Visit ISSS on the Web! http://isss.binghamton.edu
Editor’s Note: ISSS-BU News is being published one day later than usual this week.
Staff in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be unavailable all day Wednesday, June 15, while they attend a planning retreat. The office will be open for visitors to pick up and drop off forms. ISSS staff apologize for any inconvenience.
CONTENTS:
1. National Holidays for June
2. Have You Changed Your Address?
3. Getting Married in New York State
4. Latest Information on H-1B Cap Filings
5. Don’t Place Your Immigration Status at Risk: Some
Consequences of Illegal Employment
6. Can
International Students Purchase US Stocks?
The following countries are celebrating national holidays during the month of June:
|
Kenya |
1-June |
|
Samoa |
1-June |
|
Italy |
2-June |
|
Tonga |
4-June |
|
Sweden |
6-June |
|
Portugal |
10-June |
|
Philippines |
12-June |
|
Iceland |
17-June |
|
Seychelles |
18-June |
|
Luxembourg |
23-June |
|
Mozambique |
25-June |
|
Slovenia |
25-June |
|
Madagascar |
26-June |
|
Djibouti |
27-June |
2. Have You Changed Your Address?
Have
you moved recently? Do you have a new
address? International Students in F and
J status are reminded that reporting your change of address to the ISSS is a
requirement under federal SEVIS regulations.
The ISSS makes this requirement easy for you by providing a web form
where you can easily report this information.
Just visit:
http://saffairs.binghamton.edu/isss/webforms/changeofaddress/
for an easy-to-complete fillable form.
3. Getting Married in New York State
Staff in the ISSS are sometimes asked about the rules for getting married in New York State. The rules are the same whether two foreign nationals are marrying each other, or whether a foreign national is marrying a US citizen or US permanent resident.
New York
State has some very
helpful information on this topic at its website:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/married.htm
Please note that the information on the website explains
the procedures for having a legal marriage in New York.
It does not discuss US federal regulations for obtaining an immigration
benefit based on marriage to a US
citizen or US
permanent resident. For more information
on immigration benefits based on marriage, visit the US Citizenship and
Immigration Services website at:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=4c2515d27cf73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4c2515d27cf73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
4. Latest Information on H-1B Cap Filings
As ISSS-BU News was being prepared for publication, the most recent H-1B visa update was on Monday, June 13, 2011.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports that H-1B petitions continue to be processed. Approximately 15,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions (and approximately 10,200 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption have been filed. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.
USCIS will provide regular updates on the processing of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 H-1B petitions. The current update can be found on the USCIS’ Web site at www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
5. Don't Place Your Immigration Status At Risk: Some Consequences of Illegal Employment
The vast majority of Binghamton University international students have a good understanding of the federal immigration regulations with which they must comply* and cannot imagine violating any of them, as the risks are so great. This is especially true of F-1 student employment regulations, including practical training (which is limited to off campus employment that is directly related to a student's field of study) and authorized employment based on documented economic hardship.
But at one time or another, a student might wonder to himself or herself "Would anyone find out if I worked off campus without authorization, or took a job under authorized practical training that was not related to my field of study, or before I received my work authorization card?"
The short answer is, yes, so don't do it! -Here's why.
Any employment that is in violation
of your F-1 status is a deportable offense if it comes to the attention of the
Department of Homeland Security.
An employer who hires you for a position that does not comply with the
limitations set by your employment authorization category can be subject to
civil penalties and in some cases, criminal penalties.
Your employer is required to report
your earnings to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue
Service, and you are required to file an income tax return reporting those
earnings and paying any taxes due on them, even if the employment was not
authorized.
If at some point in the future, you decide to apply for U.S. permanent
residency (either through an employment petition, a petition filed by an
immediate relative, or through the diversity visa lottery), you are required to
submit copies of your past U.S. federal income tax returns as part of the
application. If previous employment is indicated on your tax returns, the
immigration officer can require that you present proof of work authorization
for those jobs.
