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IMMIGRATION SPOTLIGHT

In this week's edition:

Announcements: ISSI Awards
Top Questions of the Week: OPT Exceeded Unemployment Notice, OPT Start Date, International Visitors for NYU Commencement, Tax Questions
Workshops: OPT, Visa, Off-Campus Employment, and Tax Workshops

ANNOUNCEMENTS

International Student Support Initiative (ISSI) Awards

Nomination Deadline: April 7th

ISSI invites nominations for awards recognizing support for and leadership within the international student community at NYU. This year's award categories are:

International Student Solidarity Award for NYU Professionals
International Student Solidarity Award for NYU Students
International Student Leadership Award

Learn more about the ISSI awards and submit a nomination by April 7th!

TOP QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK

I got an email/letter saying I have been unemployed for over 90 days but I have been working. OR, I got an email saying I have not reported my employment, but I already returned home and do not want to work on Post-Completion OPT anymore. What should I do?

First, determine who sent the email/letter. Is it from a US government agency (USCIS/SEVP), or is it from OGS? If the email/letter is from a US government agency, please schedule an appointment to meet with an OGS advisor to discuss your case at length.

If you have received an email from OGS, please follow the instructions provided in the email:

Submit all updates on our Report Updates while on the OPT page if you have been working on Post-Completion OPT.
If you have already departed the US and do not intend to use your OPT, or if you have changed your immigration status, please submit the End My F-1 Status eform.

I got my OPT I-20 from OGS, but I now want to change the OPT dates. Can I do that?

Did you already submit your OPT application to USCIS? If you have not yet submitted your OPT application to USCIS but want to change your OPT dates, please contact our office so we can give you next steps. You should not use the same OPT request form that you had completed for your original OPT I-20 to submit this request.

My parents are applying for a visa to come to my graduation ceremony. What documents will they need?

Please see the OGS website for International Visitors. The NYU commencement invitation letter information is also on the webpage. For graduates who are able to access the StudentLink Center in person, simply book an in-person appointment at the StudentLink Center with a StudentLink Counselor to receive your commencement letter of invitation. For graduates who are unable to access the StudentLink Center in person, email a request for a Commencement Invitation Letter to StudentLink@nyu.edu from your NYU email address.

Who can help me with tax questions?

Unfortunately, NYU is not equipped to advise on individual tax issues; however, OGS has some resources for students. Please check the information on our Tax website which has some basic information, tax resources, FAQs, and Glacier Tax Prep software (free tax filing software available to NYU students, alumni, and their families).

You can contact the Glacier Tax Prep Support Center via the Help link at the top of any screen when you are logged in for questions. You may also choose to register for and attend one of the tax workshops listed below in the Workshops section of this email. Beyond that, you must consult with a tax professional as listed in the Helpful Resources section of our Tax website.

WORKSHOPS

How to prepare your OPT application for the US government (USCIS)

March 21st l 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
March 23rd | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
March 28th | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
March 30th | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

After you've received your new OPT I-20, you should attend this OPT application Q&A session where an OGS advisor will go over the OPT application documents so you can make sure your application meets all the guidelines, and you can ask any final questions you have before you submit your application to USCIS! If you're just starting to familiarize yourself with OPT and need more introductory information, get started by reviewing the information on our Post-Completion OPT web page.

Post-Completion OPT Webinar

March 22nd l 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET

Are you an F-1 international student getting ready to graduate? This workshop is designed to give you a firm understanding of what OPT is (it's a form of work authorization for students in F-1 status), how to apply for OPT, the processing timeline, what documents you’ll need, travel advice, and reporting requirements. We also briefly cover tax, health insurance, and OPT extensions.

The Student Visa Application and Interview: What to Expect

March 23rd l 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET

Learn about the process to get a US student visa, what to expect for the day of your visa interview, possible outcomes of your student visa application, and resources to turn to if your application is delayed or denied.

STEM OPT Webinar

March 24th l 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET

For F-1 international students who are already on post-OPT, you probably already know if you’re eligible for the STEM OPT extension. This is an additional 24 months of OPT work authorization for students with a US degree in certain majors of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We highly recommend attending this webinar about 4 months before your current OPT EAD card is set to expire. During this webinar, we will review eligibility for the extension, the application process, reporting responsibilities, travel, and how Cap Gap extension often overlaps with the STEM extension.

Off-Campus Employment Options for F-1 Students

March 30th l 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET

Are you an F-1 international student at NYU who’s interested in working/interning off-campus, but not sure what your next step should be? Chances are you’ll need work authorization in order to maintain your F-1 status. This workshop covers what you need to know about your off-campus employment options: an overview of different types of work authorization (namely CPT and OPT), what to consider when choosing the option that fits for you, and how to get through the application process. We’ll also briefly cover employment-related topics like social security, tax, health insurance, and extensions.

Tax Workshops

NYU provides international students with tax filing software, Glacier Tax Prep (GTP) to meet the annual federal tax filing requirements. Learn more about GTP by attending one of their live Q&A sessions! The GTP Q&A sessions allow you to ask a question to a Tax Professional and then leave, if desired– it is not necessary to stay the entire hour, but it is possible to stay the entire time and hear others’ questions.

Sessions are offered multiple times per week through April 17. See the full list of GTP Live Sessions with a Tax Professional.

Glacier Tax Prep Q&A

March 20th | 1:05 PM - 2:00 PM ET
March 22nd | 4:05 PM - 5:00 PM ET
March 23rd | 2:05 PM - 3:00 PM ET
March 27th | 1:05 PM - 2:00 PM ET
March 28th | 8:05 PM - 9:00 PM ET
March 31st | 11:05 AM - 12:00 PM ET

To participate:

Log into GTP [You must be logged into your NYU account on the web browser you are using in order for the GTP link to work.]
From the menu, select “LIVE General Nonresident Alien Tax Information and GTP Q&A Sessions”
Click on the link and enter the Passcode

Nonresident Tax Workshop by Sprintax

Get an overview of tax for nonresident students and scholars, including who must file a 2022 US tax return, what income forms students/scholars may receive, and forms that need to be completed and sent to the IRS. Learn terms like FICA, ITIN and Form 1098-T, what happens if students don’t file, or misfile, details on state tax returns, IRS stimulus payments and how to use Sprintax to file your nonresident tax paperwork.

See the full list of Sprintax Tax Webinars offered this spring through April 14th.