News

How to Prepare for Tax Filing Season

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Dear Students and Scholars,

The tax filing season will begin soon so we have some updated information to help you prepare.  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.  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.

 

  • There are two programs that can help international students file their tax returns in the U.S.  1) The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is run by trained UConn student volunteers and they will help you fill out your tax return documents.  2) 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 and there is an additional fee to file your CT state return. To learn more visit: https://international.global.uconn.edu/tax-preparation-resources/
  • Free Virtual Tax Appointments through VITA for Nonresident Aliens will begin the first week in March. ISSS will message all students once appointments we learn appointments are available.
  • UConn Income Statements (W-2 form) will be available online at https://ess.uconn.edu/ navigate to Payroll > View W-2/W-C Information
  • If you are no longer employed at UConn and cannot log in to https://ess.uconn.edu/ please contact Payroll at payroll@uconn.edu
  • If you had on campus employment and can claim the benefits of a tax treaty you will receive a 1042-S from the State of Connecticut by mail shortly.  You should wait to file your income taxes until after you receive this form.
  • If you will be receiving a 2020 Form 1042-S for a scholarship or fellowship, UConn’s Tax and Compliance Office has notified you of this through an email sent to you on 1/29/21.  Your Form 1042-S for a scholarship or fellowship will be mailed to the mailing address that is listed in Student Admin.  If that is not the correct address, please contact taxcompliance@uconn.edu as soon as possible with your correct mailing address.

 

Join our 8843 Party and Learn to File the 8843 Tax Form for Non-resident Alien Students.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 @ 9:00 A.M.

 

There is one tax form that all nonresident alien taxpayers must file 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.
Meeting Link: https://uconnvtc.webex.com/uconnvtc/j.php?MTID=m6dedeebcbdd6949334f43a8230d93969
Meeting Number: 120 520 6943
Password: Taxes!

Workshop Required for CPT and OPT Applicants

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Dear F-1 students,

Are you hoping to get work experience in the United States? Or, will you enroll in an off-campus clinical or practicum-based course as part of your academic program? These experiences require you to have special authorization before you may engage in off-campus employment or experiential learning. Remember, off-campus employment without having appropriate and prior authorization from ISSS or USCIS is not allowed and is a violation of your visa status.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is provided for training or internships that are required for your major academic program, or for a course that you are taking directly related to your major. It can only be done while you are an active student in your program.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is for work experience that is directly related to your major, but not part of your academic program curriculum. OPT can be done before you graduate, or after you graduate.

All F-1 students who will apply for OPT or CPT must have attended an ISSS workshop on the topic, before you submit your application for CPT or OPT to ISSS.  

Important Workshop Information:

  • ISSS offers three different practical training workshops. Be sure to attend the workshop related to your situation:
    • Post-Completion OPT Workshop: for F-1 students who will soon graduate and apply for an OPT permit to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after graduation, or while you are in the final stages of your thesis/dissertation. This workshop is intended for students in both STEM and non-STEM fields.
    • CPT and Pre-Completion OPT Workshop: for F-1 students who want to work or intern off-campus during your studies, or who have clinical placements or practicum courses off-campus as part of your other off-campus experiential learning at off-campus locations. CPT is required for both paid and unpaid experiences.
    • STEM OPT Extension workshop: for F-1 students who are already in their post-completion OPT period, and who are preparing to submit an application for STEM OPT Extension. This workshop is not intended for current F-1 students who have not yet started post-completion OPT.
  • The workshop schedule for Spring 2021 semester is posted at events.uconn.edu and can be found here.
  • No pre-registration is required; just join the Webex workshop through the posted link on the scheduled day/time (EST). We recommend that you schedule a calendar reminder for yourself to attend the chosen workshop.
  • When you join the workshop, make sure that you sign in/login to Webex with your passport name or net ID, so that we can identify who you are. If your passport name or Net ID is not visible, we cannot give you credit for attending.
  • You must attend the entire workshop to gain credit for attending that workshop.
  • When you apply for OPT or CPT, we will check to see if you have attended an ISSS workshop on the topic. If you have not, then we will ask you to attend a workshop before we will process your application.
  • Practical training authorization is not available to students enrolled in UCAELI (ESL study). You must be enrolled in a degree program to be eligible.

If you want to learn more about CPT and OPT, visit the ISSS webpage on employment for international students.

If you are on a J-1 visa enrolled in a student (not research) program, and you have interest to do practical training, please request an appointment with your ISSS Advisor to learn more about the Academic Training benefit for J-1 students.

