From: VISA Office
Date: April 12, 2023
Subject: ISS News, April 12, 2023: Holi, Tax Filing Deadline April 18, End of Semester Reminders, ISS' Availability on April 26, Summer Courses, Micro-Internships, Wellness Programs, Good Vibes, and More

April 12, 2023

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in this issue:

ISS Staff Unavailable April 26
Tax Information for 2022- Filing Deadline is April 18
End of Semester Reminders
ISSNews Summer Schedule
Beware of Scams
OPT & CPT Workshops
Features
Campus Happenings
Other Opportunities
Good Vibes Only
Support Resources

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ISS staff members are here to support you!

Please visit our website to learn about the advising options that are available and connect with us so that we can assist you.

pink post it note with schedule change written on it.

ISS Staff Unavailable April 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Center for International Affairs will be hosting the International Achievement Luncheon on April 26.

Staff will also be unavailable between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as everyone will be helping to prepare for the event.

Please plan your visit to ISS when staff members are in the office and able to assist you.

Tax Information for 2022- Filing Deadline is April 18

Forms & Sprintax Availablity

Sprintax is a tax-return-preparation software program designed primarily for international students and other educational visa holders. It can help you prepare your U.S. federal income tax return, which you are legally required to file to the Internal Revenue Service. ISS has arranged free access to Sprintax for your federal tax filing needs.

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

Register and follow the simple instructions
Complete the online questionnaire
Enter Case Western Reserve University’s unique code. This code was sent to you via email on February 7.
Sprintax will prepare your tax return

If Sprintax determines that you are required to file state taxes, you will have the opportunity to prepare those state taxes. You are not required to use Sprintax to file state taxes but, remember, it is your responsibility to comply with the law and properly file all taxes.

If by now, you haven't received your W-2 from CWRU, contact Payroll at payroll@case.edu. If you were authorized to work for another employer, you should contact their payroll department.

For more information regarding the 1098-T, please visit 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 Information on Filing Taxes page and if you have any questions, the Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat function or email hello@sprintax.com. ISS staff members cannot advise you on your questions, which is why we partner with the experts at Sprintax.

Sprintax Offers Tax Webinars to Prepare for Tax Filing Season 2022

ISS partners with the tax experts at Sprintax who offer tax filing services to international students that 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:

Wednesday, April 12, 12pm ET – Register here
Friday, April 14, 2pm ET – Register here

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

An overview of tax for nonresident students and scholars
Who must file a 2021 US tax return
What income forms students may receive
Forms that need to be completed and sent to the IRS
Terms like FICA, ITIN, and Form 1098-T
What happens if students don’t file or misfile
State tax returns
Sprintax overview

keep calm the semester is about to end meme

End of Semester Reminders

If you have thoughts about traveling abroad during the break, be sure to ask yourself these questions:

Do I need to extend my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section. Undergraduates, be sure to list your Dean in Undergraduate Studies (This is not Dean Wolcowitz. If you don't know who your dean is, email ugstudies@case.edu to ask) on your request and graduate students, you should list your academic advisor.

Do I need to transfer my F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record? If you do, read more under the Frequently Asked Questions Section.

Do I need to get a new travel signature on my I-20 or DS-2019? If you do, you can read about that process and other factors related to travel and reentry for F-1 and J-1 students.

Also,

be aware of all travel-related policies. Be sure that you are monitoring all requirements for entry to the United States and complying with university policies related to returning to campus. **If you have any doubts or concerns about your ability to return to the United States by the start of the next semester, ISS recommends that you consider remaining in the United States and not traveling abroad.**
check the validity of the visa in your passport. Some US Embassies and Consulates still have limited services available and there could be significant delays in visa issuances. This delay could significantly affect your ability to return to the United States.
make sure your passport is valid at all times. Please prepare as early as possible if you need to apply for a new passport. There are certain benefits for which F-1 students apply when they are in the United States and the agencies that oversee those benefits often require applicants to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Do you have more questions that you need help answering? Get in touch with ISS staff during advising hours or by email before you leave campus.

