Dear students and scholars,
The ISSS office will be closed on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday for both in-person and virtual services. Thank you and we look forward to helping you on Tuesday.
Dear students and scholars,
The ISSS office will be closed on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday for both in-person and virtual services. Thank you and we look forward to helping you on Tuesday.
Dear students and exchange visitors,
We are writing to provide you with an update on the travel National Interest Exception (NIE) for students and exchange visitors located in Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa, Schengen Area of Europe, the UK, and Ireland. The national interest exception announcement has been updated on the Department of State website to include language about traveling dependents and OPT participants and can be found here. Please note that although the announcement does not list India, a separate Department of State announcement confirms that India is included among the NIE eligible countries for academic travel, falling under the same conditions as individuals located in Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa.
The announcement language is still ambiguous, but we have now had the opportunity to experience how the U.S. embassy is interpreting the NIE process. Based on the latest information, we are providing you with the current ISSS interpretation of the NIE announcement and recommendations for travelers. If this interpretation changes, we will update you.
Students and Exchange Visitors located in Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa
Students and Exchange Visitors located in Schengen Area of Europe, Ireland, United Kingdom
General Reminders:
Visa validity: Many students have asked if they can use their unexpired visa for travel after an extended stay abroad. Generally, an unexpired visa in the correct classification (e.g., F-1, J-1) has been considered valid for use unless it has been cancelled by the Department of State. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program addressed this topic on the Study in the States website in 2017. However, ISSS recommends that students who enter the U.S. on an initial attendance I-20 form to attend UConn obtain a new visa if the current visa does not list UConn as the school of attendance. Also, out of an abundance of caution, students may consider applying for a new visa if they have had a break in studies of more than 5 months. Finally, we advise J-1 exchange visitors to use the visa that was issued specifically for their exchange program at UConn.
Where to find your immigration documents in the ISSS Portal:
F-1/J-1 Students: Visit isssportal.uconn.edu and click “Log In”. Students should log in with your NetID and password. From your user home page, click on your “Academic Objective” on the left-hand side. Your Academic Objective will be listed under the semester and year that you started, or will start, your program in the U.S. (it matches your I-20 or DS-2019 start term). Scroll down to “Attached Documents”. You can see copies of all the documents issued by ISSS in your academic objective within 1 week after we have processed your update.
J-1 Visiting Scholars: Visit the UConn Scholar/Employee Portal. Log in with your email and Scholar Portal password (NOT your UConn NetID). Click on the “Documents” tab on the top of the page. Click on “Other” on the left-hand side. You can see copies of all the documents issued by ISSS in the SEVIS Profile within 1 week after we have processed your update.
Report your Fall 2021 Study Plan: If you have not already done so, ISSS is requesting that all active students (not visiting scholars or OPT participants) tell ISSS your intended plans for fall 2021 semester, here. Please submit your intended plans by June 15. If your plans change after submitting the form, resubmit the form (even after June 15). This information helps us to advise you and to plan for fall semester.
ISSS COVID-19 FAQ: The ISSS COVID-19 FAQ answers many of your questions, and we suggest that you review it periodically to see if new information has been posted.
Get help: You can 1) email international@uconn.edu with your questions, 2) schedule a virtual appointment with your ISSS advisor, or 3) visit the ISSS website daily between 9 and 10 am, and 2 and 3 pm (UConn time) to speak to an advisor through the chat option. The ISSS office in Storrs is also open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm (closed for lunch between 12 and 1 pm) for basic assistance, though individual advising services still take place virtually.
We thank you for your patience while we all navigate this complex situation, and please let us know if you have any questions.
The deadline to file a U.S. tax return is Monday, May 17, 2021. If you earned income in the U.S. in 2020 you are responsible to file a tax return by May 17, 2021 and should pay attention to the information below. Sprintax software is available to students and scholars. If you did not earn any income, but were present in the U.S. skip down to the bottom for instructions on submitting the 8843 form.
Sprintax is a software that specializes in nonresident alien tax returns. UConn can provide you with a code to use to file your federal tax return for free but there is an additional fee to file your CT state return. To learn more visit: https://international.global.uconn.edu/tax-preparation-resources/ To get your tax code email international@uconn.edu with your name and student ID number.
Click here to watch step by step instructions for using Sprintax to file your taxes.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3mMKjXTjm7XXyUsaeWXd4dI1OYbYy8t6
If you did not earn income in the U.S., but are a nonresident for tax purposes there is still one tax form you must file, the form 8843 – see below for information on how you can learn to file the form 8843. https://accounting.business.uconn.edu/undergraduate/vita-program/form-8843-filing-instructions/
Watch a video with instructions on how to submit the form 8843: https://international.global.uconn.edu/tax-preparation-resources/
For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu
*Updated 5/6/21 to include India *
Dear students and scholars,
We are happy to announce two recent developments from the U.S. government related to visa status maintenance and travel. You will probably begin to see reports of these announcements in the media, but we want to let you know that clarification on certain issues is still needed. Please read carefully and watch for further updates from ISSS.
