International Student Newsletter
February 2021 - OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
IRS TAX COMPLIANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS
It’s important to be aware that, as a nonresident student in the US, you’re legally required to file a tax return if you received US income during 2020.
And even if you didn’t work or receive income in the US, you’re still obliged to file a Form 8843 with the IRS.
Fordham University has arranged free access to Sprintax Tax Preparation for you. Sprintax will guide you through the tax preparation process, arrange the necessary documents and check if you’re due a tax refund.
Sprintax was used by over 225,000 international students and scholars last year, and the average Federal refund received by eligible students was over $1,126.
All you need to do is:
Register and follow the simple instructions
Complete the online questionnaire
Enter your unique code: SpR20FHU501F in the box on the ‘Review your order’ page
Sprintax will prepare your tax return
Finally, once you complete the preparation process in the Sprintax software, you must print, sign and mail your documents to the IRS.
If you have any questions, the Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat facility.This season, the Sprintax team will be hosting a series of free open tax webinars to provide helpful information around nonresident tax filing obligations. You can find the details and registration links below. Each webinar will cover the same topics listed below. You can register for the date and time that suits you best:
· Wednesday, February 10th @ 11am – Register here
· Thursday, March 4th @ 2pm – Register here
· Monday, March 15th @ 11am – Register here
· Tuesday, March 30th @ 1.30pm – Register here
· Wednesday, April 7th @ 2pm – Register here
· Monday, April 12th @ 12pm – Register here
The informational webinars will cover:
- 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
REGARDING RECEIPT NOTICE DELAYS AND CURRENT PROCESSING TIMES FOR OPT AND STEM EXTENSION APPLICATIONS
In December 2020, USCIS notified the field of international education that there were “significant delays for processing Receipt Notices.”
By early January 2021, USCIS was no longer issuing I797Cs (Receipt Notices to our students regarding OPT applications), was no longer cashing the checks for the application fee, and changed the address to which OPT application should be mailed. This caused a national concern, and it is reported that a case will be brought against USCIS because of this matter.
Our advice is to be confident that OIS is being very vigilant over all these issues as they evolve. In the meanwhile, make sure you keep evidence that your Private Mailing Service delivered your application package to USCIS and be patient. We are seeing that USCIS is now beginning to issue tracking numbers within 3 months after your application submission, and is issuing EADs within 4 months. Always feel free to contact OIS if you still have concerns on this matter.
For more information, please refer to the January 28, 2021 Director's Notice under COVID-19 Updates on the Fordham OIS homepage.
BECOME A PART OF THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TEAM 2021
Global Transition (GT) is a 5-day welcome program for new international undergraduate students. It is full of fun, interesting, and helpful activities and sessions, and is a great way for new international students to get to know Fordham, New York, and other Fordham students.
This program is an exciting and unique way for current undergrads, both international and domestic, to get involved and get to know current international students as well as the incoming international class.
We are currently planning for GT 2021 and are looking for Global Transition Assistants, Global Transition Operations Managers, and Global Transition Photographer/ Videographers.
If you would like to be a part of the GT 2021 team, then we encourage you to apply. Global Transition Assistants say they have a lot of fun and form great new friendships during the program. If you want to help international students adjust to life at Fordham, share your experience, and make meaningful friendships, Global Transition is the way to do it!
You can find out more information about the GT program here: Fordham GT
Each of the links below provides more information as well as an application for the different positions. The application deadline is February 28, 2020 at 11:59pm.
NEW STUDENT CHECK IN
Please complete the online check in form which can also be found on the Check-In page of our website. If you have any trouble filling out the form, please let us know. Make sure you click 'Submit' at the end of the form, otherwise we will not receive it. You will receive a response receipt from the form after successful submission.
Your check in IS NOT complete until you complete the form AND submit the required check-in documents.
We're happy to inform you that once you check in with our office, we will send you an email with a link to receive a complimentary mobile SIM card that you can use in the United States. Please note that the complimentary mobile SIM card link is contingent upon your check-in completion and SEVIS registration with our office.
I-20/DS-2019 COMPLETION INFORMATION
For Graduate School of Business students at Lincoln Center ONLY: Please do not contact OIS about I-20 extensions unless you are a month away or less from your current I-20 completion date expiring. Please communicate any I-20 changes to your Dean or Academic Advisor. There are set deadlines for when to notify for extensions and by what date you will get an updated I-20. Once you notify your advisor, the university system will be notified and OIS will see these changes.
By keeping your records as accurate as possible, this ensures our office's ability to not only advise you appropriately, but to also ensure that you are keeping in compliance with federal F-1 regulations.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Make sure your address information is up-to-date and correct!
US phone numbers are now required by SEVIS (Federal Law). Make sure you enter your US phone number in my.fordham.edu
Check your I-20 completion date! Please see section on I-20/DS-2019 Completion Information
Enroll Full-Time! All students must enroll full time in classes. This means at least 12 credits/term for undergraduates, and at least 9 credits for graduates.
(Only students in their last term may enroll less than full time.)
