January 22, 2025

In this issue:

1. Registration & Your Visa Status
2. Waiver of Registration Information
3. Check In with the VISA Office
4. Remember to apply for CPT!
5. Tax Information for 2024 Filing Year
6. Get your W-2
7. Sprintax Webinars
8. OISRE Updates
9. Donate or Receive a Winter Coat
10. Campus Act Grant- Deadline is Today
11. Get Moving!
12. Films about the Refugee Experience
13. Winter Bucket List
14. Spoken English Language Programs
15. Free One-to-One Spoken English Session
16. Looking for an Internship?

VISA Office Information

The VISA Office is open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday. We are located in Crawford Hall, Suite 215.

We have virtual chat advising available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 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.

Registration & Your Visa Status

As the university's deadline for the drop/add period approaches (it's this Friday!), the VISA Office wants to remind you that, as international students, US regulations require you to be properly registered for a full-time course load while you're studying in the United States as an F-1 or a J-1 student. 

There are very few exceptions to full-time registration requirements and only the VISA Office can determine whether you qualify for one of them. Always register full-time and never drop below a full-time courseload without first speaking with an advisor in the VISA Office. Improper registration could have serious consequences, including termination, for your visa status.

We will be verifying each student's registration over the next several weeks. If we detect a problem with your registration or have questions, we will be contacting you by email. It's extremely important that you follow up with us promptly and work to quickly resolve the matter so that your visa status is not negatively impacted.

If you have questions, never hesitate to contact our office at visa@case.edu or get in touch during advising hours!

Graduate Students: Waiver of Registration Information

If you are a graduate student planning to submit a Waiver of Registration for the Spring 2025 semester, it is essential that you understand the impact of this decision on your visa status. The Waiver of Registration is an administrative process of the university, but does not count as registration for F-1 and J-1 students. Proper registration is required to maintain your visa status. If you are not properly registered, you need to take other steps to maintain your visa status.

F-1 students:

• If you submit a Waiver of Registration, the VISA Office will shorten the length of your I-20 to reflect the Drop/Add deadline. Your legal status in the US actually becomes shorter because it is now based on this Drop/Add deadline rather than your future intended graduation date.
• In order to maintain your visa status after submitting a Waiver of Registration, you must apply for OPT or maker other arrangements in a timely manner.

Please note:

OPT applications must be submitted within 90 days before or 60 days after the new I-20 end date (based on the drop/add deadline). Don't forget, it takes at least 90 days for an OPT application to be processed.

If you do not intend to maintain your status either through OPT or other action on your I-20, you are required to leave the United States within 60 days of the Drop/Add deadline (which is your 60 day grace period).

If you are a J-1 student, please contact the VISA Office with questions related to Waiver of Registration.

Check In with the VISA Office

To Check In:

If you will be on campus this semester to begin your program, please log into Terra Dotta and go to "Requests". Scroll down to "International Student Check In".

• check in online AFTER you arrive in the US with your valid I-20 or DS-2019

We cannot process any on-campus employment or Social Security Number paperwork until you have been checked in.

F-1 Students:  Considering an internship, co-op, or other practical training this spring? Remember to apply for CPT!

F-1 students are required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) in order to begin off-campus training or employment, such as internships and co-ops. You must obtain the authorization BEFORE you start working. If you have any questions about CPT, contact us at visa@case.edu.

Also see our website for our CPT presentation and  application: https://case.edu/visa/forms-and-resources/student-forms-and-resources

The Spring semester CPT workshop schedule will be announced soon. Look for more information in VISA News, including dates and times, in the coming weeks.

Engineering students: Please note that if you are interested in a summer 2025 co-op, you can start the process with the co-op office now. Please see their webpage for more information: https://engineering.case.edu/engineering-coop-program/training-international-students

Tax Information for the 2024 Filing Year

Important Tax Info: Make Sure You Get Your W-2

Form W-2 is a critical document for properly filing taxes. At the start of every calendar year, the university generates W-2 documents for individuals who have earned income from CWRU. For the 2024 tax year, the university will generate W-2s by January 31, 2025.

For students currently working on campus and active in HCM, you can access your W-2 electronically in HCM. All other students and recent graduates will have their W-2s sent by mail to the address they have on file in SIS as their W-2 address. If you didn't indicate a W-2 address in SIS, then the W-2 will be sent to your permanent address.

If you have questions about your W-2, please contact Payroll at payroll@case.edu.

See the announcement about W-2s from The Daily here: https://thedaily.case.edu/sign-up-to-receive-your-w-2-in-electronic-format-w-2s-to-be-sent-by-jan-31/

See more W-2 information here: https://case.edu/controller/payroll/tax-information/form-w-2-year-end

OISRE Updates

OISRE Office Information

The Office of International Student Resources & Engagement (OISRE) helps international students adapt to life in the US. They offer support services and plan events for international students and the campus community.

OISRE is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. They also have drop-in hours on Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm in Tomlinson Hall, Room 143.

You can reach them at international@case.edu or call 216-368-2517.

Check their website for events. If you see an activity of interest, click on the link and pre-register in CampusGroups so they can get an accurate headcount for shuttles, etc.

Donate or Receive a Winter Coat

As announced in The Daily, Campus Ministry, United Protestant Campus Ministries, Muslim Student Association and the Office of International Student Resources and Engagement are hosting a coat drive through the end of January.

Those who need a winter coat or who would like to donate can stop by the Creche at Church of the Covenant during drop-in hours Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. To visit, enter through the bell tower doors.

For more information, contact Katherine Chilcote at kchilcote@covenantweb.org.

Campus Act Grant- Today Is the Deadline to Apply!

Recognized student organizations in good standing at Case Western Reserve University are invited to submit applications for the Ohio Department of Education’s Campus Community Grant Program. With an availability of up to $1 million for institutionally recognized student organizations in Ohio, each grant could provide a maximum of $25,000 per awarded proposal.

This grant program is available through Senate Bill 94, which included the CAMPUS Act. Learn more and apply here.  Today is the deadline to apply!

If you have questions or would like assistance in applying to the grant program, please reach out to deanofstudents@case.edu or call 216.368.1527.

Get Moving!

Graduate students can enjoy deeply discounted rates at One to One Fitness Center until January 24!  Check out the details here: https://case.edu/onetoone/memberships/graduate

Films about the Refugee Experience

Join the Cleveland Heights Library at Lee Road for a 4-night film series exploring the refugee experience.  The showings are held at the Cleveland Heights Library location at 2345 Lee Road.

Register at https://events.heightslibrary.org/event/13171962.

Other Opportunities

One-to-One Spoken English Sessions

Are you a student interested in improving your spoken English?

Do you want to work on:

• Accent or pronunciation?
• Ways of expression?
• Spoken English comprehensibility?

A PhD student and speech-language pathologist at CWRU is offering one-to-one spoken English sessions free of charge!

For more information and to register, click here:  https://cwru.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NK8BHpY3NWPBC6?Q_CHL=qr

(This event is in collaboration with the Spoken English Language Program at CWRU.)