Regardless of whether you are applying for permanent residency or some other non-immigrant status (such as H-1B), if previous employment is indicated on your immigration paperwork (such as an endorsement for optional practical training on an I-20, an internship on a resume, or some other evidence of work authorization) the immigration officer adjudicating the new application may request specific information regarding the previous employment and its applicability to the work authorization you held.
As students, you have worked very hard to achieve a U.S. college degree. Don't risk all the time and money you have invested in that goal. Do not rely on your employer to determine whether your job meets the requirements for your employment authorization. Remember that compliance with federal immigration regulations is your responsibility, and the consequences for non-compliance are punitive.
*For a summary of the federal
regulations with which students must comply, visit:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/immigration/validf1.html
The article on which this news item is based was first written in Fall 2003 by Ellen Badger, Director of International Student and Scholar Services. Stephen Yale-Loehr, nationally known immigration attorney with the law firm of Miller Mayer in Ithaca, New York, and an adjunct faculty member of Cornell University Law School, consulted on the original article's content.
6. Can International Students Purchase US Stocks?
Some months ago, a student in F-1 status visited the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to ask if there was any regulation that would prevent him from purchasing U.S. stocks.
The answer is that any international student with a U.S. social security number may purchase U.S. stocks. Given the current economic slowdown and the volatility of the U.S. stock market, this may not be a wise way to spend money at present, but there is no federal regulatory prohibition on stock purchases for international students.
Those who own U.S. stock should note that the company from whom you purchase shares of stock is required to report your capital gains (or losses) each year to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In turn, you must report these amounts on your annual federal (and if required) state income tax returns. The U.S. government will tax your capital gains. But, should you suffer a loss, you may be able to show the loss on your income tax return as well.
===============================================================================================================================
ISSS-BU is a listserv owned and managed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Division of Student Affairs, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. It is the publisher of ISSS-BU News. Permission is granted to freely distribute the information posted to this list as long as its contents remain unchanged.
To sign on to ISSS-BU from an
e-mail account on the Binghamton.edu server, send an e-mail
message to listserv@listserv.binghamton.edu
Leave the subject line blank. In
the message text, type:
subscribe ISSS-BU first name last
name
Replace “first name last name” with
your name.
If your e-mail account is on a server other than Binghamton.edu,
send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu
In the message text, type: Please subscribe isss-bu, your e-mail
address, your first and last name.
If you are a registered student and don't have an e-mail account, you may claim an e-mail address and password from https://buonline.binghamton.edu/banner Be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. If you encounter difficulty, visit the Help Desk in the lobby of the Computer Services building.
CONTENTS:
1. National Holidays for April
2. Join a Conversation on Promoting and Cultivating 2nd Language Research Skills Across the Disciplines On Wednesday, March 30
3. Presentation by BU International Alumni on How to Reach Your Career Goals, Thursday, March 31
4. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, April 1
5. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines THIS WEEK
6. April 1 is the Deadline for Spring 2011 Health Insurance Adjustments
7. Pre-Registration for Fall 2011 Begins March 31 for Graduate Students and April 7 for Undergraduate Students
8. Attention Undergraduates: Help With Selecting Courses During Pre-Registration
9. Important Notice From Student Accounts Regarding Fall 2011 Pre-Registration
10. Don’t Forget the April 18, 2011 Deadline for Filing Income Tax Forms
11. H-1B Visa Issues are at the Forefront This Week
12. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Friday, April 8
13. Nominations for Student Speaker at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony
14. International Student Graduation Reception is Friday, May 20
1. National Holidays for April
The following countries are celebrating national holidays in April
|
Senegal |
4-Apr |
|
Tunisia |
9-Apr |
|
Denmark |
16-Apr |
|
Syria |
17-Apr |
|
Zimbabwe |
18-Apr |
|
Turkey |
23-Apr |
|
Tanzania |
26-Apr |
|
Sierra Leone |
27-Apr |
|
South Africa |
27-Apr |
|
Netherlands |
30-Apr |
2. Join a Conversation on Promoting and Cultivating 2nd Language Research Skills Across the Disciplines On Wednesday, March 30
This is a joint videoconference workshop open to faculty and graduate students interested in the use of world languages in disciplines across the curriculum. Led by Tanya Kinsella, Ph.D. and Director of Languages Across the Curriculum (LAC), UNC-Chapel Hill & Suronda Gonzalez, Ph.D. and Director of Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC) Binghamton University. It will take place Wednesday, March 30, 2011 from 2:00pm -3:30pm in Academic A – Room G05.