Beware of Scams

During the spring, particularly around tax time through university commencement dates, scams are very common. ISS wants to make sure that international students are aware of these scams and know how to protect themselves. Visit our website for more information.

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

OPT & CPT Workshops

ISS is offering Optional Practical Training (OPT) and CPT Workshops to go over in detail the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

Being well informed before applying for either authorization is extremely important and applying early is critical!

USCIS is publishing that it takes 3-5 months to process submitted OPT applications. Plan to complete a required OPT workshop as early as possible to be best prepared. Remember, you do not need to have a job offer to apply for OPT!

You do need to have a job offer before applying for CPT authorization and you are not eligible to begin your experience until you have proper authorization in place. It can take several days to become authorized.

Virtual workshops led by an advisor have been scheduled and information about required registration, attendance, and the application process can be found on our website under the OPT and CPT sections.

basic human needs shown on wooden blocks

Support Resources

The Dean of Students Office and the Case Western Reserve University community are committed to helping students overcome challenges during their academic careers. A website has been developed to host a variety of resources and services, including information about various food pantries for students who are facing food insecurity.

ISSNews Summer Schedule

After Commencement, ISS will continue to publish and send ISSNews to all international students, but not every Wednesday since activity slows significantly during the summer. Please continue to check your CWRU email regularly and read through any ISSNews publications that we do send out. They will include information that is important to be aware of as student visa holders!

ISS will resume its weekly ISSNews publication in August as we all prepare for the Fall semester.

Features

Campus Happenings

Connect with Case Iranian Society!

University Health & Counseling Services Offers Timely Care and a Variety of Other Wellness Programs to Consider

Thursday, April 13
Start	End	Event	Location
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
1:00pm	2:00pm	Balanced Nutrition For All	Online Event
Friday, April 14
12:00pm	1:00pm	T.H.I.N.K. Suicide Prevention Training (Virtual)	Online Event
Monday, April 17
3:00pm	4:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Private Location (register to display)
6:00pm	7:30pm	I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything is Fine.	Private Location (sign in to display)
Thursday, April 20
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
1:00pm	2:00pm	Nutritious Foods and Where to Find Them	Online Event
Monday, April 24
11:00am	2:00pm	FREE STUDENT STI TESTING	TVUC Second Floor Conference Room
12:00pm	1:00pm	T.H.I.N.K. Suicide Prevention Training (In Person)	TVUC Senior Classroom A
3:00pm	4:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Private Location (register to display)
6:00pm	7:30pm	I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything is Fine.	Private Location (sign in to display)
Thursday, April 27
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
Monday, May 1
3:00pm	4:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Private Location (register to display)
6:00pm	7:30pm	I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything is Fine.	Private Location (sign in to display)

Celebrate Legacy Week, April 24 - 29

Legacy Week was established in 2017, to observe and showcase the history of Case Western Reserve University's momentous history. During this week various departments, offices, student organizations, staff and faculty members, and individual students will host various programs and events to bring to light the unique history of CWRU.

To learn more about Legacy Week 2023 and planned events, visit Student Activities and Leadership's Campus Traditions website.

Other Opportunities

Save the Date & Volunteer at the Cleveland Asian Festival

May 20 - 21, 11am - 7pm, AsiaTown | Rain or Shine | FREE Parking at CSU E. 24th & Payne Lots

Applications Open for Global Rising's Class of 2023-2024

Global Cleveland is offering a 9-month program for international newcomers. This program will give you the opportunity to network with other international newcomers and to meet with, as a group, various leaders in our community once a month. The Global Rising Program aims to prepare our region’s foreign-born residents with the skills, knowledge, and tools required to grow and thrive in our community.

For more information visit the Global Rising website.

Good Vibes Only

In this section, we are including some things that we hope will make you laugh and smile, help you relax, be entertaining, give you something to do, etc.

This is a good vibes only section and we're sending them out to you!

Diving on a Paint Covered Trampoline in Slow Mo - The Slow Mo Guys

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