International Student Newsletter
April 2021 - OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
SPRING 2021 IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY PRESENTATION - MAY 13TH @ 11AM
FORM I-765 ONLINE
Many of our F1 students who had or are having intentions to file an OPT application were given pause by USCIS’ recent announcement, introducing a system to file Form I-765 online, and have been immediately seeking guidance from OIS.
On Thursday, April 22, 2021, USCIS conducted a Webinar about this new issue.
OIS officials, along with all other DSOs across the nation, attended this webinar. With consultation among colleagues in our field, OIS’ team would be able to present a policy and procedure on the usage of the system by May 1.
So, in the meanwhile to the date OIS could offer new guidance, your options are:
1) Submit your OPT according to current process
2) Wait until OIS is ready to advise you on the new USCIS system
3) Use the new USCIS system (i.e., filing your I-765 online) at your own risk
Please note: If you decide to file your OPT application using the new USCIS system (i.e., filing your I-765 online) at your own risk at this time, please be aware that you accept and understand all risks related to this choice, and OIS will be unable to advise you on any matter related to your OPT application moving forward. The subsequent processing would be between you and immigration. This means that your OPT application and keeping track of the documents that come in for your case will be entirely your responsibility. You would have to make sure to submit a scan of your EAD card to us for university records when you receive it, as all documents most likely will go to you.
Please feel free to contact OIS if you need any further guidance as you consider these options.
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 NOW. The latest you can apply is 60 days after your program completion date; 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.
CPT: Curricular Practical Training
CPT is issued per semester. If you are currently working under CPT and wish to continue your internship/employment in the summer while still a student, you must apply for a new CPT authorization. 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.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. VISAS AND ENTRY
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
If you are planning to travel outside the US, make sure your travel documents are valid and endorsed. This includes: Valid passport, Valid F1 or J1 visa, Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel endorsement signature.
Note: I-20 travel signatures are good for 1 year for current students. If you are on OPT, your travel signature is good for 6 months. These times are calculated based on the date of the most recent travel signature at the bottom of Page 2 on the i-20.
· If you are on OPT, you should also bring your EAD card and proof of employment. If you have applied for OPT but not yet received your EAD card, you should bring your Approval Notice and/or Receipt Notice.
When you re-enter the US, if you do not have your I-20/DS-2019, or the signature is not valid, you may be issued a Form I-515. Once you are in the US, you must reach out to us immediately so we can fix your I-515 if one is received.
If you will be going on a cruise, make sure to bring your I-20 with you!
As you know, the I-94 is now an electronic record. The OIS does not require students to submit their I-94 upon returning to the US, but we do recommend that you retrieve your I-94 from www.cbp.gov/i94 whenever you re-enter the country. You will NOT be able to retrieve your I-94 while you are outside the US, because the I-94 is an ENTRY document.
Please check the Travel section of our website for more info about travel: http://www.fordham.edu/info/21326/current_students/5148/travel
Please note, OIS is working remotely so can offer the following options in order to renew your travel signature. Please email us and let us know which option you would prefer.
1. We can mail an original within the US via USPS at no charge (this would need to be requested at least two weeks prior to your departure to allow enough time to arrive)
2. We can send you an original internationally via eshipglobal at your expense
3. We can send an electronic version via email
IRS TAX COMPLIANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS
The IRS has announced that the Federal filing deadline has been extended until May 15th for all residents and nonresident filers. This should hopefully give everyone an extra opportunity to file and ensure they are fully tax compliant. A blog article on the subject can be found here!
In response to this, Sprintax has added more webinar dates to cover the months leading up to the deadline.
· Tuesday, April 27, 2021 1:00 PM EDT – Register here
· Wednesday, May 5, 2021 2:00 PM EDT – Register here
· Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:00 PM EDT – 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
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.ASIAN & AAPI STUDENT SUPPORT SPACE
More information can be found here.
Additional Resources can be found here.
2021 Equity & Inclusion Summit: Cultivating An Inclusive Workplace Environment
Meet with employers from various industries to learn about inclusivity in the workplace. Speak with recruiters on how that imbedded into their mission and learn more about their recruitment.
The event will consist of a keynote speaker, followed by company break-out sessions focused on your equity and inclusion efforts and recruitment pipeline.
More information and registration can be found here.