From: VISA Office
Date: July 15, 2020
Subject: ISS News, July 15, 2020: Important Information Regarding the Fall,Tax Deadline is TODAY, COVID-19: Tell Your Story, Good Vibes, & More!


IS

July 15, 2020

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in this issue:

  1. Tax Information for 2019- New Filing Deadline of July 15, 2020
  2. OPT & CPT Workshops
  3. BMV Reopens
  4. Applying for the SSN While Social Security Office are Closed
  5. Good Vibes Only
  6. #WelcomeHereWednesday Expands #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU
  7. Important Information Regarding the Fall
  8. How to Spot Scam Job Posts
  9. Learn about GoinGlobal

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ISS Staff is available to students, without an appointment, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during advising hours:

11am to 3pm- through virtual advising available online

There are no advising hours on Wednesday.

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If you need to speak with an advisor outside of our advising hours, please send an email to international@case.edu to schedule an appointment. Please provide your full, legal name and a brief description of the nature of your appointment when you contact us.

Important Information Regarding the Fall

The Center for International Affairs and the Office of International Student Services (ISS) understand the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has many implications for Case Western Reserve University's international students so we have compiled information to address many of the questions we have received, share any information we have, and help our students transition. 

We will continue to send email communications, include information in our newsletter, and update our  Coronavirus Updates website as we learn more about SEVP guidance related to the Fall, protocol for arriving on campus, and anything else that is of importance for you to know as we approach the Fall semester. 

We encourage you to check your @case.edu email and our website regularly to ensure that you have the most current information available. 

We know that this is a very challenging situation.  We are here to support you however we can.  You are always welcome to contact us at international@case.edu and we will do our best to answer your questions- we might not always have answers!- or connect you with other resources to help.

you are welcome here CWRU #

#WelcomeHereWednesday Expands #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU

#WelcomeHereWednesday is a new effort from the Center for International Affairs to spread an ongoing and important message of welcome to members of the Case Western Reserve University community.

When the COVID-19 pandemic created unique challenges for our international students, the Center put out a call across campus for video clips to help renew the #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU message and was overwhelmed by the response. The new #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU video features heartfelt words of support and encouragement for international students.

The movement against racial injustice has highlighted the fact that our international students are not the only students that need to know they are valued and welcomed on the CWRU campus. The Center invites CWRU faculty, staff and students to record #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU video clips that voice support for all students who experience systemic racism and oppression in all of its forms.

Through #WelcomeHereWednesday, the Center will share the video clips on its Facebook (facebook.com/CWRUInternational) and Twitter (twitter.com/CWRUintl) pages every week to keep the #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU campaign going and highlight its strong support from every corner of campus.

Anyone who is interested in participating in this new effort is asked to email a short #YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU video message (recorded horizontally on a smartphone or via Zoom) to global@case.edu.

And everyone is encouraged to visit the Center's social media pages each Wednesday to experience the uplifting impact of these positive messages.

taxes clipart

Tax Deadline is TODAY- July 15!
Sprintax Still Available to Help You File

If you haven’t filed your taxes for 2019 yet, it’s not too late. ISS makes Sprintax available to help you.

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.

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 12.
  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 you have any questions, the Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat facility.

In response to the effects of COVID-19 and the cancellation of many onsite tax support services, Sprintax is also offering this 35 minute tax webinar, which explains the core tax obligations for international students. Please use the link to access the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rr_6rniyDWDcQDHqCeI4tf4qqF-_cqQ4/view?usp=drive_web

For more information, visit our Information on Filing Taxes page.

OPT and CPT workshop branding telling students that workshops are available online
bmv offices reopen
get in line online for BMV
ssa logo

Applying for the SSN while Social Security Offices are Closed

While Social Security offices are closed due to COVID-19, it might be very challenging for students to apply for the SSN.  ISS is looking into this issue and exploring resources to provide to you.  As soon as we know more, we will provide an update.

In the meantime, ISS strongly discourages you from taking any steps that would involve applying for the SSN by mail and sending your original passport as part of the application.  Sending your passport through the mail is always risky- it could easily be lost and is not easily replaced. During this very uncertain time, you do not want to do anything that could result in your passport being lost or create more stress for you.

We know that these closings are inconvenient for you (and your employers); however, ISS strongly feels that it is in your best interest to wait for additional guidance at this time.

KSL image

Kelvin Smith LIbrary Calls on CWRU Community to Record History with "COVID-19: Tell Your Story"

This week, the Case Western Reserve University community reflects on its legacy at the same time it navigates COVID-19, which will have an historic impact on campus and beyond.

“The experiences endured by our campus during the COVID-19 pandemic have been nothing short of unprecedented. We have shifted, we have pivoted and we have quickly transitioned, all as the world around us reels from the effects of this virus,” Provost and Executive Vice President Ben Vinson III said.

The outbreak has forced the world to adapt, with non-essential businesses closed, employees working from home, students of all ages learning through a computer screen, essential employees taking serious precautions before going to work, and health care workers facing the virus each day.

To document this significant moment in history, Kelvin Smith Library asks students, faculty, staff and alumni to record their personal experiences during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to be kept in the University Archives.

Read more about how you can be a part of this!

https://thedaily.case.edu/kelvin-smith-library-calls-on-cwru-community-to-record-history-with-covid-19-tell-your-story/

computer

Too Good to be True?

How to Spot Scam Job Posts

If a position or job offer seems too good to be true, if you feel uncomfortable with some of the information requested or if something just doesn't seem right - proceed with caution.  Click for more information.

goinglobal logo

Learn about GoinGlobal

GoinGlobal is the market leader in helping job seekers of all nationalities fast track their career explorations both at home and abroad. Created by country experts, GoinGlobal features worldwide job and internship resources for more than 120 locations, including location-specific career guides, key corporate profiles, a proprietary H1B visa search engine and 16 million-plus job and internship postings. Watch this short video to learn more about the H1B database and access all the features of GoinGlobal via My Career.

Good Vibes Only

During this very challenging time, ISS staff wants you to know that we are thinking about you- hoping you are safe, healthy, staying positive- and sending out good vibes!

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!

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2 dinosaur figurines

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