News

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

Tax Filing Information for International Students

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As 2020 comes to an end, international students and scholars should review information on tax filing in the U.S.

All non-resident aliens for tax purposes need to fill out at least one form for the IRS (Form 8843), even if you did not work or earn taxable income in the U.S.!

Students and scholars that did work or received a taxable scholarship or fellowship may additionally need to file a U.S. and a CT tax return in 2021.  Tax returns need to be filed between February and April 15.  ISSS will share information about how you can file your taxes either by participating in a free UConn VITA workshop or by using Sprintax software with a free code from ISSS.

Review the general tax information for international students and scholars here, including tax documents, tax treaties, income tax filing and more.

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

Connecticut Travel Advisory Updated

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Connecticut’s travel advisory was updated this weekend, which may impact plans for students and visiting scholars traveling to Connecticut from other U.S. or worldwide destinations. Here is an excerpt from the ISSS COVID 19 FAQ, which provides the updated information for travelers:

3. I’m traveling to Connecticut from another U.S. state, or internationally. What are my quarantine requirements? What should I expect at the airport?

The University requires all students living on campus to follow University quarantine rules. Students who live off campus who have on-campus responsibilities must follow university rules for testing before you come to campus. If you live off-campus, but you have on-campus responsibilities starting before January 19, contact SHaW at 860-486-4700 to learn about requirements or accommodations for being on-campus.

Quarantine and arrival rules are established by individual U.S. states. Check the latest rules for travelers to Connecticut, including a very detailed FAQ, on this webpage. Travelers who were present in all U.S. states other than Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey within 10 days prior to arrival to Connecticut, or who were present in any country outside the U.S. within 10 days before arrival,  must complete a travel form (available here), and must either quarantine for 10 days after arrival or submit proof of negative COVID test taken up to 72 hours before, or anytime within that 10 days after arrival, to break quarantine early.  To be exempt from the state of Connecticut self-quarantine requirement, submit a copy of your negative test result to  DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov.

Question #7 in the FAQ defines quarantine expectations for the state of Connecticut (where you can and cannot go during quarantine). Remember, if you live on campus, you will also be subject to campus self-quarantine requirements.

What to expect at Bradley International Airport (Windsor Locks, Connecticut).

What to expect at Logan International Airport (Boston).

What to expect at JFK International Airport (New York), LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airports

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

International Student Study Requirements for Spring 2021 (Distance Learning)

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ISSS has confirmed updated guidance from the U.S. government regarding international students and distance learning for the Spring 2021 semester.

Please note the following rules and requirements:

  • Current students who were enrolled March 9, 2020 or earlier: Students who were enrolled in a U.S. academic program on March 9, 2020 and have continued to maintain F-1 visa status may study fully online while in the U.S. Also, if you are studying full time from your home country, ISSS may keep your SEVIS record active while you are gone, even if your total absence exceeds 5 months.
  • Current students who arrived after March 9, 2020: Students who arrived in the U.S. to begin your program after March 9, 2020 were required to take at least one in-person or hybrid course during Fall 2020 as part of your full-time enrollment. In Spring 2021, this requirement continues, and you must have at least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your Spring 2021 full time course load.
  • New students for Spring 2021: Students who will travel to the U.S. to begin a program for Spring 2021 must have at least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your full-time enrollment.

Special Situations

  • Former students returning on an initial attendance I-20: Students who were present and enrolled in a program of study on March 9, 2020, but who have not maintained continuous F-1 status, and will return to the U.S. on an I-20 issued for initial attendance, should enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course if returning to the United States for Spring 2021 semester.
  • SEVIS Transfer and Change Education Level Students: Students who are new to their UConn program for Spring 2021, but were in the U.S. on March 9, 2020 studying at another institution, or in a different UConn program, and have continued their F-1 status through the SEVIS Transfer process or Change Education Level process may study fully online while in the U.S.
  • Change of Visa Status Students: Students who are requesting a change of visa status to F-1 with an I-20 start date of Spring 2021 or earlier should enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your full-time enrollment. While this situation is not directly addressed in the government guidance, we suggest you follow this, even if you were present and enrolled at a U.S. institution in another visa status on March 9, 2020.
  • J-1 Visa Students: If you are in the U.S. on a J-1 student visa for study, we anticipate the same rules will apply as noted above. We are still awaiting official guidance from the Department of State on this matter, but in past semesters the Department of State has mirrored the guidance for F-1 students.