National Interest Exception (NIE) for academic travel extended to China, India, Iran, Brazil, South Africa
The Department of State announced an expansion of the national interest exception for travel to the United States for students and exchange visitors from certain geographic areas that are subject to entry restrictions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/national-interest-exceptions-for-certain-travelers-from-china-Iran-brazil-south-africa-schengen-area-united-kingdom-and-ireland.html
The following is still unclear:
We will provide more detailed information to international students and visiting scholars on these questions if/when available.
Department of Homeland Security extends pandemic-related guidance through Fall 2021/Spring 2022.
On Monday, the government announced that they will extend the temporary guidance that has allowed schools to adapt to pandemic-related emergency operations through the upcoming academic year.
We will provide more details about what this guidance extension means for students in the coming weeks. We are still awaiting guidance from Department of State regarding Fall 2021 rules for J-1 exchange visitors and maintaining status in the upcoming year.
Note to students in countries where U.S. visa operations are still impacted by COVID-19: We are thinking of you during this difficult time and wishing you and your family health and safety. ISSS is watching the worldwide visa situations closely and we are trying to process your documents as quickly as possible to give you the best chance for return/arrival to campus. Please let us know what more we can do to support you.
Please email international@uconn.edu if you have additional questions and thank you for your patience as we update our resources to reflect these new details. Please note that this message represents our preliminary interpretation, in consultation with our professional resources, regarding the two announcements. If these interpretations change based on updated guidance, we will notify students as soon as we can.
Thank you,
ISSS
Effective April 21, 2021, the U.S. federal goverment has authorized eligibility for Special Student Relief (SSR) for qualifying F-1 students from Syria or Venezuela. SSR allows qualifying students to temporarily be relieved of requirements to maintain a full time course load, and may allow students to get work authorization in excess of the standard on-campus employment rules. If you meet the below criteria and you would like to learn more, please make an appointment with your ISSS advisor to discuss the SSR and the application process. The SSR benefit is not automatic.
Venezuela. Effective April 22, 2021 until September 9, 2022. Federal Register notice at 86 FR 21328 (April 22, 2021). To be eligible, an F-1 student must:
Syria. Effective April 22, 2021 until September 30, 2022. Federal Register notice at 86 FR 21333 (April 22, 2021). To be eligible, an F-1 student must:
For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu
There is one tax form that all nonresident alien taxpayers must file if they were present in the U.S. in 2020 EVEN if they have no income and are not currently working in the U.S. Learn how to fill out and file the 8843 form with guidance from UConn Accounting faculty and head of the UConn site of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and ISSS staff.
View the recording of our 8843 Party online here:
https://international.global.uconn.edu/tax-preparation-resources/
Scroll down to “How do I file my tax forms? Which forms do I file?” and look for the 8843 Party and Learn to File the 8843 Tax Form video.
For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu
Dear international students,
UConn has entered Phase 2 of the CRRSAA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act) Emergency Fund. This means that UConn students who are experiencing an expense due to COVID-19 or are unable to meet eligible expenses under the cost of attendance, may apply for an emergency grant. More information can be found here: https://financialaid.uconn.edu/crrsaa/
International students are eligible to apply for this grant and can access the application form under the Phase 2 – Emergency Application Process section of the webpage.
International students do not complete a FAFSA, which is a financial aid application for U.S. students. Therefore, you should note the information for Students without a completed 2020-2021 FAFSA.
We encourage you to apply for this grant if you are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Please direct specific questions to financialaid@uconn.edu.
Best wishes,
ISSS
Is your address on file correct? F/J visa regulations require you to report your current Foreign Address and U.S. Address to the ISSS Portal for SEVIS every time it changes.
Log in to the ISSS Portal and review the address information we have on file and update your address if needed. Your U.S. address must reflect where you physically reside. If you are outside the U.S. due to COVID or because you are home for break, you may list the ISSS address or your last U.S. address as your physical address.
If you do make changes, be sure to update your Current/Local Address, phone number or personal email address in Student Admin too!
For more information on updating your personal information or how to write a U.S. Address see the ISSS Website https://international.global.uconn.edu/students/current-students/current-students-update-your-address/
For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu
International students can be vulnerable targets for criminals impersonating government officials, offering fake employment, and selling items that don’t really exist online, via email or by telephone. Telephone scams are common, and are often conducted by scammers from outside of the United States. They may claim to be officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies. These criminals try to gain access to personal information (name, date of birth, social security number, address) or they may try to scare students into paying them money. Read through the information below and follow the steps below to protect yourself from falling victim to a criminal/scammer.
