ISSS-BU News . 17 April 2006. ISSS-BU News
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: Classes do not resume until Tuesday, April 18, but all university offices are open today.
CONTENTS:
1. International Students Receive Graduate Student Awards for Excellence
We want to congratulate the following international students who were recently honored with awards from the Graduate School for excellence in research, teaching, and service/outreach. A total of twenty three graduate students, both domestic and international, were honored. Well done!!
Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching:
Raed Al Tal, Department of Art History
Charles Kanyi, Department of Chemistry
Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research:
Satish Chaparala, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Jan Lukas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Natasha Shankar, Department of Chemistry
Jozef Sofka, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Rastko Vasilic, Department of Materials Science
2. Academic Success Workshop Series for Undergraduates Presents: Preparing for Final Exams: Get An Early Start on April 19, 2006!
A very important workshop for international undergraduates, titled “ Preparing for Final Exams: Get An Early Start ! ” will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in College in the Woods' Mohawk Hall TV Room.
If you have questions about:
• Time Management
• Finding a Study Group
• Organizing your class notes
• Getting the help you need if you are having difficulty
• Getting the help you need if you are having difficulty
• Taking the exam - Strategies to use with multiple choice questions and organizing essay questions
Learn:
• How to get help from your professors
• How successful international students prepare for final exams
• About Academic Support and Tutoring programs on campus
Ask your questions and share your concerns with staff from the ISSS, Discovery Center, and a Round Table of International Students.
Refreshments will be served!
To pre-register:
Send an e-mail to isss@binghamton.edu
Use "Academic Success Workshop" as the subject
Include your name, field of study (if known) and your e-mail address. Please pre-register by Tuesday, April 18, 2006.
This workshop series is sponsored by: International Student and Scholar Services, the Dual Diploma Program, the Discovery Center and the Writing Center. Division of Student Affairs and Division of Academic Affairs
3. Career Development Center Programs Week of April 17-April 21
The Career Development Center is offering a variety of interesting programs this week. For more information on any of the topics listed below, visit the CDC website at http://cdc.binghamton.edu
4. Will the Travel Signature on Your SEVIS I-20 or SEVIS DS-2019 Expire Soon?
Later this week, the ISSS will begin publishing its annual Spring travel series, with up to date information on what you need to know if you are an international student who will travel this summer.
A large number of international students have SEVIS I-20s or SEVIS DS-2019s that are in need of an updated travel signature. Do you need a new travel signature from the ISSS? Take a look at your most recent I-20 or DS-2019. If you have an I-20, look at page 3. If you have a DS-2019, look at the travel signature in the lower right hand corner of page 1. If the date that the ISSS staff person signed the I-20 or DS-2019 for travel is before October 1, 2005, and you plan to travel either within or outside the United States this summer, bring in the I-20 or DS-2019 to the ISSS for an updated signature. If you have a spouse and/or children with a dependent I-20 or DS-2019, the travel signature on that form should be updated as well.
Note: If you have submitted an application to the ISSS for curricular practical training, optional practical training or extension of stay, you will receive an updated SEVIS I-20 with a new signature as part of the CPT, OPT or extension process.
5. Have You Submitted Your Practical Training Application Yet?
International students in F-1 status who will be graduating in May 2006 and plan to apply for optional practical training are reminded to file their practical training applications *well in advance* of the date they would like practical training to begin. Currently, the USCIS Vermont Processing Center is taking approximately ten weeks to process EAD cards for practical training.
In general, the ISSS recommends that practical training applications be filed at least twelve weeks (three months) in advance of the requested starting date. Your application must be received by the USCIS Vermont Processing Center before your degree completion date, which is May 21, 2006 for Spring 2006 semester graduates. Applications are available in the ISSS. Please allow 7 to 10 days for ISSS processing. Still have questions? Then make an appointment with Karen Keefe-Guzikowski, Assistant Director or Amelia Shafer, International Student Advisor.
