Announcements for the Week of February 18 to 25 2011

Immigration Attorney coming to UAHuntsville campus

Immigration Attorney, Elaine Kimbrell with David Ware and Associates, will present a "Beyond OPT" presentation on FRIDAY, March 11 (time and located to be announced next week). The presentation will provide a quick summary of work sponsorship options (both temporary and permanent) including the basic qualifications and processing issues for each visa type as well as some current hot topics/trends in immigration law that are relevant to the students and workers in the U.S. 

Off campus work authorization WORKSHOPS

If you are graduating spring or summer 2011 and have not attended an off campus employment workshop, sign up today.  For students graduating in May 2011 the priority date to send an OPT application to USCIS is today Friday, February 18, 2011.  9 workshops dates have been selected to accommodate student schedules. Off campus employment includes internships, Cooperative Education or other practical training that is not on the UAHuntsville campus. Students interested in Curricular Practical Training must be enrolled in two semesters at UAHuntsville prior to being eligible for CPT. Students MUST attend a workshop before an advisor can meet to discuss individual questions. 

Email visahelp@uah.edu  to reserve your space and please clarify the date of the workshop you wish to attend.  

All workshops are limited to 10 students each and will be held in Conference Room 116 in MADISON HALL.

Friday February 25, 2:00-3:30pm (no spaces available)

Wednesday March 2, 10:30am- 12:00pm (seven open spaces)

Wednesday March 16, 10:00-11:30am

Monday April 4, 3:00-4:30pm

Wednesday April 13, 10:00-11:30am

Monday May 2, 2:30- 4:00pm

Monday May 9, 3:30- 5:00pm

TAX INFORMATION 

If you were physically present in the U.S. any day in the year 2010, you will need to complete a tax form 8843 for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Students and their dependent spouses/children who have not worked in the U.S. in the tax year 2010 or who have earned less than $3650 in taxable income or scholarships ONLY need to complete the tax form 8843 and mail it to the IRS by April 18, 2011. Please refer to the attached form 8843 and instructions for individuals with NO TAX LIABILITY to complete this required form. Again, a completed form 8843 is all that an F1, F2, J1, or J2 student or scholar will need to complete if they have no tax liability. 

Once again the International Student and Scholar Office and the College of Business Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society will collaborate to offer FREE tax assistance to the UAHuntsville students and community who received more than $3650 in income or scholarships and likely have a tax liability.  The tax form 8843 must be completed using the instructions attached for students with a tax liability IN ADDITION TO OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE TAX FORMS. The UAH tax assistance program (VITA) will help you for FREE to complete the CORRECT 2010 tax forms. F and J students should in general, not complete tax forms using “TURBO TAX” like software advertised for U.S. Citizen Taxpayers who complete a 1040 form.

 

2011 tax assistance dates: appointments are available at 10am, 11am, 12noon and 1pm ONLY

Saturday, February 26 FULL

Saturday, March 5

Saturday, March 12

Saturday, April 2

Saturday, April 9

Saturday, April 16

International students and scholars MUST make an appointment by emailing tax@uah.edu 

You must attach your completed 8843 to the email to ensure that we can determine your tax residency status PRIOR to the scheduled tax appointment. As a reminder, MUST have the documents below with you at your scheduled tax appointment:  with specific date(s) and time(s) you would like to schedule an appointment as well as your first and last name and a phone number where you can be reached.

-Copies of ALL federal and state tax forms filed in previous tax years

-I-20 or DS-2019, I-94 card and passport (bring all passports used to enter the U.S.)

-Current W-2 (statement of income) as well as evidence of SCHOLARSHIPS

*Remember all UAHuntsville employees can download their W-2 from their BANNER account under the EMPLOYEE tab.*

-  A blank check, or evidence of your bank routing number & account number.

In addition, if any of the documents below were mailed to you bring them to the tax appointment:

-1042-S (statement of treaty benefit, scholarship, or fellowship)

-1099-G (the state tax refund statement for the prior year)

- 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income)

-1099-INT (statement of simple bank interest on a savings account)

-1099-DIV (statement of dividends and distributions)

-1098-T (statement of tuition paid) This form is not required for non-resident tax filing.

Student seeking F1 students to complete an online survey for her MS in Sociology research

A student has contacted the ISSO to request F-1 degree seeking student participation in a brief online survey to gather research for a thesis (IEP students may be surveyed at a separate time).  This survey will attempt to assess the adjustment issues that international students encounter in the United States. 

Most students should be able to complete the survey 10- 15 minutes. The students’ response and comments will be treated with utmost confidentiality. The results will be reported in aggregate form, meaning no data will be attributed to the students as a specific individual.

Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UAHuntsville and follow the survey directions. Also, below is a brief letter from the creator of the survey. If you have any problems with completing the survey contact Vidah Otieno directly at votieno@bulldogs.aamu.edu.

Click on the letter below to enlarge

Thank you, 

International Student and Scholar Advisors
International Student and Scholar Office