¨If you are NOT in your last term, but you will be enrolled less than full time, you must fill out our Deviation from Full Course of Study form, found under the Current Students section of our website (www.fordham.edu/ois)
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
OPT: Optional Practical Training
If you are completing your studies in May 2021 and you wish to apply for OPT, you can apply beginning 90 days before your program end date. The latest you can apply is 60 days after your program completion date (application must be received by USCIS by the 60th day); however, we recommend applying sooner rather than later in most cases. Your real completion date (reality) is more important than what is written in the completion date in Sec. 5 on your I20. You can read further instructions on applying for OPT here.
CPT: Curricular Practical Training
CPT is issued per semester. If you are currently working under CPT and wish to continue your internship/employment into the next term while still a student, you must apply for a new CPT authorization for that semester. Please be sure to apply for CPT work authorization BEFORE starting work. It is illegal to work prior to obtaining CPT authorization. OIS cannot back-date CPT employment. You can read further instructions on applying for CPT here.
FOR ALL STEM OPT STUDENTS: KEEP TRACK OF YOUR STEM OPT VALIDATIONS
This is a friendly reminder that it is your responsibility to make sure that you are reporting your US home address and employment name and address to OIS via the STEM OPT Employment Validation portal. These validation updates must be done every 6 months from the start date listed on your STEM EAD card. Additionally, as part of your 12 and 24 month validation updates, you have to submit a training evaluation (Page 5 of the Form I-983), signed by your current supervisor. This page should be submitted via the STEM OPT Employment Validation portal, along with your validation information.
You can easily calculate your 6-month marks on STEM OPT. For example, if STEM OPT starts Jan 1, 2021, as listed on your STEM EAD card:
· 6 month alert is: June 1, 2021
· 12 month alert is: Jan 1, 2022 (also one year evaluation is due - top of page 5 of I-983)
· 18 month alert is: June 1, 2022
· 24 month alert is: December 31, 2022 (also final year evaluation is due - bottom of page 5 of I-983)
It is important to remain vigilant and aware of your reporting times, since this is related to your STEM OPT and immigration matters. You may set alarms on your calendar or schedule to keep track of these reporting times. The SEVP Portal may email you notices as a courtesy within one month of each of your reporting due dates but please note their reporting dates may be incorrect—so please keep track of your reporting dates yourself and act accordingly.
Remember that it is ultimately your responsibility as the student to keep track of and report these validations, and submit the validations and/or evaluations to OIS, as listed on the Acknowledgement for Maintaining Status on STEM OPT (page 4 of the STEM OPT Extension Application). It is also listed in the responsibilities given to you with your STEM EAD card.
For more information regarding your STEM OPT reporting responsibilities, please visit here.
OIS OFFICES REMOTE
1. Visit the OIS website which contains a great deal of important information
2. Email OIS@Fordham.edu and advisor will get back to you
3. Make a virtual zoom appointment with the OIS director, Sal Longarino by going to the contact us section of our website
HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION
The insurance plan continues to be managed by Aetna Student Health. New students who enroll in the school’s plan will be covered from January 1, 2021 to August 22, 2021. Students can find providers online at www.aetnastudentheatlh.com. Students can also print their ID cards on this website as well. F-1 or J-1 students are automatically enrolled and charged for the insurance. Students can go online to print their ID cards after January 1, 2021. New Students who want to waive the school’s plan must complete a waiver online by February 23, 2021 by submitting proof of insurance that meets the following requirements. See below.
· Medical benefits must be UNLIMITED
· Deductible- not to exceed US$500 per year
· Medical evacuation- $50,000
· Repatriation -$25,000
· The insurance company must be headquartered and operating in the US, with a US claims address and customer service tele phone number.
· The plan must be ACA compliant, the plan must provide inpatient hospitalization benefits in the New York City area including mental health benefits. The plan must provide outpatient benefits in the New York City area (including office visits, outpatient mental health visits and laboratory and radiology procedures).
· Coverage for emergency only care does not satisfy the requirement.
The following types of insurance plans will not be acceptable for waiving the Fordham plan:
· Travel policies with limited benefits and exclusions of coverage, the plan must be ACA compliant.
· Insurance plans that always require students to pay for treatment out-of-pocket and then be reimbursed.
· Plans advertised as ACA Comparable do not satisfy the waiver requirement
Current students who would like to waive the school’s plan for the spring semester will have to send an email to studentinsurance@fordham.edu with their name, Fordham ID number and current insurance policy for review to determine approval of the insurance waiver. The deadline is February 23, 2021.
Students that graduated in December and have the school’s insurance had their coverage end on December 31, 2020. Students can extend their coverage for 90 days. Students can apply for this extension online at www.aetnastudenthealth.com and click on 90 day continuation plan. The students will have to pay with a credit card. The deadline to enroll in this 90-day continuation plan is February 23, 2021.
ONE TO WORLD VIRTUAL CAREER WORKSHOP: PUBLIC SPEAKING & PRESENTING
More information and registration can be found here.
Saturday, Feb 27, 2021, 12:00 PM
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Fordham Office for International Services
Email: ois@fordham.edu
Website: https://www.fordham.edu/ois