Announcements for the Week of March 3 to 10 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 in Shelby Center Room 109 starting promptly at 3:00pm. 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. (click image below to enlarge)

Last chance *DEADLINE TO SUBMIT SURVEY tomorrow March 4, please help student seeking F1 students for her MS in Sociology research

Please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UAHuntsville and follow the survey directions if you are willing to participate.  

Off campus work authorization WORKSHOPS, only 5 remaining dates this semester

If you are graduating spring or summer 2011 and have not attended an off campus employment workshop, sign up today. 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.

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

Travel Signature Process

Did you know students on an F-1 visa need to have their I-20 signed before spring break if traveling outside the United States?  Visit www.uah.edu/ISSO and go to student forms for a copy of the Student and Scholar Request form, or fill one out in the office and make sure to leave us your most recent I-20 and the completed form with the location and dates of travel, and visa and passport expiration dates spaces complete.  Advisors need two weeks prior to travel to review the request and will email you once the signature is complete.  Also for students traveling through any U.S. Airport or near any U.S. border area we would like to remind you that it is a good idea to take original immigration documents with you for travel. 

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 previous weekly announcements for 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, March 5 (FULL)

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 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. 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: 

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.

 

Thank you,
International Student and Scholar Advisors
International Student and Scholar Office