tax experts at Sprintax, who offer tax filing services to international students who are considered non-resident aliens for tax purposes. The Sprintax team will be hosting a series of free open tax webinars to provide helpful information about non-resident tax filing obligations.

You can find the details and registration links below for each:

 

The informational webinars will cover the same topics on each occasion:

  • An overview of tax for nonresident students and scholars for the 2023 tax season
  • Who must file
  • Tax residency
  • FICA
  • State returns
  • Implications of misfiling
  • How to use Sprintax to prepare a compliant tax return

Upcoming Events

OISRE Open House/Welcome Party

 

On Wednesday, January 31 from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, stop by the Tomlinson lobby for danishes and refreshments.

Register on CampusGroups for a free giveaway!

Lunar New Year - Year of the Dragon


Friday, February 9 from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Tinkham Veale University Center Lobby.  Hosted by OISRE.

OISRE staff will hand out red envelopes with good luck coins (chocolates) in honor of  Year of the Dragon.  There will be additional giveaways  and a photo opportunity with the Lunar New Year Dragon.  VISA Office staff will also attend!

Students are encouraged to send their photos to international@case.edu for a chance to be featured on social media or on the website.
 

Features

Important for All Grad Students: Health Insurance Survey

The Graduate Council for Arts and Sciences is offering this health insurance survey to graduate students in an effort to understand what works, what doesn't, and how we can better advocate for a quality health plan that meets all student needs. Please complete this survey whether or not you use the student health insurance! It's important for us to understand why students may have chosen other insurance or be uninsured. Depending on how many comments you offer, the survey should take 10-15 minutes. Please complete it by January 30th. https://cwru.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9B6u0R1FfBGRKNE

If you would like to promote your event or opportunity through VISA News, please make a complete submission (including flyers, images, details, etc.) for consideration by noon on Monday to visa@case.edu. The VISA Office cannot guarantee that all submissions will appear in the newsletter, as space is limited, but staff will review all timely submissions for consideration.