Register Your Phone On the DO NOT CALL List
Government officials will not call/email you asking for money. Contact ISSS if you receive a phone call/email from someone claiming to be a government official asking for money. Do NOT pay by phone. Do NOT give out or “confirm” your date of birth or your social security number by phone. Collect all the information you can about the office (name of the government office, amount of money, reason you must pay) and tell them you need to speak with ISSS first. HANG UP THE PHONE!
Government officials will not use fear! Government officials will not threaten to immediately arrest or deport you if you don’t pay a fee or a tax over the phone. Many criminals/scammers may tell you that if you don’t pay the police will be dispatched to your apartment to arrest you. This is a scam. HANG UP THE PHONE!
Government officials will never ask you to pay a debt using gift cards. Government officials will never ask you to pay a debt by purchasing gift cards from Target, Walmart, Amazon etc. If anyone asks you to pay a debt this way, this is a scam.
Government offices (IRS, USCIS, DHS) will send paper notices by postal mail. Government office will always send paper notices by postal mail with updates about your status, pending cases or if there are fees owed. If you receive an unexpected paper notice from a government office come to ISSS to verify its authenticity.
Government offices may email you. The embassy/consulate in your home country may send email to the email address you used to schedule your visa appointment. The Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) may send you email if you have not paid the SEVIS I-901 fee. Come to ISSS with these notices to verify their authenticity.
ISSS WILL contact you by email or telephone. If you receive an email/voicemail from ISSS, this is legitimate UConn business and you should follow up with ISSS staff about the issue.
Some legitimate institutions will require your personal information. For example if you have a bank account in the U.S. they will require your date of birth and your social security number, but they will never call you and ask for this over the phone. They will either ask you to come into the bank with this information or postal mail you official paperwork to submit to the bank. Similarly, when you apply for services that involve a check of your credit history (e.g. apartment rental, mobile phone purchase), you will be asked on the application form to provide your social security number, if you have one.
Know about the different types of scams:
IRS Impersonators (claiming you owe unpaid taxes)
Immigration Impersonators (claiming to be USCIS, DHS, “U.S. Immingration” telling you that you owe an international student “tax”, “fee”, or “immigration tax” and you will be deported)
Kidnapping Scam – you are told that your family overseas has been kidnapped and you must pay for their release. Scammers scare you and keep you on the phone so you cannot contact your family. Ask for proof, ask to speak with your family, use Facebook, messenger apps, twitter etc. to connect and confirm your family’s situation, before you send them money, believing they are actually kidnapped.
Identity Theft – Identity theft is when criminals steal your personal identifying information (e.g. SSN, Date of Birth, ID information) and use it for financial gain. Learn more about how to protect yourself!.pdf.pdf
Job Scams – Be wary of companies that ask you pay them to help you get a job. Always contact ISSS and make sure you have proper work authorization before you work off-campus. Likewise beware of companies that hire you and pay you a salary without an interview or a resume or making you submit a formal job application – this is fishy and mostl likely a scam. Remember F and J visa holders are only allowed to work on-campus. Students will require prior approval/authorization for any off-campus employment.
Online Dating/Social Media Scams – making new friends online is great, but beware of people you don’t know who may try to lure you off of the dating site or get you to share personal information with them for financial gain.
Apartments for Rent and Items for Sale – Be careful when purchasing items from individuals advertised online. Never go to a stranger’s house alone to purchase an item. Meet in a public place, bring a friend or notify your friend of your whereabouts. Be careful not to pay for a car or apartment without testing it or viewing it first. Some scammers will post photos of apartments or houses they do not own and try to get you to pay a deposit to them. Always visit legitimate resources to search for apartments like offcampushousing.uconn.edu or the website of a realty company.
What to do if you feel you are being scammed:
Report the scam to UConn Police (860)486-4800
Report the scam to ISSS (860)486-3855 or international@uconn.edu
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission
Report Identity Theft (SSN, Personal ID or Debit Credit Card) to Federal Trade Commission
Report the scan to the agency or company from which the scammer claims to be calling, in the case of fraudulent calls. All government agencies will have a section of their website that talks about fraudulent activity and scams, and how to report it to that office.
Federal Trade Commission Publication: IRS Imposter Scams.pdf.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Publication: Online Dating Scams.pdf.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Publication: Job Scams.pdf.pdf
USCIS: Avoid Scams
USCIS: Most Common Scams
For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu
The tax filing season has begun. If you earned income in the U.S. in 2020 you are responsible to file a tax return by April 15, 2021 and should pay attention to the information below. The VITA program at UConn and Sprintax software are available to students and scholars. If you did not earn any income, but were present in the U.S. skip down to the bottom for instructions on submitting the 8843 form.
If you did not earn income in the U.S., but are a nonresident for tax purposes there is still one tax form you must file, the form 8843 – see below for information on how you can learn to file the form 8843. https://accounting.business.uconn.edu/undergraduate/vita-program/form-8843-filing-instructions/
Watch a video with instructions on how to submit the form 8843: https://international.global.uconn.edu/tax-preparation-resources/