Orientation with the VISA Office

Did you miss Orientation with the VISA Office? The orientation session reviews important rules and regulations as well as resources that the VISA Office provides in order to help you maintain your status and enhance your time at Case Western Reserve University.

Log into Terra Dotta (visas.case.edu), find your Check-In Record marked "Committed," go to the "Learning Content" tab, then look for the item called "ISS Orientation Presentation."

OPT & CPT Workshops

The VISA Office is offering Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshops to review the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

It is important to be well informed before you apply.  It is also important to apply early!

OPT is mostly for students who are graduating and wish to work after graduation.  You first have to obtain your OPT I-20 from our office.  Then you must apply for OPT with US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  It takes USCIS 2-3 months to process OPT applications. Plan to complete a required OPT workshop as early as possible to be well prepared. Remember, you do not need a job offer to apply for OPT!

CPT is for currently enrolled students.  For CPT, you have to have a job offer before applying for authorization. You are not eligible to begin your experience until you have CPT authorization in place. It can take several days to become authorized.

Please sign up for a workshop.  Details are below.

USCIS Increases Filing Fees Effective April 1, 2024

Today USCIS published a final rule which will increase filing fees, effective April 1, 2024. While H-1B fees will not increase for nonprofit employers such as CWRU, fees are changing for many other forms, including:
I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (increasing from $370 to $420 for an online filing, and to $470 for a paper filing)
I-612, Application for Waiver of the 212(e) Foreign Residence Requirement (increasing from $930 to $1,100)
I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (increasing from $410 to $470 for an online filing, and to $520 for a paper filing)
I-140, Immigrant Worker Petition (increasing from $700 to $715)

The H-1B registration fee, for H-1B lottery registration, will increase from $10 to $215, and the biometric fee will decrease from $85 to $30. 

You can find more information and a link to the final rule at https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-issues-final-rule-to-adjust-certain-immigration-and-naturalization-fees. 

Please also note that in a separate rule in December, USCIS announced it will raise the premium processing fee, effective February 26, 2024. For more information and the fees for specific applications, visit https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-inflation-adjustment-to-premium-processing-fees. 

Please contact the VISA Office if you have any questions. 

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:

• Thursday, February 8, 1pm ET – Register here
• Tuesday, February 20, 12pm ET – Register here
• Tuesday, March 5, 4pm ET – Register here
• Wednesday, March 20, 2pm ET – Register here
• Wednesday, March 27, 1pm ET – Register here
• Thursday, April 4, 3pm ET – Register here
• Wednesday, April 10, 12pm ET – Register here
• Monday, April 15, 1pm ET – Register here

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

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.

See the links below for other Lunar New Year events in Cleveland:

2024 Lunar New Year Calendar of Events

Cleveland School of the Arts

Tomorrow! WISER LinkedIn & Resume Workshop

Come visit The Women in Science and Engineering Roundable (WISER) for their first general body (GB) meeting of the semester. They will be working on LinkedIn profiles and resumes to help you become more preferable to employers. They will also have a photographer to take professional photos as well.

The event will be held Thursday, February 1, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the TVUC Senior Classroom.

Register here.

Upcoming Career Fairs

Are you exploring career, internship and/or graduate school options? The Career Center will host two career expos during the spring 2024 semester to help you discover opportunities, grow your network and get first-hand information from representatives of top employers and graduate programs.  These events are open to current students and alumni.

2024 Virtual Career Fair, Thursday, February 8 — Noon to 4 p.m.