From: VISA Office
Date: February 8, 2023
Subject: ISS News, February 8, 2023: OPT & CPT Workshops, H1-B Workshop, Important Tax Information, Financial Wellness Events, Nominate for Global Citizen Awards, Study Abroad Information, Upcoming Career Fairs, Good Vibes, and More

February 8, 2023

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in this issue:

OPT & CPT Workshops
OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates
Winter Weather 101
Tax Information for 2022 Filing Year
Orientation with ISS
Commencement Information
Support Resources
Features
Campus Happenings
Other Opportunities
Good Vibes Only

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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.

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.

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 either OPT or STEM OPT. Here are instructions for you to follow to ensure that both ISS and the U.S. Government receive the information that they need. Follow these simple steps to ensure that your visa status is protected!

winter weather infographic from weather.gov/cold

Winter Weather 101

We want you to stay warm this winter! Be sure that you're dressing appropriately for the Cleveland weather.

Tax Information for 2022 Filing Year

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:

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:

Thursday, February 9, 1pm ET – Register here
Tuesday, February 21, 12pm ET – Register here
Thursday, March 2, 4pm ET – Register here
Wednesday, March 22, 2pm ET – Register here
Wednesday, March 29, 1pm ET – Register here
Thursday, April 6, 3pm ET – Register here
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

Orientation with ISS

Did you miss Orientation with ISS? The orientation session reviews the most fundamental rules and regulations as well as resources that ISS 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," and then look for the item called "ISS Orientation Presentation."

Commencement Information

Make sure you're keeping track of all the important dates and steps for graduation this semester!

Visit the Commencement website and follow the instructions in SIS to apply for graduation too.

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.

Features

Education Abroad Announcements

EVENT

Gilman Writing Workshop #2 - Final Essay Tweaks

Tuesday, March 7
3:00pm - 4:00pm

Private Location (sign in to display)
Link

Add to Google Cal,Outlook,Yahoo,iCal

Bring your essay and let's workshop it together. The more eyes the better so we will share our essays with other applicants to share ideas and add the final tweaks! Essays are due on the 9th (Pacific Standard Time)

RSVP

Campus Happenings

Upcoming Career Fairs

For more information about these upcoming events- open to current and former CWRU students- visit the Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education website.

2023 Virtual Career Fair, Friday, February 17 — Noon to 4 p.m.

2023 Career, Education and Inspiration Expo, Friday, March 3 — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

Wednesday, February 8
Start	End	Event	Location
2:00pm	3:00pm	Rethinking Anxiety and Depression	Online Event
Thursday, February 9
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
Monday, February 13
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, February 16
1:00pm	2:00pm	BIPOC Support Space	Online Event
Monday, February 20
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)
Wednesday, February 22
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)	Kelvin Smith Library

Other Opportunities

PNC's Financial Wellness Offerings in February

Webinar 1: Managing Debt

Date: February 9, 2023 at 4 pm ET

Description: Learn about the most common types of debt, view various debt management strategies and learn how to begin a personal plan for managing your debt.

Webinar 2: Budgeting 2.0: Making Budgets Work

Date: February 22, 2023 at 7 pm ET

Description: Learn to identify your personal obstacles to budgeting, decide short and long-term goals, and manage your day-to-day spending to increase your financial security.

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!

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 fo