International Students Can Recieve COVID-19 Vaccine

As of Monday, March 29, all residents of Ohio ages 16 and older can receive the vaccine. 

International students at Case Western Reserve University are considered residents of Ohio. That means all international students at CWRU are now able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine.

April 23, Classes Canceled, University Closed

Tax Deadline Extended to May: 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 and assist you in preparing Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ.  In a recent blog post, Sprintax staff explain the IRS' tax filing deadline extension to May 17.

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 17.
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 were prepared in 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 2020 

ISS partners with Sprintax to provide international students, who are considered non-resident aliens for tax purposes, with expert assistance when filing their US taxes.

The Sprintax team will be hosting a series of free open tax webinars to provide helpful information around non-resident tax filing obligations.

You can find the details and registration links below for each (these are all in EST). 

• Tuesday, April 20th, 2pm EDT – Register here
• Wednesday, April 28th, 1.30pm EDT – Register here
• Thursday, May 6th, 12pm EDT – Register here
• Tuesday, May 11th, 2pm EDT – Register here
• Friday, May 14th, 12pm EDT – 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 2020 US tax return
• What income forms students/scholars may receive
• Forms that need to be completed and sent to the IRS
• We cover terms like FICA, ITIN and Form 1098-T
• What happens if students don’t file, or misfile
• State tax returns
• IRS stimulus payments
• Sprintax overview

Check Out Where Sprintax International Students Have Been Filing From!

This year Sprintax asked, "Where in the world are you filing their US taxes from?" and filers didn't disappoint! Sprintax has received entries from every corner of the globe, from Peru to Paris. Here's a peek at some of the entries to date. The competition runs until this year's extended tax filing deadline of May 17, so there's still time to participate and enter to win a $500 Amazon gift card!

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!

Apply for GSC Executive Board Positions

Apply today for a position on the GSC Executive Board. Open positions open are as follows:

· Vice President of Internal Communications

· Vice President of Marketing and Communications

· Director of Student Organizations (or co-director)

· Director of Social and Special Programming (or co-director)

See how you can make a difference for graduate students here at Case Western Reserve University. Apply for a position here. Deadlines for applications are Friday, April 23 at 12 PM.

Celebrate Legacy Week

Cleveland Metroparks Trail Challenge 2021

...When it is safe to travel again.