An electronic news service for international students and scholars, owned by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York
Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
Editor’s Note: Today is Presidents Day in the United States, a federal holiday. Banks and Post Offices are closed. BU classes are not in session and most University offices will re-open on Tuesday, February 22.
On Friday, February 18, the ISSS announced that on-line income tax webinars are now available to assist you with your income tax filing. Access all of the webinars at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/webworkshp.html There will also be a volunteer available in the ISSS during certain hours to help you with your non-resident income tax questions. Please see the article below for details.
ISSS-BU News will continue to publish income tax articles throughout tax season. Also, helpful information is available in the “Taxes” section of the ISSS website, at the following link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/index.html
CONTENTS:
1. International Student Grant-in-Aid Applications Now Being Accepted
2. International Health Insurance ID Cards for Spring 2011
3. Moved Recently? Time to Report Your Change of Address
4. Thinking of Applying for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)? Be Sure to Submit a Complete Application to Avoid Unnecessary Delays
5. Travel Grant Awards Now Being Accepted for Graduate Students Presenting at Professional Conferences
6. Offices That Can Help
7. View Summer 2011 Course Schedule
8. Income Tax Question: “Do I Need To File a Tax Return if I Earned No Income During 2010 But I Was in the United States?”
9. Income Tax Information: Who Needs To File a New York State Income Tax Return?
10. Income Tax Information: In-person Assistance With Your Non-Resident Income Tax Forms
11. Income Tax Information: Filing Out and Mailing Your Income Tax Forms
1. International Student Grant-in-Aid Applications Now Being Accepted
Each semester, awards of up to $500 are made to a small number of international students who have a severe financial need. To be eligible, students must be in F-1 or J-1 status, have been in attendance at Binghamton University at least one year (began their studies at Binghamton University in Spring 2010 or earlier), document need, have no outstanding obligations to the university, and be full-time students in good standing.
Some students may find themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own. Examples can include reduced support from a sponsor, or unanticipated expenses. Applicants are strongly advised to carefully document their financial situation when submitting the application form, as there are always more students seeking assistance than there are funds.
Students with outstanding balances in their student account with the University should note that based on BU policy, any scholarship award will first be applied towards the balance on their student bill. Applications are available now in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and must be submitted no later than Monday, February 28, 2011.
2. International Health Insurance ID Cards for Spring 2011
Registered international students at Binghamton University are automatically enrolled for the SUNY International Student Health and Accident Insurance policy at the start of each semester, except for those who receive health insurance as an employee benefit (GAs, TAs and RAs.) For the Spring 2011 semester, your insurance dates back to 15 January 2011. The cost of the SUNY International Student Health and Accident Insurance is included in your tuition bill (INT’L. INS.”).
On Thursday, February 17, 2011, international students who are enrolled in the SUNY International Health Insurance Program were sent an email message to their Binghamton.edu e-mail account, with the subject “SUNY/Health Insurance ID Card.” The email message was sent from HTHWorldwide.com. This email message contains instructions for how to download your health insurance ID card. Once you print the insurance ID e-card you will want keep this ID card in your wallet.
For further information, please visit the “Health Insurance section of the ISSS webpage, http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/index.html Review How to Use Your International Student Health Insurance. If you need to locate a doctor or health care facility, review Finding a Participating Doctor or Hospital.
If you have questions about your health insurance coverage, or about a billing for services you receive from a doctor’s office or hospital, request an appointment with Terry Creeden, the International Health Insurance Coordinator by calling the ISSS office for an appointment, 607-777-2510. Terry and Lorraine Medionte, the International Health Insurance Assistant, also have walk in hours every Tuesday from 10:30am until 12:15pm. You may e-mail Terry and Lorraine at intl.insure@binghamton.edu
3. Moved Recently? Time to Report Your Change of Address
Have you moved? Did you remember that SEVIS requires that you report your change of address to the ISSS? The ISSS makes it easy for you to comply with the address requirement by filing out a change of address form on the web. Visit: http://isss.binghamton.edu/forms/addrChange.html
4. Thinking of Applying for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)? Be Sure to Submit a Complete Application to Avoid Unnecessary Delays
This is the time of year that many international students in F-1 status apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is the authorization required for any paid or unpaid internship. Planning is very important to making a successful CPT application.
Your application needs to be complete before you submit it to the ISSS office. There are three essential elements to a successful CPT application:
1. Unless the internship is a degree completion requirement for all students in your academic program, a minimum of 1 credit of your full-time registration during the CPT period must be related to your employment. This includes Winter and Summer Terms, as well as Spring and Fall semesters.
2. The Advisor's Recommendation Form for Curricular Practical Training must be completely filled out on both sides. Be sure your advisor has signed your form and filled out the required "Remarks" section of the form
3. You must submit an offer letter from the employer that gives the start and end date of the proposed CPT, the number of hours to be worked each week and a brief description of the duties of the position
Processing of a CPT cannot begin until all the necessary parts of the application are received. Applications that are incomplete can take more than 10 business days to process because staff will need to wait until you submit the missing information. You can avoid unnecessary delays by planning ahead and submitting a complete application.