Space is limited. Email LxC@binghamton.edu to reserve a spot.
3. Presentation by BU International Alumni on How to Reach Your Career Goals, Thursday, March 31
Mark Your Calendar for Thursday, March 31st at 5:00pm for a very informative presentation by several BU international alumni titled: Developing Your Success Piece by Piece
Come meet successful international Binghamton alumni and hear about their journey to success. Learn about the resources they used and the resources you can use to help you achieve your career goals and succeed. This event will take place from 5:30-6:00pm on Thursday, March 31st, in University Union Room 202. Take the opportunity to not only connect with alumni who can relate to your experience but also learn how to connect with an employer!
Alumni Guest Speakers include:
· Laila Beavogui-Koma, BS’08, Distribution Planning Engineer at National Grid in Boston
· Chang Cho, BS ’08, Accountant at CVE Group, Inc in Riverdale New Jersey
· Guruprasad Madhavan, MBA’07 PhD’09, Program Officer at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington D.C.
· Sevay Ozdemir, BS’07, Telecommunications Analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York City
· Oktay Sekercisoy, MSS’00, MBA’02 Associate Director for Dual Diploma Programs at Binghamton University
Other featured speakers include:
· Wren Fritsky, Career Counselor, Career Development Center
· Karen Keefe-Guzikowski, Associate Director, International Student and Scholar Services
This event is hosted by Discovery, and is co-sponsored by Binghamton University Alumni Association, Career Development Center and International Student and Scholar Services.
4. Next International Coffee Hour is Friday, April 1
Good company! Free food! An opportunity to gather prior to the start of Spring break and visit with friends and classmates!
This month's International Coffee Hour will be held on Friday, April 1 from 3:30-5:00pm in the University Union Mandela Room. Please note the change in location for this month only! This month's sponsor is the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations.
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 and cookies, sponsored by a different department on campus.
5. Registrar’s Office Reminds Students of Important Deadlines THIS WEEK
Students who wish to withdraw from a course, change their grade option or apply
for Spring 2010 graduation are reminded to complete the following steps by
Friday, April 1:
• Withdrawals: You may drop a class,
but since the add/drop deadline has already passed, a “w” will appear on your
transcript for the course grade when you withdraw. The deadline is 11:59 p.m.
Friday, April 1. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Registrar’s website
at http://www2.binghamton.edu/registrar/news.html
• Grade Option Changes: To have your
grading option for a course changed (either from a letter grade to pass/fail or
vice versa) you must print and complete the Grade Option Change form available
at http://www.registrar.binghamton.edu
and drop it off at the Financial Aid and Registrar’s Student Services Office in
SW-109, between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. by 4:45 p.m. Friday, April 1.
• Application for Undergraduate Degree
for Spring 2011: Undergraduate candidates planning to graduate this semester
must submit this online form available at
http://www2.binghamton.edu/commencement/spring/application-for-degree.html
by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 1.
6. April 1 is the Deadline for Spring 2011 Health Insurance Adjustments
Please note that effective with the Spring 2011 semester, there is a deadline for requesting a Health Insurance Waiver or adjustment. – International students requesting a waiver or adjustment of their international health insurance fee must do so by April 1, 2011 for the Spring 2011 semester. To file a waiver or adjustment request go to: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/health-insurance/waiverinfo.html. Filing a request does not guarantee a wavier or adjustment. You must either be a graduate assistant (G.A.), Teaching Assistant (T.A) or Research Assistant (R.A.) funded through Binghamton University and enrolled in employee health insurance, OR meet the standards for comparable coverage outlined on the ISSS Health Insurance web page located through the above link.
