International Student Newsletter
Office for International Services - February 2022
A NOTE FROM OIS DIRECTOR, SAL LONGARINO
In late Fall 2021, two of OIS’ Designated School Officials resigned from their respective positions. It was fortuitous that OIS’ immediately received a waiver from our University’s current hiring moratorium and we have recruited two new officials (see more information in this newsletter).
As if you know, our two new positions must be approved by the President of our University and registered with Department of Homeland Security which might take a few months. So, in the meanwhile, the student: adviser ratio is 1,000:1, when a model ratio is 300:1. Please be patient if our services are being affected adversely, especially, our “turn around” for processing documents.
So, getting though this challenging term together, as always: 1) do not allow your I-20 to expire; 2) communicate with OIS before you plan to depart the US; 3) check your current I-94 upon returning to the US from an international trip; 4) notify OIS if you begin a new program or degree; 5) notify OIS if and when you are given an ALOA; 6) always be aware of your beginning and ending dates of CPT and OPT; 7) if you are completing your studies in May 2022, and wish to apply for OPT, you should begin the process now.
On OIS’ part, since the most popular topic discussed during our zooms is regarding employment concerns. Responding to your need better, OIS is planning to present special Zooms designed and customized to our separate undergraduate and graduate communities focused on CPT, Standard OPT, and STEM Extension OPT. These will be presented in March, in conjunction with the Attorney’s Presentation on H1B and Permanent Residency in April. We will notify you when we have confirmed the details.
CRISIS IN UKRAINE
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 2021.
In fact, 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 has partnered with Sprintax Returns to help you with your US taxes. 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 170,000 international students, scholars and nonresidents last year, and the average Federal refund received by eligible students was over $1,185.
To prepare your tax documents with Sprintax today, simply:
· Register here and follow the simple instructions
· Complete the online questionnaire
· Enter your unique code: 21FDH500F in the box on the ‘Review your order’ page
Sprintax will then 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. Some students will also have an opportunity to e-file their federal tax return.
If you have any questions, the Sprintax team will be happy to help via their 24/7 live chat facility.
Sprintax will be offering a number of tax webinars. To access the full breakdown of available webinars please follow the below link:
WELCOME NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISORS AT OIS
Ana Belzunce
Ana Belzunce is a recent addition to the Fordham OIS team and serves as an International Student Advisor based at the Lincoln Center campus. Ana comes to Fordham from Pace University where she served as a DSO for more than three years. She was born and raised in Spain and holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland where she was an international student herself. In her free time, she can be found trying to win lottery tickets to Broadway shows or taking long walks through Central Park.
Ean Tierney
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.
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
OPT: Optional Practical Training
If you are completing your studies in May 2022 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.
STUDENTS ON OPT: YOU MUST REPORT YOUR EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ANY CHANGE
or students on post-completion OPT:
This is a friendly reminder that you must submit your OPT employment information to your SEVP Portal within 10 days of any given change (starting a new job, ending a job, changing jobs, etc). It is important you do this and to remain vigilant of your OPT reporting requirements, as any information that you submit to immigration must be accurate and up-to-date at all times. Failure to do this will otherwise compromise and/or violate your F-1 status.
For more information, please review and follow OPT reporting requirements and instructions on how to report employment through the SEVP Portal. If you have any questions about employment reporting, or have any difficulties with using the SEVP Portal, please contact ois@fordham.edu.
For students on STEM OPT Extension:
This is a friendly reminder that your reporting responsibilities for employment are different from responsibilities on post-completion OPT. The only thing that you are able to change on the SEVP Portal directly is your US address or phone number. Please read our STEM OPT Portal Reporting Q&A to understand how best to use the SEVP portal on STEM OPT Extension.
All other employment changes must be reported to OIS via the I-983 Form within 10 days of the given change occurring. For more information, please carefully review all of the guidelines related to STEM OPT reporting procedures listed here: https://www.fordham.edu/info/24658/stem_extension/7263/reporting_requirements_for_stem. If you have any questions or concerns about your status, please contact ois@fordham.edu.
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.
Fordham Office for International Services
Email: ois@fordham.edu
Website: https://www.fordham.edu/ois/
Phone: 718-817-3145