News
Travel Signature Reminder, Taxes, Employment Authorization, Summer Storage for Undergrads, & Other Reminders
Mar. 27, 2012
1 – Announcements: Invitation letters & Employment Authorization
2 – Reminders: Travel Signatures, Taxes & Summer Storage for Undergrads
3 – ISSO Open Mic: March Submissions
1 - ANNOUNCEMENTS
Invitation letters
If you are graduating and have relatives applying for tourist visas to attend your commencement, or if you have a relative visiting this summer, you can request an invitation letter from the ISSO here: http://sys2.unet.brandeis.edu/bwebforms/view/req_invitation/
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Employment Authorization
Graduating F-1 students, if you are planning on applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training, we want to remind you to plan in advance! Applications on average take 2-3 months to be approved. For more information, see the workshop schedule and drop-off hours below.
Summer Internships: International Undergraduate Students and Employment Authorization
Wednesday, April 18th at 4:00pm at the ISSO
Do the following describe you?
* Undergraduate International Student on an F-1 Visa
* Wanting to participate in a summer internship in the U.S.
* Not sure what to do?
Attend this workshop to find out how to obtain work authorization for the summer break! This workshop will focus primarily on the Brandeis summer internship course (INT 92g).
All other Spring 2012 ISSO Employment Workshops will cover:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT, for F-1 Visa holders), 3pm-3:30pm
Optional Practical Training (OPT, for F-1 Visa holders), 3:30pm-4:30pm
Academic Training (AT, for J-1 Visa holders), 4:30pm-5pm
Wednesday, March 28
Tuesday, April 3
Location: Kutz 215
ISSO OPT/CPT Spring 2012 Drop Off Hours
If you are planning to drop off your OPT or CPT application, the Spring 2012 ISSO times are:
Mondays 10am-1pm
Tuesdays 1pm-4pm
Thursdays 1pm-4pm
Fridays 10am-1pm
OPT Information: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/current/employment/opt/index.html
Check List for OPT Drop-Offs: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/current/employment/opt/opt_app.pdf
CPT Information: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/current/employment/cpt/index.html
Check List for CPT Drop-Offs: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/current/employment/cpt/cpt_application_check_list.pdf
2 - REMINDERS
Travel Signatures
If you will be traveling outside of the U.S. this Spring Break (or summer), double check that you have gotten a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 that will be less than 6 months old when you re-enter the U.S. If you need a new signature, you can leave your I-20 or DS-2019 with the ISSO and retrieve it the following business day. For more information, see http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/travel/travelsignature.html. Please plan in advance!
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Taxes
Important Dates/Deadlines:
If you did not receive U.S.-sourced income in 2011, you still are required to file the 8843 by April 17, 2012.
If you did receive U.S.-sourced income in 2011, both Federal and Massachusetts State Taxes are due by April 17, 2012.
Windstar Tax Software access codes are available for purchase now!
Read ISSO's full tax email here: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/news/january2012/taxes.html
Check out ISSO's Tax Information page here: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/tax/index.html
This year, we have purchased the tax software program called Windstar, which helps international students and scholars file their U.S. Federal Income Tax Returns and Massachusetts State Tax Returns.
What is Windstar?
You can use Windstar if you are on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and have been enrolled as a student in the U.S. for less than five calendar years, or working in J-1 Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, or Professor categories in the U.S. for no more than two calendar years. The ISSO has purchased 500 licenses with individual access codes for Brandeis international students and scholars to access the software.
How much does Windstar cost?
The cost to you is only $5.00. (Purchasing tax filing software programs on your own can be costly, averaging $35 and up).
When and where can I purchase Windstar?
Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm in the ISSO
In order to obtain an access code, you need to come by the ISSO in person to fill out a waiver form and pay $5.00. It would be very helpful if you can bring the exact amount in cash (we are unable to accept personal checks or credit cards). Once you complete the waiver form, the ISSO will send an email to with your Windstar access code and instructions on logging on to Windstar.
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Undergraduate Summer Storage
The ISSO will send a separate email about Summer Storage offered by the Department of Community Living this Friday, 3/30. Please read the email carefully, as many details will change in order to streamline and improve the service.
3-ISSO OPEN MIC
What have you experienced for the first time in the U.S. and/or Brandeis?
Email isso@brandeis.edu by end of the month with your submissions. Just a paragraph or two is great! (See below for past submissions)
Feel free to include a photo!
In your email, indicate if you would like your submission to be anonymous or not!
Past submissions: http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/isso/openmic/index.html