From: VISA Office
Date: March 29, 2023
Subject: ISS News, March 29, 2023: Holi, End of Semester Reminders, Graduate Student Appreciation Week, Submit Nominations for ISAC, Study Abroad Photo Contest, Tax Information, KSL Events, Good Vibes, and More


ISS news header

March 29, 2023

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in this issue:

  1. End of Semester Reminders
  2. OPT & CPT Workshops
  3. Tax Information for 2022 Filing Year
  4. Features
  5. Campus Happenings
  6. Good Vibes Only
  7. Support Resources
  8. OPT & STEM OPT Students- Follow These Simple Steps for Reporting Updates
  9. Other Opportunities

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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.

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.

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 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 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!

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:

  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 7.
  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 logo

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:

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
asia offers tax prep
resources in colorful letters

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

Holi Flyer
isac flyer
Study Abroad Photo Contest
EA flyer transfer credit prep

Campus Happenings

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

Wednesday, March 29
Start End   Event         Location
11:00am 2:00pm FREE STUDENT STI TESTING TVUC Second Floor Conference Room
Monday, April 3
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 6
1:00pm 2:00pm BIPOC Support Space Online Event
Monday, April 10
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)
shine a light flyer
Dance Department Performance Flyer

CWRU Department of Dance Presents Springworks

The Department of Dance at Case Western Reserve University continues its 2022-23 season with the MFA thesis concert Springworks.

The concert features works from MFA candidates El-drick Aboagye, Shadrach Arthur, and Haiyan Chen. The concert includes a collaborative work by the three candidates titled Siblings, which merges different dance styles to create dynamic movement expressions. Additionally, Haiyan Chen presents À l’aube, a female duet exploring the concept of day and night, while Shadrach Arthur premieres Akwantu, a solo work portraying an individual’s journey, and Pressure, an ensemble work that uses live video projections. El-drick Aboagye premieres Coup de Grâce, a work inspired by personal experience, and Amor Eterno, a duet that tells a tale of romance and love.

Springworks will be performed on March 30, 31, and April 1 at 7:30 pm and April 2 at 2:30 pm at Mather Dance Center, 11040 Bellflower Road, on the Case Western Reserve campus in University Circle.

Tickets are $10 for students, $12 for seniors age 60+ and CWRU personnel, and $15 for general admission. For reservations call (216) 368-5246 or visit https://case.edu/artsci/dance/news-and-events/ticket-reservations.

Celebrate Graduate Student Appreciation Week

GSAW flyer for CIA
gcas flyer

EVENT

GSAW Tasty Tuesday: Tea & Chocolate Tasting

Tuesday, April 4
1:00pm - 3:00pm
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As a part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, the Tea & Chocolate Club will co-host a tea and chocolate tasting event. We will taste white, green, oolong, and black teas, and a variety of chocolate bars with 50%, 60%, 70%, 85%, and 90% cocoa. Feel free to bring your own cups for tea. We will provide paper cups.
RSVP

EVENT

GSAW Ball

Saturday, April 8
7:00pm - 11:00pm
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Graduate Student Appreciation Week grand finale
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EVENT

Exploring queer-trans intimacy, disability aesthetics, and community care in JC Pankratz’s Seahorse. A Talk. A Performance. A Gathering.

Tuesday, April 4
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Kelvin Smith Library, Dampeer Room (2nd Floor), 11055 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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In this director’s talk, CWRU Humanities in Leadership Learning Series postdoctoral scholar Nicolas Shannon Savard will describe how feminist performance practice, queer theory, disability aesthetics and principles of community-engaged artmaking informed their approach to the design and the collaborative process. The talk will offer behind-the-scenes insight into how the cast and crew of Seahorse has worked to bring the story to life in a way that prioritizes inclusion, collaboration, community care, and the well-being of both the artists and audience.

Discussion and light refreshments to follow.

This event is sponsored by the CWRU Humanities in Leadership Learning Series and Kelvin Smith Library and is associated with the performances of Seahorse at the Maelstrom theatre on April 7 and 8, 2023.
RSVP

EVENT

Game Night at KSL

Wednesday, April 5
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Kelvin Smith Library, Freedman Center, 1st Floor, 11055 Euclid Ave , Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
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Put away laptops and phones and play old fashioned board games with friends. Refreshments will be provided to keep you fueled and competitive through the night.

A full list of games offered by KSL can be found here: https://researchguides.case.edu/KSLGameNight
RSVP
legacy week logo

Celebrate Legacy Week, April 18 - 23


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

Engl 147 flyer

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!

owl kitty image

Owl Kitty Top Gun

owl kitty image

Owl Kitty in Top Gun
Watch how it was made!

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