If you have questions about the International Student Health Insurance, please contact the International Health Insurance Team at intl.insure@binghamton.edu
7. Don’t Forget the April 18, 2011 Deadline for Filing Income Tax Forms
If you were present in F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2 status in the United States during any portion of calendar year 2010 (even for just a few days) you are required to file an income tax form with the US Internal Revenue Service, even if you had no US income!
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services offers CINTAX free of charge to BU international students, alumni, scholars and faculty. CINTAX is a web-based income tax preparation system designed exclusively for international students, scholars and faculty who file federal forms 1040NR EZ, 1040NR and form 8843 as Non-Residents for tax purposes. CINTAX computes and prints the required federal income tax forms. You can be anywhere in the world, and as long as you have an internet connection, you can complete your tax forms.
In order to use CINTAX, you must first be assigned a valid CINTAX access code. The ISSS has set up a web page for you to request the access code on-line. Please go to the following link to request your access code: http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/cintax.html
The ISSS will then verify your identity and send the password and a pdf attachment with specific instructions to you. This process will take no more than two business days.
Please note that CINTAX is designed to prepare and produce only federal non-resident forms. CINTAX does not complete state income tax forms. Other options include ISSS-sponsored income tax webinars, walk-in assistance (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm through April 15, 2011) or using a qualified volunteer or professional tax preparation preparer. Please go to the following web link for details. http://www2.binghamton.edu/isss/taxes/taxsem.html
8. Pre-Registration for Fall 2011 Begins March 31 for Graduate Students and April 1 for Undergraduate Students
The Registrar’s Office has posted the Fall 2011 Schedule of Classes on BU Brain It can be viewed as a grid schedule of classes and as a detailed schedule of classes. The online schedule is the most up to date and accurate source of course information and is the only published version of the Schedule of Classes.
Fall 2011 Pre-Registration begins on March 31 for graduate students and on April 1 for undergraduate students. Pre-registration ends on Friday, May 13th. For general information on registration times visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm For your specific registration time for Fall 2011 pre-registration, go to BU Brain
Students with outstanding financial obligations and students who haven't complied with health requirements to the Health Service office will be blocked from registering. Students can also view their account balances and pay any outstanding debts through BU Brain.
Accessing your schedule: You can view and print your schedule online by logging into the BU BRAIN. Room assignments shown online are the most accurate and up to date, but know that these assignments are subject to change.
Credit limit: The maximum number of credits you may register for are listed by student level and term at http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm These limits include HPEY or MUSP credits and are enforced regardless of GPA. If you seek to register for more than the stated limit, please follow your school's procedure for petitioning for an overload (see http://bulletin.binghamton.edu).
9. Attention Undergraduates: Help With Selecting Courses During Pre-Registration
Undergraduates are invited to attend a series of programs where you can receive assistance with selecting courses during the Fall 2011 pre-registration period.
Undergraduates from all schools are invited to an Academic Advising and Scheduling Fest on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in University Union Old Union Hall. This event is sponsored by the Discovery Center.
The Harpur College Academic Advising Office is offering two “Spring into Advising” programs for Harpur College undergraduates. The first will be held on Wednesday, April 6 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in Student Wing Room 331. The second will be held of Tuesday, April 26 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm in University Union West Room 324. Attend either one.
10. Important Notice From Student Accounts Regarding Fall 2011 Pre-Registration
Any outstanding balance on your Student Account the must be paid or cleared
at least 24 hours prior to your Fall 2011 pre-registration time. Please do not
wait until the last minute to resolve any outstanding debts in order to ensure
that you will be able to register at your priority time. You can view and/or pay any balance due by
visiting http://bubrain.binghamton.edu
and select “Quick Pay Student Payment.”
