From: VISA Office
Date: March 1, 2023
Subject: ISS News, March 1, 2023: Meet New ISS Staff Members,Travel During Spring Break, Nominate Students for ISAC, Study Abroad Information, H1B Workshop Recording Available, Tax Information, Good Vibes, and More


ISS news header

March 1, 2023

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in this issue:

  1. OPT & CPT Workshops
  2. Traveling During Spring Break
  3. ISS is OPEN During Spring Break
  4. Beware of Scams
  5. Tax Information for 2022
  6. Features
  7. Campus Happenings
  8. Other Opportunities
  9. Good Vibes Only
  10. Support Resources
  11. ISS Welcomes New Staff Members

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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.

ISS Welcomes New Staff Members

ISS is excited to introduce new team members!

Emily Aronson, Associate Director, will be working with students enrolledEmily Aronson headshot in programs through the School of Graduate Studies.  Emily will also be focused on working with faculty and managing the J-1 student intern program.  Emily received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from The Ohio State University and her Master's degree in Geography and Urban Planning from The University of Akron. She studied abroad in Beijing, China and later taught English in Sichuan, China in the Peace Corps. Emily worked at The University of Akron before joining our office in January 2023.



Emily Siffert is an international student advisor focused on supporting undergraduate students as well as international students enrolled inEmily Siffert headshot programs at the Health Education Campus, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, and the Master of Engineering and Management program.  Emily found her passion for international education through friendship with an exchange student in high school- a friendship she still holds and values to this day. Emily earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Findlay, where she had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain.  After graduating, she spent several years working in Kentucky before returning home to Northeast Ohio and starting her position at CWRU in January 2023.

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.

spring break sign

Traveling During Spring Break

**If you have concerns about your travel plans affecting your ability to resume your studies at CWRU, ISS strongly encourages all students to consider the risks that might come with traveling and to plan accordingly. We understand that traveling may be necessary and just want you to be best prepared.**

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. during the break, be sure to check the entry requirements for all of the places you will visit. As a visitor, it is necessary to comply with all of the laws put in place by a host country’s government.

To enter the U.S. after traveling abroad, proof of vaccination is required and certain travelers may need a negative COVID test. As you get closer to your return date, be sure to check the CDC's website for the most current information related to entry requirements. You should also familiarize yourself with university policies related to returning to campus.

A valid travel signature on your I-20 (if you are in F-1 status) or your DS-2019 (if you are in J-1 status) is required to enter the United States. Before leaving campus, ideally 2 weeks before you leave campus, check your I-20 or DS-2019 for a valid travel signature.

A travel signature is valid for up to one year with just two exceptions: (1) If you will be traveling to Canada, you should have a travel signature that is no more than six months old. (2) If you have applied for or are currently approved for post-completion OPT as an F-1 student, a travel signature is valid for only six months.

To request a travel signature, submit the electronic Travel Signature Request through Terra Dotta (visas.case.edu), and follow the instructions to receive your signature.

For more information related to travel and your F-1 visa status, visit this website.

For more information related to travel and your visa J-1 visa status, visit this website.

Spring break written in the sand next to sunglasses

Spring Break- ISS is OPEN

While we hope you'll be resting and relaxing over Spring Break (March 13-17), please know that ISS will be available if you need assistance.

scam spelled out on keyboard

Beware of Scams

ISS wants to make sure that international students are aware of scams and know how to protect themselves.  Visit our website for more information.

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
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

ISAC nominations open
H1B Workshop Recording Available

Education Abroad Announcements

EA drop in hours flyer

EVENT

Summer Study Abroad with CWRU Faculty: Information Session

Friday, March 3
12:45pm - 2:00pm
Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
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Make this spring semester the one that dreams are made of--earn three credits on a CWRU course and travel internationally with classmates and faculty!
RSVP

EVENT

Gilman Writing Workshop #2 - Final Essay Tweaks

Tuesday, March 7
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Private Location (sign in to display)
Link
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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
EA may abroad flyer
Cleveland Bucket List Flyer

Campus Happenings

EVENT

Game Night at KSL

Wednesday, March 1
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Kelvin Smith Library, Freedman Center, 1st Floor, 11055 Euclid Ave , Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
Link
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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
career fair image

Upcoming Career Fair

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

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

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

Thursday, March 2
Start End   Event         Location
1:00pm 2:00pm BIPOC Support Space Online Event
Friday, March 3
11:00am 1:00pm Nutrition Month Tabling Private Location (sign in to display)
Monday, March 6
3:00pm 5:00pm Sundaes on Mondays Private Location (sign in to display)
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, March 9
12:00pm 1:00pm T.H.I.N.K. Suicide Prevention Training (Virtual) Online Event
1:00pm 2:00pm BIPOC Support Space Online Event
Monday, March 13
6:00pm 7:30pm I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything is Fine. Private Location (sign in to display)
prayer walk flyer

Other Opportunities

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Living and Working in Canada

On Wednesday, March 1, noon EST, representatives from the Immigration section of the Consulate General of Canada will conduct a presentation via Zoom and cover opportunities to immigrate to Canada both permanently and temporarily. Topics include:

  • the process to become a Canadian Permanent Resident via the Express Entry program
  • process to work in Canada

Current students or alumni are welcome; International and American citizen students in any discipline are welcome.

Register via: https://forms.gle/NLiEFQTKzngH2dQS8

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!

QuickStyle's show

TikTok stars QuickStyle's Famous Wedding Show

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