If you have any questions about how to apply for CPT authorization contact us at intl.work@binghamton.edu
5. Travel Grant Awards Now Being Accepted for Graduate Students Presenting at Professional Conferences
The Graduate School is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2011 Binghamton Foundation Travel Grant Award. For more information and to access the on-line application, visit this link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/grad-school/prospective-students/funding-graduate-studies/foundation-travel-grant.html
Scroll to bottom of the page for the link to the application. The deadline for submission is April 7, 2011.
Many international students regard the ISSS as their first stop for assistance, and the ISSS appreciates that very much! Today, the ISSS would also like to highlight some other offices that may be of help to you. Learn more about them by clicking on their websites or by visiting.Office of Residential Life, TU- Room 213, College in the Woods:
607-777-2321 http://reslife.binghamton.edu
Dean of Students Office, University Union West-207
607-777-2804 http://www2.binghamton.edu/dean-of-students/
University Counseling Center, Library North -1202
607-777-2772 http://www2.binghamton.edu/counseling/
New York State University, Police Couper Admin Building-G35
607-777-2393 http://www2.binghamton.edu/police/
Human Resources Office, Couper Admin -412
607- 777-2187 http://www2.binghamton.edu/human-resources/
Office of Student Conduct, TU-3J – College in the Woods
607-777-6210 http://studentconduct.binghamton.edu/
Office of University Ombudsman, Couper Admin Room 138
607- 777-2388 http://www2.binghamton.edu/ombudsman/
Services for Students with Disabilities, University Union -119
607-777-2686 http://www2.binghamton.edu/ssd/
Office of Transfer Services Initiatives, College in the Woods IR Room 102
607-777-4709
University Health Service
607-777-2221 http://www2.binghamton.edu/health/
English as a Second Language Program, Library North Room 2412
607-777-6725 http://www2.binghamton.edu/esl/
Career Development Center, Library South Ground Fl. 500
607-777-2400 http://www2.binghamton.edu/career-development-center/
7. View Summer 2011 Course Schedule
Thinking about taking a BU course(s) over the summer? You can get a head start. The course schedule for summer 2011 is now available on the Registrar’s website at http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/students/course-registration/schedule-of-classes/index.html Click on “view schedule” and select “Summer 2011” from the drop-down menu.
8. Income Tax Question: “Do I Need To File a Tax Return if I Earned No Income During 2010 But I Was in the United States?”
Many students come to the ISSS to inquire if they need to file an income tax return if they earned no income during calendar year 2010, but were physically present in the United States. The answer is “yes” if you are a non-resident for tax purposes (meaning, you were in F or J status in the United States in 2010 and the first time you were in F or J status was no earlier than sometime in calendar year 2006).
Such students and scholars can use CINTAX for these “no income” tax filings, which require that just Federal Form 8843 be completed. For full information, visit this link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/zerousincome.html
9. Income Tax Information: Who Needs To File a New York State Income Tax Return?
Staff in the ISSS are frequently asked, do I need to file a New York State income tax return?
You will want to file a New York State tax form:
You must file New York State form IT-203 if you have income from a New York State source and your New York adjusted gross income is more than your New York State standard deduction ($7500 for single or married individuals, $15,000 if a married individual from Canada, Mexico, Korea or student from India whose spouse is in the United States but earned no income). New York state adjusted gross income includes income from New York State and any other states you may have worked in 2010.
Note: New York adjusted gross income is determined by completing IT-203 lines 1 through 31 and comparing line 31 Federal Amount (which includes income from NY State and other states) with your New York standard deduction. Thus, you may be required to file a New York State form IT-203 if your wages from work in other states plus your New York state wages is greater than your New York State standard deduction.
For help, view our new webinar on this topic, titled “Who Needs To File NYS Tax Forms, at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/webworkshp.html
For those of you who will need to file a New York State tax return you may prefer to print your New York State tax forms on the computer rather than handwrite them. The New York State Tax Department provides “fillable forms” on-line that you can then print from your computer. Links to all New York State forms may be found at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/nysformit.html
but you are urged to view the webinars that the ISSS has recorded on the New York State forms, available at http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/webworkshp.html for line-by-line instructions on how to complete them.
10. Income Tax Information: In-person Assistance With Your Non-Resident Income Tax Forms
ISSS is pleased to announce the availability of in-person assistance with completing your non-resident income tax forms. This service is primarily to assist you if you need help with New York State forms IT-2, IT-203 and IT-203ATT, since CINTAX is available for completing your federal returns. However, federal non-resident tax questions can be answered as well.
Mr. Jim Rollo, who graduated from Binghamton University’s School of Management in 1984 and is a local businessman, will be available beginning Friay, March 18 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am to 1pm in Room 126, in the Hinman Commons portion of Rockefeller Center (up the outdoor stairs and enter to your left). Then, follow the signs down the hall to Room 126. This service will end on April 15.
Appointments are not required. Be sure to bring your income tax forms with you.
11. Income Tax Information: Filling Out and Mailing Your Income Tax Forms
This information applies to F and J students who are non-residents for tax purposes (those who entered the United States in F or J status in calendar year 2006 or later).
Use CINTAX to fill out and print your federal income tax forms. If you have not yet obtained a CINTAX access code, go to: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/cintax.html Remember that non-resident income tax forms cannot be e-filed. You must print them and mail them to the appropriate address.
Be sure to sign both your federal and state income tax returns BEFORE mailing them, and be sure to make keep a copy for your records. For information on assembling and mailing your income tax forms, see: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/taxaddress.html
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