 

Questions? Please contact international@uconn.edu and your message will be forwarded to your ISSS Advisor.

Updates to OPT litigation, H-1B Rules

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Great news for international students on F visas! On November 30th, a federal district court indicated they will deny a labor union’s ongoing litigation against the federal government, which threatened to overturn the post-completion OPT and STEM OPT benefits for F-1 students. This action means the OPT and STEM OPT benefits are no longer threatened by this lawsuit. More information can be found here.

Also, on December 1, 2020 a federal district court locked two new rules impacting H-1B visas from implementation, citing the government agencies behind the rules, did not have just cause to publish the rules without a notice/comment period. More information can be found on the NAFSA website.

Students with Spring 2021 I-20/DS-2019 Program Start Dates

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We look forward to welcoming you in just a few months. This is a reminder that students who will arrive in the U.S. for Spring 2021 semester must take a full-time course load, and at least one of those courses must be an in-person or hybrid course. Please work with your academic advisor to select a suitable course or set of courses for this option.

If you will not arrive for Spring 2021, you must notify ISSS. Students who will arrive for a later semester must request an updated I-20 form or DS-2019 form by submitting the SEVIS Defer-Request Update to I-20/DS-2019 form. We ask that undergraduate students complete this form by December 7, and graduate students complete this form by December 19, if they know they will not come. We understand that some students may not yet know the outcome of their visa applications by these dates, and if you are unsure, you may submit this form after the deadline. If you will cancel your enrollment, please contact international@uconn.edu as well as your program admission office.

Information for Current Students, including students who are outside the U.S.

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Remember, current students must notify ISSS how they plan to study next semester, by completing the Spring 2021 Active Student Check In Form. Please submit this form by December 7 if you are an undergraduate student, and December 19 if you are a graduate student. If you are not sure of your Spring semester plans by these deadlines, you can wait to submit the form until your plans are confirmed.   If you graduate in December, do not complete this form.

UConn Student Health Insurance Plan for Spring 2021: Students who complete the Spring 2021 Active Student Check-In Form and confirm that they will study outside the United States during Spring 2021 will have the fee for UConn Student Health Insurance Plan removed from their bill, and you will not have UConn Health Insurance coverage for that semester. If you wish to keep your UConn Health Insurance while outside the U.S., or if you will need the insurance in case you return to the U.S. within the coverage period, you must contact Tresca Smith (tresca.smith@uconn.edu) and ask to remain enrolled in the UConn Student Health Insurance Plan. Otherwise, you may expect to have the insurance fee removed (and you will lose the insurance coverage for Spring 21 semester) within 1-2 weeks after you submit the Spring 2021 Active Student Check-In Form, and at the earliest, next week. You are responsible for ensuring that you have your own health insurance coverage while in your home country if you do not keep the UConn Student Health Insurance Plan. This update does not impact insurance coverage for Graduate Assistants who have their insurance through the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

Apply to Be an International Graduate Buddy!

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International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) seeks graduate student volunteers to participate in a new International Graduate Student Buddy program to welcome incoming international graduate students for the Spring 2021 semester.

This program is designed to assist new international graduate students adjust to life in the United States and at UConn. Buddies are volunteers and may be international or American graduate students. Buddies will have the opportunity to gain leadership skills, meet and connect with new international students, and help to create a welcoming environment for new students.

To apply to be an International Graduate Buddy, please complete the online application form by Monday, December 7. More information about the program requirements can also be found on the application form.

For more information, contact: Libby Novak at abigail.novak@uconn.edu