6. Early Registration for Fall 2006 Continues
Advance registration for all students for Fall 2006 continues from now through May 6. Secure next semester's courses NOW by registering on-line using the BUSI (Binghamton University Student Information) system. BUSI is available from 8:00 am to 6:00 am (22 hours/day) seven days a week during this time period.
To read the complete announcement from the Registrar's Office, including a schedule of registration starting times, visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/newinfo.html#regdates
Schedule of Classes
The Schedule of Classes for Fall 2006 is now available online at http://busi.binghamton.edu/schedule.html . 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.
Outstanding Obligations and Missing Health Forms Will Block Students
Students with outstanding financial obligations and students who haven't submitted a health form to the Health Service office will be blocked from registering. Students can also view their account balances and pay any outstanding debts through the BUSI Web Center: http://busi.binghamton.edu .
After registration, you can look at your schedule on BUSI or the BUSI web at any time. Classrooms will be assigned in mid-August. Please look on-line or in the printed schedule of classes (available in late August) for your classroom assignments.
7. Opportunity for Undergraduates to Be Mentors
Off Campus College is accepting applications for the Fall '06 Johnson City (JC) Mentor Program. Binghamton University undergraduate students serve as mentors and tutors to middle school students (6-8th grade) within the JC school district. Participants receive two (2) credits by committing 5 hours per week to mentoring a student in a one on one capacity. Students must also attend a weekly seminar, which serves as the reflective component of the internship program.
To learn more, access the OCC internship website at http://occ.binghamton.edu . Applications can be obtained by accessing the internship application page or visiting the OCC office in UUW204. Deadline for application material is May 12.
Make a difference in the life of a child: Be a mentor!
8. Filing for An Extension Of Time For Your Tax Returns? Do You Have the Correct IT 370 Form?
Several students came to the ISSS last week to request both the federal and state forms for filing for an extension of time to file tax returns. It was not until Thursday afternoon that the ISSS became aware that New York State has sent the wrong form. The office was sent form IT 370 PF, which is for partnerships and fiduciaries rather than the standard form 370 for individuals. The ISSS now has the correct form, which can also be downloaded at:
http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/2005/fillin/inc/it370_2005_fill_in.pdf
9. Identity Thieves Target Non-Residents with U.S. Source Income
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is tracking a fraudulent scheme targeting non-residents who have income from a United States source. The scheme uses fictitious IRS correspondence and an altered IRS form in an attempt to trick the foreign persons into disclosing their personal and financial data. The information fraudulently obtained is then used to steal the taxpayer's identity and financial assets.
In this particular scam, an altered IRS Form W-8BEN, "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding," is sent with correspondence purportedly from the IRS to non-residents who have invested in U.S. property, such as securities or bonds, and therefore have U.S. sourced income.
Although there's no way of knowing how many non-residents have responded to the bogus request for personal information, there are approximately 2.5 million non-residents who receive U.S. sourced income, based on the number of Forms 1042-S that were issued last year. The 1042-S is used to report the amount of U.S. income a non-resident alien earned in that year.
The altered W-8BEN form asks the recipient for detailed personal information, such as date of birth, passport number, bank name, account number, type of account and date opened, and information on the recipient's spouse, children, and parents. The legitimate IRS Form W-8BEN is used to establish the non-resident alien's foreign status and determine whether the foreign person is subject to U.S. income tax. It doesn't ask for any personal information, except in some cases for a Social Security or IRS-generated Taxpayer Identification Number. A “real” W-8BEN may be viewed at:
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf
The thieves ask their victim to send their information to a fax number in the United States, which is re-routed and changed frequently.
Generally, identity thieves use someone's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim's name and even file fraudulent tax returns.
10. Income Tax Season Comes to a Close
With the passage of April 17, 2006, this year's income tax season will come to a close. For students who used CINTAX, your CINTAX tax records remain available to you until June 15, 2006, at which time all files will be deleted. Be sure to print and save a copy of all income tax returns, and keep them in a safe place with your important records. The ISSS will continue to display its supply of income tax forms for several more weeks, to allow for students who need to file amended returns or those who are filing late. Then, the forms will be placed in storage.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.
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