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Social Security Group Appointment Waitlist

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Storrs Campus Students:

Are you working on campus this semester and do you need to apply for a social security number?  Unfortunately the first two ISSS group appointments are full, but add your name to the Social Security Group Appointment Waitlist and we will be in contact as soon as we can schedule another group appointment.  For more information on applying for an SSN visit: https://international.global.uconn.edu/social-security-itin-2/ 

Regional Campus Students:

Follow instructions for scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office online here: https://international.global.uconn.edu/social-security-itin-2/ 

 

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Important Travel Updates

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Entry Restrictions for foreign national travelers

The Biden administration will reinstate the orders to restrict entry of travelers who were in Brazil, UK, Ireland and Schengen Area countries of Europe within 14 days before arriving to U.S., and add South Africa to the list of countries from which travel will be restricted.

Official orders to this effect have not yet been published, and it is still unclear whether students and exchange visitors who will travel from any of these regions will qualify for national interest exceptions for academic related travel. ISSS will update you as we learn more.

 Update: The proclamation was published and can be read here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/ 

Also, Department of State have confirmed informally that the National Interest Exception that allowed F-1 students to travel from Europe, UK and Ireland automatically, and visiting scholars with J-1 visa by written approval, will remain in effect. The Department of State website lists up to date information, here.

Testing and Arrival Requirements

Starting tomorrow, January 26, COVID-19 testing will be required to board all international flights to the U.S. More information about this requirement, including an FAQ, can be found on the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The CDC has also updated their federal (U.S.) guidelines for returning to the U.S. from international travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

Remember, there are still state arrival requirements and also University arrival requirements (for students who will enage in on-campus activity) that may differ from the U.S. federal arrival requirements.

 

 

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Start of Semester Reminders

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Spring semester has begun, and ISSS would like to remind all enrolled international students that you must study on a full–time basis every semester. Full–time means you are taking a minimum of:
 
·         Bachelor’s – 12 credits/semester
·         Master’s/PhD, with graduate assistantship – 6 credits/semester
·         Master’s/PhD, no graduate assistantship – 9 credits/per semester, or a 3-credit GRAD course considered full time
·         JD students – 12 credits/semester
·         UCAELI – Participate full time in your intensive English program, 22 hours/week.
 
Reduced Course Load for Last Semester
If you will graduate in May, and you need fewer than full–time credits to complete your program, you may request permission from ISSS to take a Reduced Course Load for Last Semester. Please submit this request by February 1. Link to application information and form: https://international.global.uconn.edu/part-time-study/#reducedcourseloadforlastsemester
 
Can my classes be entirely online?
If you were an active student on an F-1/J-1 visa as of March 9, 2020, with the same SEVIS number listed on your current I-20/DS-2019, then you may study entirely online. 

If you arrived in the U.S. after March 9, 2020, or were here March 9, departed, and returned with a different SEVIS ID number, then your in-person engagement is required, and you should have at least one class listed as in-person, hybrid, or by arrangement.

You can review your SEVIS ID number on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 (the long number that starts with the letter N). Remember all classes will be online for the first two weeks of the semester – even students who are required to have at least one in-person class can participate remotely the first two weeks.
 
Check Your I-20/DS-2019 Program End Date
In addition to taking the full–time amount of credits, remember you must also complete all program requirements by the program end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, and plan your courses accordingly. If your I-20/DS-2019 program end date falls within the Spring 2021 semester and you will not be able to complete this semester, you must request an extension of your program end date. ISSS cannot extend your program end date after it has passed, and you will be out of status if you do not complete, and also do not extend your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date.

Report any address changes

Remember to tell ISSS your new U.S. address, if it changed since you last reported your address, by following these instructions. Remember you must report any address changes within 10 days after you move. International students are also required to report any changes to your home country address within 10 days.

 

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Proclamation Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry

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On January 20, 2021 President Biden revoked prior executive orders and proclamations that were imposed by President Trump, which had banned visa processing for travelers and immigrants coming from a number of primarily Muslim, then African, countries. The full proclamation rescinding these orders can be read here. The new proclamation also orders a review of visa applications currently pending that were affected by the prior orders, and applications that were previously denied on the basis of the prior orders.

While the executive orders imposed under Trump did not, in the end, directly affect most student visa processing, they created fear and uncertainty for our international students and sent an unwelcoming, xenophobic message to the world. They also prevented our students and exchange visitors from seeing family members whose travel plans were impacted by the orders. We are elated that these orders have been rescinded, and happy to step into 2021 on a more positive note.

Please note that the orders revoked in this Proclamation do not include those orders implemented after COVID-19, that prevent foreign nationals from entering the U.S. after traveling from certain specified countries (presently Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland and UK, and Schengen Area countries of Europe).

