From: VISA Office
Date: March 20
Subject: VISA News: Scam Alert, Employment-Based Visa Updates, Ramadan, Career Fair, and MORE


VISA News

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.

Please note: Starting this week, we will be adding items related to employment-based visas to the VISA News. Scroll down for more information. 

OPT and CPT workshop branding telling students that workshops are available online

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 an Employment Authorization Document  from US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), which is required to begin work on OPT. It takes USCIS 3-4 months to process EAD applications. You must complete an OPT workshop to obtain an OPT I-20 from the VISA Office, so we strongly recommend that you attend a workshop as early as possible if you plan to apply for OPT this semester. 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!  You can sign up here.

opt wordle

OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates

Reporting related to your personal contact and employment information is a critical part of maintaining status while authorized for OPT or STEM OPT. Our website has instructions for you to follow to ensure that both the VISA Office and the U.S. Government receive the required information.  You will find detailed instructions on reporting requirements here.

housing rental scam alert- flyer

Beware of Housing and Rental Scams


As you begin preparing for summertime and, perhaps, living off campus, be very careful searching for apartments online! Keep in mind that if someone is pressuring you to send money without a signed lease, rushing you to move in before you see the apartment, or promising ridiculously low rent, that is likely a scam. (More ways to spot a rental scam.)
 
Never give your bank account information, Social Security number, or other identifying information to someone you have never met in person. Use an app like PayPal, which protects your information, and use the "payment to a business" option to ensure payment protection on your transaction. If someone pressures you to give them your information, it is most likely a scam.
 
If you think you are the victim of a scam, please contact the Office of International Student Resources and Engagement (OISRE) at international@case.edu or CWRU Public Safety at publicsafety@case.edu for assistance.

Scams Targeting International Students and Scholars


Be very cautious of any kinds of scam calls and threats specifically if you are here on a visa.

 

There have been many incidents where scammers call individuals on a visa identifying as a USCIS or Homeland Security employee or IRS and ask for payments. Federal government entities will never call you and if there is a problem or mistake in documentation they will mail you. So, please be very careful with scam calls. 

See below for links to more information:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2022/06/international-students-be-aware-of-potential-scammers

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pr/2022/dojpr-082922-fraud-alert-department-homeland-security-impersonation-schemes.pdf

Tax Information for 2023 Filing Year

Tax Deadline is April 15: Forms & Sprintax Availablity

Sprintax is a tax-return-preparation software program designed primarily for international students and scholars. It can help you prepare your U.S. federal income tax return, which you are legally required to file to the Internal Revenue Service.  The VISA Office has arranged for a limited number of coupons for free access to Sprintax for your federal tax filing needs.

You may access Sprintax and begin preparing your tax return by following these steps:

  1. Register and follow the simple instructions
  2. Complete the online questionnaire
  3. Enter Case Western Reserve University’s unique code. This code was sent to you via email on February 6.
  4. Sprintax will prepare your tax return

If Sprintax determines that you are required to file a state tax return, you may use Sprintax to file your state return at your own expense. You are not required to use Sprintax to file your tax returns but, remember, it is your responsibility to comply with the law and properly file all required tax returns. 

If you haven't yet received your Form W-2 from CWRU, contact Payroll at payroll@case.edu.

For more information regarding the 1098-T, please visit the Financial Services website to download the Nonresident Alien 1098-T Request Form.

1042-S forms will be prepared by mid-March and sent to students by Payroll. Please contact Payroll if you have questions about the issuance of your 1042-S.

For more information, visit our International Tax Resources page and if you have any questions, the Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat function or via email at hello@sprintax.com. Remember, VISA Office staff members cannot advise you on tax questions, so please reach out to Sprintax for help.
 

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
Employment-Based Visa Updates
Stateside VISA Renewal Pilot Program
 
The U.S. Department of State has started a pilot program to resume issuance of visa renewals within the United States. The previous domestic visa renewal program ended after September 11, 2001. Currently, the program is available only for individuals whose last H-1B visa was issued in India or Canada. Application slots for domestic visa renewals for qualified H-1B nonimmigrant visa applicants will be available until all application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first. Application volume has been lower than anticipated and DOS has been able to process cases in seven days on average, much faster than the predicted 6 to 8 weeks. Click here for an overview of the program, and here for a tool to check your eligibility. We are hopeful that DOS will allow domestic visa renewal for more applications in the future.
 
Filing Fee Increase
 
A reminder that USCIS filing fees will increase effective April 1. Applications received by USCIS on or after April 1 must be accompanied by the new filing fee. You can find more information as well as a fee calculator at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees. Note that H-1B filing fees for H-1Bs filed by CWRU will not increase. USCIS has created a new fee for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, which is the same as the current fee. 
OISRE Updates

Financial Wellness Workshop and Info 

Student Webinar: Identity Theft 

Available on demand (34 minutes) 

Description: Learn how identity thieves can steal your personal information, what's at risk when they do, and how to recognize common scams.

A PNC representative will conduct an in-person workshop March 22 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm in Nord Hall, Room 356 as a follow-up to the recorded presentation and help answer your questions on staying safe from identity thieves. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided. Register here. 
 

Improve your financial health in 2024! Be sure to join free financial education workshops provided by PNC’s My Finance Academy. Find the full spring schedule of webinars and registration at pnc.com/myfinanceacademy.

Ramadan Started on March 11

Ramadan begins a full month of fasting from sunrise to sunset for the Muslim community. It will overlap with Arab American Heritage month in April and will end with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr. 

 

CWRU Dining Services will be offering Suhoor and Iftar 'to-go' boxes in Fribley and Leutner Dining Halls. See The Daily for more details. For information about the menu and pick up details, please use this link.  

 

OISRE wishes those who observe to have a reflective and peaceful Ramadan! 

Happy Nowruz!

Nowruz means "New Day,' and is the Iranian or Kurdish New Year celebrated by various ethnic groups. The festival is based on the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, usually on the spring equinox, which this year was March 19.
 

(Pictured above is the Google Doodle of the Day in observation of Nowruz)

Cleveland International Film Festival

The 48th Cleveland International Film Festival, or CIFF48, will take place April 3-13, 2024 at Playhouse Square, followed by CIFF48 Streams, presented by PNC, April 14-21, 2024 online.

The in-person Festival will showcase 137 feature films and 225 short films representing 60 countries during its 11-day run. CIFF48 Streams will present more than half of the Festival’s in-person feature films, along with nearly its full lineup of in-person short films. Tickets go on sale on Friday, March 22nd at 11:00 am (EST). 

https://www.clevelandfilm.org/

Buddhist Film Festival

Enjoy this virtual film festival. Your ticket will grant you access to nine Buddhist films that you can watch until March 24. 

The Welcome Center - Cleveland

Over 120 nationalities are represented in Cleveland. This Center provides resources to those with limited English proficiency, refugees, and immigrant populations. 

Features

Campus Happenings

CWRU's Theater Department will Perform Cabaret!

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to Cabaret, the Tony Award Winning Musical, coming to CWRU – The first musical to perform in the Roe Green Theatre!

A young American writer finds his world turned upside down when he enters the free-wheeling, hedonistic world of the Kit-Kat Club in 1930s Weimar Berlin.  A sensational journey set amongst the turmoil of a pre-World War II Germany, Cabaret has been exciting audiences for decades.

Get your tickets now and maybe this time, you’ll be lucky enough to see this powerful production.  Tickets start at just $5.  Reserve today!

April 12, 13, 19, 20 at 7:30PM
April 14, 21 at 3PM

Theater.case.edu/tickets for more information.

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.