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 & 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.

Tax Deadline in April: 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:

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 1.
4. 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 2021

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 around non-resident tax filing obligations.

• Monday, April 11 @ 12pm EST – Register here
• Thursday, April 14 @ 1pm EST – Register here

• 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

The Center for International Affairs' 10-Year Celebration

Join us as we celebration the 10-Year milestone of the Center for International Affairs at Case Western University.

See our full list of 10-year celebration events.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week
 April 4 - 8

Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) was created in 1993 by the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students to support and appreciate graduate and professional students and to emphasize the contributions, impact, and value they have on college campuses throughout the United States.

The most up-to-date information about the Office of Graduate Student Life's efforts to celebrate CSAW at CWRU can be found on Campus Groups. 

The Department of Dance Presents Imagatorium

Case Western Reserve University's Department of Dance is pleased to announce Imagatorium, the final production of the 2021-22 season, on April 7-9 at 8pm and April 10 at 2:30pm.

The production will feature original works by Master of Arts candidate Haiyan Chen, second-year graduate students El-drick Aboagye and Shadrach Arthur, along with senior capstone choreography by Jamie Muth. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter choreographed by Haiyan Chen and set to music by Elena Kats-Chernin loosely represents the four seasons of the year while drawing upon the distinct artistic personalities of each of the four dancers. B’roq’n Spring, choreographed by El-drick Aboagye, animates and portrays an artist’s endeavors during the creative process. Pure admiration for the baroque era coupled with Aboagye’s appreciation of various genres of art and artists inspired and motivated the creation of this group work. Shadrach Arthur’s Einheit is an abstract choreographic work set on four dancers to a rendition of Philip Glass's Purus River by the Brazilian ensemble Uakti. The consonant harmony, repetitive pulses, and reiteration of phrases create an intoxicating environment that is used to help highlight the sense of togetherness seen in our everyday lives. Silver Soul is a choreographic work by Jamie Muth set on five dancers to a rendition of two musical pieces in Kenji Bunch's Piano Trio series entitled Swing Shift. The work is centered around the theme of how relational connections can inspire a journey of authentic self growth. The use of repetition and spoken word coupled with the performers moving in juxtaposition and in sync creates a space in which the theme of connections can be illustrated and creatively interpreted.

Tickets are $10 for general admission. No reservations are accepted. Visit case.edu/artsci/dance for more information.

**Only those who are fully vaccinated (two weeks past their final dose plus a booster) should attend any Case Western Reserve University campus event. Leaders continue to monitor pandemic developments and may need to adjust health protocols further as circumstances warrant. In-person is subject to change based on COVID-19 guidelines.**

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