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

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Editor's Note: Today is the first day of classes for the Spring 2007 semester. ISSS-BU News wishes all our subscribers a successful Spring semester.

Have you moved recently? International students and scholars in F or J status can fulfill their federal SEVIS requirements by reporting their change of address using the ISSS's web form: http://isss.binghamton.edu/forms/addrChange.html

Student address changes will then be updated in the University's database, as well as in SEVIS.

1. Spring Semester 2007 Academic Calendar
2. Information for Late-Arriving New International Students
3. Did You Travel Abroad During Break?
4. “Preparing a US-Style Resume and Cover Letter” Workshop Friday, January 26
5. Remember to Have Both Your Passport and Your I-20 (or DS-2019) When You Travel
6. Important Reminder Regarding On-Campus Employment Regulations
7. OCC Legal Clinics for the Spring 2007 Semester
8. Income Tax Information: Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statements

1. Spring Semester 2007 Academic Calendar

*Courses meeting less than the full semester have proportionately adjusted deadline

2. Information for Late-Arriving New International Students

Although classes begin today, January 22, not all new international students have checked in with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, and some are still arriving. If you are assisting a new student, be sure to bring them to the office of International Student and Scholar Services beginning today so that ISSS can photocopy their passport and visa documents and give them their orientation packet. As a service to late-arriving students, the following orientation activities are being repeated this week:

English as a Second Language: Professor Elizabeth Tricomi, Director of the English as a Second Language Program, will give an ESL placement examination for late arriving students on Monday, January 22 at 1:00pm and on Tuesday, January 23 at 3:00pm. Her office is in the Writing Center, Library North Room 1209 (first floor). For more information, call 777-6725 or contact Professor Tricomi by e-mail at etricomi@binghamton.edu The examination takes two hours. New students with TOEFL scores of 625 (263 on the computer-based test, 106-108 on the internet-based test) or higher and students schooled in an English-medium institution with TOEFL scores of 600 (250 on the computer-based test, 100 on the internet-based test) or higher do not have to take the test. Students with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no individual band below 5.0) do not have to take the test. Students in the MBA program are not required to take the test because their program requires a communications course.

3. Did You Travel Abroad During Break?

Many continuing international students were able to travel abroad during the inter-session break. If you obtained a new visa while you were away or entered the United States using a new I-20 or DS-2019, please come to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services with your passport and visa documents so we can make copies for your files.

4. “Preparing a US-Style Resume and Cover Letter” Workshop Friday, January 26

The annual “Job and Internship Fair” will be held Thursday, February 8 from 11:00am – 3:30pm in the Mandela Room and Old Union Hall. Get yourself ready for the Fair and other potential hiring opportunities by attending a workshop specifically for international students on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 2:00pm in the Career Development Center Workshop Room, Library North Ground Floor Room 307.

Titled: "Preparing a US-style resume and cover letter," it offers tips to international students for preparing resumes and cover letters for the U.S. job market for both academic and non-academic positions. Learn what is appropriate and what isn't appropriate to include in a resume and cover letter. Find out about the services that are available in the Career Development Center to help you prepare an appropriate resume.

5. Remember to Have Both Your Passport and Your I-20 (or DS-2019) When You Travel

Several of our international students encountered hardship during their intersession break while traveling, because they either forgot to take their I-20 (or DS-2019) with them or had forgotten to have their travel signature updated. The ISSS reminds all international students and scholars that your I-20 (or DS-2019) must be taken with your passport whenever you travel.

6. Important Reminder Regarding On-Campus Employment Regulations

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services has received a number of inquires regarding the federal regulations that govern on-campus employment. Students in F-1 or J-1 status are reminded that when classes are in session, employment on-campus cannot exceed 20 hours per week. If a student works for more than one on-campus employer, the total number of hours worked from all jobs cannot exceed 20 hours per week . Keep in mind that Graduate Assistantships, Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships are all considered to be on-campus employment, and a full assistantship is considered to have a 15-20 hour per week obligation.

If you are a J-1 student, remember that all employment, including on-campus employment, must be authorized in advance. If you are a J-1 student and will be employed on-campus for the Spring 2007 semester, and have not yet obtained work authorization from your J-1 responsible officer, you need to take care of that matter immediately. If your DS-2019 was issued by Binghamton University, you may request the required letter by completing the form at the following link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/jempframe.htm

For more information regarding on-campus employment regulations, visit the ISSS website http://isss.binghamton.edu and click on “employment.” The direct link to on-campus employment information is: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/index.html Still have questions? Send an e-mail message to isss@binghamton.edu

7. OCC Legal Clinics for the Spring 2007 Semester

Off Campus College offers free, weekly legal clinics, staffed by a local attorney, during the Spring semester when classes are in session. The legal clinics are excellent resources for questions regarding landlord/tenant issues, motor vehicle tickets, and other questions of a legal nature. The legal clinics are not meant for immigration questions, as the attorneys are not qualified to offer immigration advice. Please refer your immigration questions to the ISSS, which can also provide legal referrals to qualified immigration attorneys if necessary.

The OCC legal clinic schedule for Spring 2007 (when classes are in session):

Every Wednesday from 11:30am to 1:30pm in University Union West Room 204

8. Income Tax Information: Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statements

This week's income tax information is about the W-2 form, which is also known as a Wage and Tax Statement. Many international students and scholars who were employed during calendar year 2006 will soon receive their W-2 forms in the mail. If you were employed in the United States for any period of time during 2006, each employer for whom your worked is required to report your earnings to both you and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). By law, W-2s must be mailed no later than January 31.

If you worked during 2006, whether off campus (including paid internships) or on-campus at Binghamton University or at a previous school and have not received your form W-2 by February 1, contact your former employer right away. It is possible that they do not have your current address. You will be required to include a copy of each W-2 form with your federal and state income tax forms. The IRS computer system will match the income you report with what they have received from the employer.

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