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://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/index.html
Editor’s Note: Many international students have begun to receive their W-2 forms (Wage and Tax Statement) from their employers for the 2010 tax year, along with other documents from their banks, etc. The ISSS will be announcing the availability of CINTAX, free income tax preparation software, within the ten days.
This Thursday, February 3, is the Chinese Lunar New Year and Spring Festival. The New Year and Spring Festival celebrations take place in many countries in Asia, not just in China, but the holiday has it origins in China. In China, this is the year of the Rabbit (there are 12 different animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac). To learn more about the holiday and the symbols of the Zodiac, visit:
http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/chinese-new-year.htm
http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/chinese-zodiac.htm
ISSS-BU News wishes all of our readers celebrating New Year and Spring Festival a happy and prosperous year!
Today’s issue is longer than usual. Scroll the CONTENTS index first to identify articles of interest to you.
CONTENTS:
1. National Holidays for February
2. Are You Maintaining a Full Time Course Load?
4. Add/Drop Deadline is February 4
5. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, February 4
7. Spring 2011 Job and Internship Fair Coming February 9, 2011
8. February 11 Deadline for Faculty-Student Scholarship Program Applications
9. Spring 2011 International Spouses Program (ISP) English as a Second Language Classes
10. U.S. Peace Corps 50th Anniversary is Coming Soon
11. The Opole, Philharmonic of Poland to Perform February 15
12. H-1B Cap Has Been Reached For Fiscal Year 2011
13. Income Tax Information: Incorrectly Withheld Social Security and Medicare Tax
1. National Holidays for February
The following countries are celebrating national holidays during the month of February:
|
Country |
Date |
|
China |
3-Feb |
|
Sri Lanka |
4-Feb |
|
New Zealand |
6-Feb |
|
Grenada |
7-Feb |
|
Iran |
11-Feb |
|
Lithuania |
16-Feb |
|
Gambia |
18-Feb |
|
USA |
21-Feb |
|
St. Lucia |
22-Feb |
|
Brunei Darussalam |
23-Feb |
|
Guyana |
23-Feb |
|
Estonia |
24-Feb |
|
Kuwait |
25-Feb |
|
Dominican Republic |
27-Feb |
2. Are You Maintaining a Full Time Course Load?
ISSS would like to take this opportunity to remind students in F-1 and J-1 status that you are required to be registered for a full-time course load each semester. What constitutes a full-time course load varies according to academic level.
|
Academic Level |
Minimum Full Time Course Load: |
|
Exchange Students |
12 credits per semester |
|
Undergraduates |
12 credits per semester |
|
Graduate Master's: completion of less than 24 credits in your program (Class G1) |
12 credits per semester |
|
Graduate Master's: Completion of 24 credits or over in your program (Class G2) |
9 credits per semester |
|
Graduate Master’s students who are course completed and need only project or thesis to complete program |
1 credit or more per semester, plus additional credits added by The Graduate School for full-time certification at9 credits |
|
Graduate PhD students: Master’s done and have begun doctorate (Class G3) |
9 credits per semester |
|
Graduate PhD students: Course completed or advanced to candidacy and engaged in pre-dissertation or dissertation research (Class G4) |
1 credit or more per semester, plus additional credits added by The Graduate School for full-time certification at9 credits |
Special Note for Graduate Students: Graduate students (both master's and PhD) who are course-completed and register for thesis, project, pre-dissertation, dissertation or other course rubrics that are eligible to be certified as full time even though the number of credits will be below the normal full-time course load do not need special permission from the ISSS for a reduced course load. Instead, such students must submit the Graduate School's "Certification of Full-Time Working Towards Degree Status For Students Not Receiving Funding” OR “Certification of Full-Time Working Towards Degree Status Funded Students Only” to their department each semester for filing with the Graduate School.
A graduate student who can be considered as “full-time” with fewer than 9 credits (such as a student taking thesis or dissertation credit) should still show as 9 credits in BU Brain because additional credits of GRAD 700 (if not funded) or GRAD 701 (if funded) will be added by the Graduate School to bring the student to 9 credits, once the student submits the required “Certification of Full-Time Working Towards Degree Status Form.”
There are some very limited exceptions to the full-time course requirement. See the next article, below. For complete information on full-time registration, stop by the ISSS to obtain a handout on Rules for Maintaining a Full-Time Course Load, or view the handout on the ISSS website at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/immigration/ruleftload.html
3. Be Sure You Have Permission in Advance to Take Less Than a Full-Time Course Load, If Applicable to You
There are very few exceptions to the full time course load rule for students in F-1 status. Those exceptions include academic difficulty, medical condition, and completion of study, and there are strict criteria for each. In every instance, you must obtain PRIORauthorization from the ISSS. Only once you receive this authorization from the ISSS can you then drop the course. A F-1 student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be considered out of status, and must be reported in SEVIS as having dropped below a full-time course load without authorization.
There is a special form for each of the three exceptions, available in the ISSS and as a downloadable document on the ISSS website: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/essential-forms/index.html
Each form must be completed by the student (and in the case of reduction in course load due to academic difficulty or due to completion of study, completed by the student’s academic advisor) and approved by the ISSS before the course may be dropped.
For detailed information on the rules that allow for a course load reduction for F-1 students, stop by the ISSS to obtain a handout on “Permissible Reasons Under F-1 Regulations to Register for Less Than a Full Time Course Load” or view the handout on the ISSS website at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/immigration/lesscourse.html
Questions or concerns regarding this requirement? Come to the ISSS or send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu
4. Add/Drop Deadline is February 4
Students are reminded that Friday, February 4, is the add/drop course deadline. Changes to students’ course schedules must be made on-line on BU-Brain by 11:59 p.m. to avoid a withdrawal (“W”) on their transcript. Students who make changes after the deadline will also be required to pay a $20 late add/drop fee per class payable to Student Accounts.
5. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, February 4
Good company! Free food! An opportunity to visit with friends and classmates!
This month's International Coffee Hour will be held on Friday, February 4 from 3:30-5:00pm in Old Union Hall in the University Union. This is a great occasion for all international students, both new and continuing, to enjoy food and beverages in a relaxing atmosphere.
The Coffee Hour strives to be a space where the entire Binghamton University community, including international students, U.S. students, faculty/staff, and community members are welcome. The coffee hours are informal and provide an opportunity to meet and learn more about each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Each coffee hour has free hot and cold beverages, breads and cookies, sponsored by a different department on campus.
The sponsor of this month's International Coffee Hour is the Office of Residential Life.
Feeling stressed? Need to relax? Come learn how to relax through a variety of techniques that will vary weekly, including guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and more. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to be part of this relaxation community any week they wish – no appointment is necessary. Group meets in the Counseling Center (Library North Room 1202 – first office on the left as you cross the bridge from the Lecture Hall Building into the Bartle Library Lobby) every Tuesday from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. For additional information, contact: Sefali Bhutwala or Tracy Lord at 607-777-2772 or by email atbhutwala@binghamton.edu or tlord@binghamton.edu.
7. Spring 2011 Job and Internship Fair Coming February 9, 2011
The Spring 2011 Job and Internship Fair will take place Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 11:00am to 3:30pm in the Events Center. There will be an OCCT Shuttle from the UU Bus Stop to the West Gym from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Bring copies of your resume and dress professionally!
For more information, visit http://binghamton.experience.com/stu/cf_details?fhnd=4902 or call 607-777-2400.
International students in F-1 or J-1 status are reminded that all off-campus employment, including internships, must be authorized before employment can begin. Questions? Come to the ISSS or send an e-mail message to intl.work@binghamton.eduRepresentatives of the ISSS will also be at the Job and Internship Fair.
8. February 11 Deadline for Faculty-Student Scholarship Program Applications
The deadline to apply for the 2011-2012 Faculty-Student Scholarship Program is Friday, February 11. Applicants must be juniors, seniors or graduate students during the 2011-12 academic year, and have a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Recipients will earn $3,200 working 10 hours per week during the fall and spring semester at one of following on-campus sites: adaptive technology, community project development, assistant for professional scholarship projects, financial education, marketing for the Writing Initiative, transfer equivalency, international student success, study abroad, video and multimedia, marketing and development (graduate students only).
Details and application available at http://www2.binghamton.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/index.html.
9. Spring 2011 International Spouses Program (ISP) English as a Second Language Classes
These are non-credit bearing classes for spouses of BU international students, faculty and staff. BU Research Scholars are welcome to join as well. These classes are NOT intended for current BU students. The focus is to practice conversation, reading, grammar skills and daily living in the United States. Classes began on Monday, January 24, 2011, but students are welcomed at any time
Two classes and a Discussion Group are offered this semester at the following times:
Basic Conversational English (Beginner- Pre-Intermediate):
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:45pm to 3:15pm in Science Library Room 311
Intermediate-Advanced English
Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30pm to 4:00pm in Academic Building B Room 113
Discussion Group:
Every Friday from 9:00am to 10:30am in the International Conference Room, Hinman Commons Room 120B. Stop by the ISSS for directions.
A $5.00 fee per semester per student is requested towards the copying of materials (no need to purchase a textbook for these classes). The instructor will collect this fee.
Our ESL instructor is Ms. Myriam Stanton-Zenunaj. Myriam has many years experience teaching English overseas and ESL here in the United States. This is her third year as our ISP ESL instructor.
If you have any questions about these ESL classes, please contact the instructor at mstanton@binghamton.edu
10. U.S. Peace Corps 50th Anniversary is Coming Soon
Binghamton University is planning a day of activities to recognize the 50th anniversary of the US Peace Corps on March 1st, 2011. We are looking for international students who had contact with Peace Corps volunteers in their home country. If you had contact with a Peace Corps volunteer as a teacher, coworker, neighbor, friend, etc., please contact Meg Mitzel in the Career Development Center at mmitzel@binghamton.edu by February 10th.
Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the US Peace Corps, March 1, 2011
11. The Opole, Philharmonic of Poland to Perform February 15
On Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 8 pm, the Opole National Philharmonic of Poland brings an exciting classical program to Binghamton University’s Anderson Center stage as part of their first American tour. The program includes works by Meniuszko, Wieniawski, Liszt and Chopin
The Opole, National Philharmonic of Poland was founded in 1947 and is considered one of Poland’s leading orchestras. The Opole has participated in many festivals and cultural events and has toured extensively throughout Europe. The orchestra was the only Polish orchestra invited to participate in the Gala Concert in Rome for the 80th birthday of Pope John Paul II.
Ticket prices: Students, $21; BU Faculty & Staff, $36; Seniors, $36; General public, $41 (Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more). For tickets and information, call 607- 777-ARTS or order on-line http://anderson.binghamton.edu
12. H-1B Cap Has Been Reached For Fiscal Year 2011
On January 27, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the annul H-1B Cap (or limit) had been reached for fiscal year 2011. January 26, 2011 was the final receipt date for new H-1B petitions with an employment start date between now and September 30, 2011. USCIS will reject any cap-subject petitions for new H-1B visas that arrive after January 26. USCIS will apply a computer-generated random selection process to all petitions subject to the cap that were received on January 26, 2011.
New H-1B cap-subject petitions will then have to be filed with a start date no earlier than October 1, 2011. Such applications will be accepted for filing by USCIS no sooner than April 1, 2011.
The H-1B visa is the professional worker visa frequently used by foreign nationals who have bachelor degrees or higher, often following a period of Optional Practical Training. Petitions for the H-1B visa are filed by U.S. employers. The H-1B program is used to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in a variety of fields.
Petitions filed on behalf of current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap will not be counted towards the congressionally mandated FY 2011 H-1B cap. This includes petitions filed to:
To read the USCIS announcement, visit:
13. Income Tax Issues: Incorrectly Withheld Social Security and Medicare Tax
We would like to remind our readers that during tax season, each issue of ISSS-BU News contains an article on U.S. income tax. To reference previous articles, go to the ISSS web site and select from the back issues of ISSS-BU News (the first income tax article appeared in the November 29, 2010 issue). You will find them at:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/isss-bu-news/2010/index.html
Today's income tax article is about incorrectly withheld Social Security (FICA) and Medicare Tax from earnings (wages), and how to get the money refunded to you.
Different kinds of taxes are withheld by employers. The W-2 form (Wage and Tax Statement) sent to you by your employer each January has boxes for reporting withholding of Federal Income Tax (box 2), Social Security Tax (box 4), Medicare Tax (box 6), State Income Tax (box 17) and local income tax (box 19). This article focuses on box 4 and box 6.
F-1 and J-1 students who have been in the U.S. in this status for 5 years or less (2006 or later), and J-1 scholars in the U.S. in this status for 2 years or less (2009 or later) who have been employed ON CAMPUS are exempt from Social Security and Medicare Tax (boxes 4 and 6). F-1 and J-1 students who worked off campus with the appropriate work authorization (economic hardship employment or practical training) are also exempt from these two taxes. However, F-1and J-1 students in the U.S. in this status for more than five years, J-2 dependents, J-1 scholars and faculty in the U.S. for more than two years, those in other non-immigrant statuses, and those who worked without authorization ARE subject to Social Security (FICA) and Medicare Tax.
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student who thinks that Social Security and/or Medicare Taxes were withheld from your pay incorrectly, because you were in the U.S. in this status for less than five years and had appropriate work authorization, then U.S. federal regulation requires that you contact the employer who issued you the W-2 and inform them of the error, AND ask that they refund you the money. If the employer cannot or will not issue the refund, there is a special procedure you can use to obtain a refund of Social Security and Medicare Tax. This procedure is entirely separate from filing your income tax forms.
Come to the ISSS for the special handout "Procedures for Claiming Refund of Social Security Tax." It includes two special IRS forms, Form 843 and Form 8316. This document is also available on line at: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/procfica.htmlYou will be required to show on the forms that you attempted to contact your employer first. You will also be required to attach copies of your work authorization, a copy of your I-94 card, and a copy of your W-2 form. It all gets mailed to the IRS office in Austin, Texas. You should keep copies of everything you send and allow from eight to ten weeks for processing.
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