From: VISA Office
Date: April 3
Subject: VISA News: End of Semester Reminders, Career Fair Prep Workshop, Upcoming Career Fair, Solar Eclipse Glasses and MORE


VISA News

VISA Office Information

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

On Monday, Thursday, and Friday, we have virtual chat advising available 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.

keep calm the semester is about to end meme

End of Semester Reminders

Start preparing for the end of the semester and see if you have to take action on your I-20 or DS-2019.

If you need to extend your I-20 or DS-2019:  Please visit our website and scroll down to "request new I-20 extension" or "request new DS-2019 extension" and provide your advisor information in the request.
Undergraduates: list your Dean in Undergraduate Studies
Graduate students: list your academic advisor.

If you need to transfer your F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record: Visit our website for the transfer out request.

If you need to get a new travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019: To submit a request for travel signature, visit our website and scroll down to "request new I-20 reprint or travel signature request" or "request new DS-2019 reprint or travel signature request."  You can also read about travel and re-entry for F-1 and J-1 students here.

Check the validity of your visa stamp in your passport and make sure your passport is valid.  Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Do you have additional questions? Get in touch with VISA Office Staff by stopping by our office from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday-Friday, or emailing us at visa@case.edu.

OPT and CPT workshop branding telling students that workshops are available online

OPT & CPT Workshops

The VISA Office is offering Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshops to review the application process, student responsibilities, and other important considerations.

It is important to be well informed before you apply.  It is also important to apply early!

OPT is mostly for students who are graduating and wish to work after graduation.  You first have to obtain your OPT I-20 from our office. Then you must apply for an Employment Authorization Document  from US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), which is required to begin work on OPT. It takes USCIS 3-4 months to process EAD applications. You must complete an OPT workshop to obtain an OPT I-20 from the VISA Office, so we strongly recommend that you attend a workshop as early as possible if you plan to apply for OPT this semester. Remember, you do not need a job offer to apply for OPT!

CPT is for currently enrolled students.  For CPT, you have to have a job offer before applying for authorization. You are not eligible to begin your experience until you have CPT authorization in place. It can take several days to become authorized.

Please sign up for a workshop!  You can sign up here.

Tax Information for 2023 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 1.
  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 Offers Tax Webinars to Prepare for Tax Filing Season 2023

The VISA Office partners with the tax experts at Sprintax, who offer tax filing services to international students who 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 for the 2023 tax season
  • Who must file
  • Tax residency
  • FICA
  • State returns
  • Implications of misfiling
  • How to use Sprintax to prepare a compliant tax return

OISRE Updates

Free PNC Financial Webinars
April is financial wellness month and PNC is hosting some financial webinars.
Next week:
Banking Basics For College Students
Date: April 11th, 2024 at 7 pm ET

Description: Learn how to create a budget, understand how your credit score affects finances and learn best practices to protect yourself from identity theft.

Also read this article:
Mindful Money: How Net Worth Affects Your Well-Being | PNC Insights.

 

Cleveland International Film Festival

The 48th Cleveland International Film Festival, or CIFF48, will take place April 3-13, 2024 at Playhouse Square.  Then, CIFF48 Streams, presented by PNC, will be featured online from April 14 - 21, 2024.

The in-person Festival will showcase 137 feature films and 225 short films representing 60 countries during its 11-day run. CIFF48 Streams will present more than half of the Festival’s in-person feature films, along with nearly its full lineup of in-person short films.

CWRU faculty, staff and students can use discount code CWRU48 for each ticket purchase.  Film Festival Vouchers are also available for free tickets.  Supply is limited and vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served  basis.  To request a voucher, email donorrelations@case.edu

See also:
https://www.clevelandfilm.org/

WNBA Final Four in Cleveland

Family Fun! 

Hop, skip and jump into Women’s Final Four action with the NCAA Women's Final Four Bounce presented by Buick.

Youth ages 18 and under are invited to participate in this unique parade and FREE Women’s Final Four event.

Join thousands of fans dribbling their way along the streets of Cleveland and into Tourney Town presented by Capital One – the official fan festival of the 2024 Women’s Final Four.

Cherry Blossom Festival


Cherry blossoms are in bloom and the Cherry Blossom Festival continues until April 14.

Check out the best places to see Cherry Blossoms in Cleveland!

Campus Happenings

Limited Supply of Solar Eclipse Glasses Available for Pickup on Campus

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross Cleveland. Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. The university is offering solar eclipse glasses to employees and students who will be on campus during the solar eclipse. There is a limited supply so only one pair of glasses per person will be available. 

For more information, click here.

Other Opportunities

Faculty and Staff: Self-Defense Class

Faculty and staff members are invited to join the Wellness Program and Division of Public Safety for an 8-week, in-person self defense class. This program will provide faculty and staff with general knowledge about self defense through a hands-on experience. Participants will learn how to defend themselves and others from bodily harm against hostile actions; develop attack skills, escape techniques, and safe training practices; and foster skills in preventative and situational awareness, applying pressure points and other self defense techniques.

 

Self Defense will take place on Wednesdays, April 10 through May 29, from 12-12:45 pm at the Veale Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room (201).

 

Register for Self Defense. 

 

With questions, contact Deanna Duffy, Wellness Manager, at dxd516@case.edu or 216.368.5997. 

If you would like to promote your event or opportunity through VISA News, please make a complete submission (including flyers, images, details, etc.) for consideration by noon on Monday to visa@case.edu.  The VISA Office cannot guarantee that all submissions will appear in the newsletter, as space is limited, but staff will review all timely submissions for consideration.