11. H-1B Visa Issues are at the Forefront This Week
Our readers who are familiar with the H-1B “specialty occupations” visa know that Friday April 1, 2011 will be the first day that H-1B petitions subject to the visa “cap” or limit can be submitted by employers to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to hire foreign nationals with bachelor’s degrees or higher for the new federal fiscal year. The fiscal year starts October 1, 2011. So, it is on April 1 that all “cap-subject” H-1B petitions with start dates of October 1, 2011 will begin to be processed by USCIS.
The April 1 date is watched closely each year, because the available number of H-1B visas is always used before the year ends. For full details, please refer to the portal links below, which are from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
General Information on H1-B
http://www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count
USCIS Processing Announcement
12. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Friday, April 8
What may be the most important immigration workshop offered this year will be held Friday, April 8 at 4:00pm in Academic A, Ground Floor, Room G08. Will you be seeking employment in the United States after graduation? Do you have questions regarding H-1B visas, labor certification, PERM and employment-based permanent residency? Are you confused about the H-1B “cap” and the “cap gap?” How long are H-1B visa numbers likely to last, and what is the earliest date for submitting an H-1B petition with an October 1, 2011 start date? What about those 20,000 extra H-1B visa slots for those with U.S. master’s degrees or higher? What is going on with H-1B placement agencies, the new deemed export attestation requirements, and are there any issues if you travel into the United States with a new H-1B visa? You do not want to miss this workshop!
Learn about your options under U.S. immigration law from special guest and featured speaker, nationally known immigration attorney Stephen Yale-Loehr from the law firm of Miller Mayer LLP in Ithaca, New York. This workshop is sponsored by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.
13. Nominations for Student Speaker at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony
The Graduate School is seeking names or (self nominations) of graduate students from the Spring 2011 graduating class for consideration as student speaker at the graduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21st at 5.00pm. The nominee should be a candidate whose academic accomplishments and values are exemplary. This student must also be interesting, engaging, and be able to come up with a message that appeals broadly to fellow graduates with varied backgrounds, interests and concerns.
Send E-mail recommendations, including the name, department and contact details of the nominee to Catherine M. Smith at cmsmith@binghamton.edu no later than April 8th, 2011.
Selected students will be notified by April 15th, to schedule an interview. The interviews will be conducted and the students notified of their selection status by April 29th , 2011.
14. International Student Graduation Reception Friday, May 20
Students who are graduating, and exchange students completing their programs may wish to mark their calendars now for the 25th annual International Student Graduation Reception, taking place Friday, May 20 at 7:00pm in University Union Old Union Hall. This is the Friday of commencement weekend.
Invitations will be sent by e-mail in several weeks, but we wanted to alert our readers who are graduating. If you graduated in December 2010 and are returning to campus for the May 21 and 22 Commencement Exercises, and would like to receive an invitation to the International Student Graduation Reception on May 20, please let ISSS know by sending an e-mail message with your current e-mail address to: isss@binghamton.edu
The information provided to the ISSS by the Registrar's Office only lists Spring 2011 graduates, but they know some Fall 2010 graduates will return for the ceremonies, and they want to be sure they don't miss anyone! Also, if you will graduate in Summer 2011 and would like to attend the International Student Graduation Reception on May 20, please follow the instructions above.
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ISSS-BU is a listserv owned and managed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Division of Student Affairs, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. It is the publisher of ISSS-BU News. Permission is granted to freely distribute the information posted to this list as long as its contents remain unchanged.
To sign on to ISSS-BU from an e-mail account on the Binghamton.edu server, send an e-mail message to listserv@listserv.binghamton.edu
Leave the subject line blank. In the message text, type:
subscribe ISSS-BU first name last name
Replace “first name last name” with your name.
If your e-mail account is on a server other than Binghamton.edu,
send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu
In the message text, type: Please subscribe isss-bu, your e-mail address, your first and last name.
If you are a registered student and don't have an e-mail account, you may claim an e-mail address and password from https://buonline.binghamton.edu/banner Be sure to read and follow the instructions carefully. If you encounter difficulty, visit the Help Desk in the lobby of the Computer Services building.