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Proclamation Terminating Restriction of Entry

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On January 18, 2021 President Trump issued a proclamation that terminates the current restriction of entry to the U.S., of foreign nationals who were present in Brazil, Ireland, UK and Schengen Area countries of Europe prior to arrival, effective January 26, 2021. Read the proclamation here. This coincides with the day that prior COVID-19 testing will be required by airlines for all inbound international travel to the United States.

However, it is unclear at this time if the new Biden administration will allow the termination of this entry restriction to be implemented. ISSS strongly advises all students who are planning upcoming travel to the U.S. to continue to be mindful of updates to travel/entry restrictions, as the new administration could have a different public health agenda and recommendations related to travel, than the prior administration. ISSS will update students and exchange visitors with information related to the termination of the entry restriction for travelers from Brazil, Ireland, UK and Schengen Area of Europe, as it is confirmed.

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

USCIS Receipt Notice Delays (OPT and other applications)

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USCIS Receipt Notice Delays

Many students are reporting delays in receiving a receipt notice after submitting their I-765 to USCIS for the OPT application. If you recently filed an application with USCIS and are experiencing a delay in receiving your receipt notice or the filing fee being processed, please note that this is currently a national trend.

If it has been more than 60 days since filing and you have not received your receipt, you can follow the steps HERE to inquire about your case.

  • Follow step 1 (Ask USCIS for Help) and if that does not work, proceed with step 2 (Submit Request for Case Assistance with the Ombudsman)

We do not recommend that you re-file your application with USCIS unless you are personally advised by an immigration attorney to do so (in which case you must still contact ISSS to obtain the new I-20).

While this is a known issue, we do not know the reason for this, or when circumstances will improve.

New Student? Complete To Do List After Arriving

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Important reminder for new UConn students!

All international students on F-1 and J-1 visas must complete the New Student To Do list and Submit Arrival Documents online in the ISSS Portal after arriving in the United States, when transferring to UConn from another school or when starting a new program at UConn.

The deadline to submit arrival documents is January 19, 2021.Failure to submit may result in the termination of your SEVIS record and I-20/DS-2019. This is a requirement of your student visa.  

Remember – you must be enrolled in at least 1 in-person or hybrid class!

  • Transfer-in & Change Education Level students need to Submit Arrival Documents, even if you did not leave the U.S. this winter.
  • Graduate students approved for late arrival need to Submit Arrival Documents as soon as you arrive to campus.
  • Change of Status Students should wait to submit arrival documents until your change of status is approved.

In order to “Submit Arrival Documents”, you will need to save certain documents in electronic format (.pdf or .jpg). These documents are listed below:

  • Form I-20/DS-2019, signed by you at the bottom of page 1
  • Passport biographical page
  • Visa page in passport (unless you are from Canada/Bermuda)
  • Entry stamp in passport (where immigration stamped upon entry, if applicable*)
  • I-94 admission record.  Print or screenshot your I-94 – select “Get Most Recent I-94”.
  • Proof of Physical Presence in U.S. – Take a photo of yourself in front of a local CT street sign, your residence hall, or other CT landmark to prove you are physically in the U.S.
  • If you have accompanying family on F-2/J-2 visas, you must prepare the same files for them.

If you take a picture of your documents with your smart phone to upload in the ISSS Portal, this is OK, but you must be sure they are clear and easy to read.

If your plans have changed and you will NOT study at UConn, please reply to this message immediately to let us know of your cancellation, and destroy the UConn Form I-20/DS-2019 (do not use it to enter the U.S.).

If you will not arrive to UConn for Spring 2021 semester, but will come for fall 2021, do not Submit Arrival Documents. Instead, complete the SEVIS Defer-Request to Update I-20/DS-2019 Start Date, if you have not already done so.

Finally, for additional information, please visit our Spring 2021 Information & Resources page and our New Student Orientation page.

We want to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for your prompt attention after you arrive in the U.S.

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

Other stories from the Soapbox for Monday, December 2

Are you a Resident or a Non-Resident for Taxes?

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One of the first steps you will need to take to prepare for tax season is to determine your tax residency.  This will affect the types of tax forms you will need to submit to the IRS and the types of treaty benefits you may be eligible for in the U.S.

While all F-1 and J-1 visa holders are nonimmigrants for immigration purposes, your visa status does not determine your tax residency.  Your tax residency is determined by a combination of your visa status and the amount of time you’ve been in the U.S.  In general F-1 and J-1 students are non-residents for tax purposes for the first five calendar years that they are in the U.S. (Note to students that arrived in the U.S. in December – this counts as your first calendar year for counting substantial presence!)

See the VITA program’s information on Determining Tax Residency and use their Substantial Presence calculator to determine if you are a resident  or a non-resident for tax purposes.

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu