1. International Student Grant-in-Aid Applications Now Being Accepted
2. The US Job Search Workshop is Friday, February 29
3. Moved Recently? Time to Report Your Change of Address
4. Questions about H-1B Visas? View New Resource on the ISSS Website
5. New "Leadership & Involvement" Listserv
6. “Declaring Independence from Eating Disorders: A Personal Journey” Tuesday, March 4
7. World Renowned Military Bands From the UK To Perform Thursday, March 6
8. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations on March 28
9. Income Tax Information: Who Needs To File a New York State Income Tax Return?
10. IIncome Tax Information: In-person Assistance With Your Non-Resident Income Tax Forms
11. Income Tax Information: Filing Out and Mailing Your Income Tax Forms
12. Income Tax Information: What To Do If You Have Received Form 1099-G

1. International Student Grant-in-Aid Applications Now Being Accepted

Each semester, awards of up to $500 are made to a small number of international students who have a severe financial need. To be eligible, students must be in F-1 or J-1 status, have been in attendance at Binghamton University at least one year (began their studies at Binghamton in Spring 2007 or earlier), document need, have no outstanding obligations to the university, and be full-time students in good standing.

Some students may find themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own.  Examples can include reduced support from a sponsor, or unanticipated expenses.  Applicants are strongly advised to carefully document their financial situation when submitting the application form, as there are always more students seeking assistance than there are funds.

Applications are available now in the International Student and Scholar Services Office and must be submitted no later than Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

2. The U.S. Job Search Workshop is Friday, February 29

The next workshop in this Spring’s employment workshop series is titled: "The U.S. Job Search."  The workshop will provide an overview of strategies and resources available to locate potential long and short-term job opportunities, including internships, in the United States.
The workshop will be held on Friday, February 29 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm in Academic A, Ground Floor Room G 23.  This workshop was originally scheduled on February 1, 2008 but was postponed due to bad weather.

Looking for an easy way to keep track of upcoming ISSS employment workshops? The direct link is: http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/sp08empwsp.html

The workshops are sponsored by the Career Development Center and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

3. Moved Recently?  Time to Report Your Change of Address

Have you moved?  Did you remember that SEVIS requires that you report your change of address to the ISSS?   The office makes it easy for you to comply with the address requirement by filing out a change of address form on the web.  Visit: http://isss.binghamton.edu/forms/addrChange.html

4. Questions about H-1B Visas? View New Resource on the ISSS Website

ISSS is pleased to announce a new web resource on H-1B visas.  It answers the most frequently asked questions regarding the H-1B visa category, and was prepared by Rosanne Meyer of the immigration law firm Miller Mayer in Ithaca, New York, and Ellen Badger, Director of ISSS.
To view it, go to: http://isss.binghamton.edu/imm/FAQ_H-1B.html

Also, mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 9, 2008 when immigration attorney Stephen Yale-Loehr, also from the Miller Mayer law firm, will come to Binghamton to speak about post-graduation employment issues, including H-1B and U.S. permanent residency.  His talk begins at 4:30pm in Science Library classroom 306.

5. New "Leadership & Involvement" Listserv

The XCEL Center for Excellence in Student Leadership is excited to announce the launch of the new “Leadership and Involvement” Listserv! Once a week, the listserv will send out a listing of different leadership and involvement opportunities. Listings will include workshops, organization general interest meetings, conferences, peer assistant positions, and any other involvement opportunity that engages students.  The listserv is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Students interested in joining the listserv should send an email to listserv@binghamton.edu with the following text in the body of the email:
Subscribe LEADERSHIP Your_First_Name Your_Last_Name

Leave the “subject” line blank.

If you have any questions, please contact Grace Fama at gfama@binghamton.edu

6. “Declaring Independence from Eating Disorders: A Personal Journey” Tuesday, March 4

The Eating Awareness Committee presents “Declaring Independence from Eating Disorders: A Personal Journey” by Jenni Schaefer. It will be performed Tuesday, March 4 in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.  Admission is free and open to all.

Jenni Schaefer is the author of the book “Life without ED: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too.” In her book and in her presentation, she uses examples from her personal experience to help others begin the journey of recovery from an eating disorder. Jenni is a regular guest on national radio and television, including appearances on Dr. Phil and Entertainment Tonight. She speaks across the country and writes regularly for self-help/recovery publications. This program has been generously sponsored by Sodexho.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Randi Scheiner at (607) 777 -2772.

7. World Renowned Military Bands From the UK To Perform Thursday, March 6

An impressive evening is in store Thursday, March 6, at 8 p.m., when The Pipes, Drums and Dancers of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of Coldstream Guards take command of BU’s Osterhout Concert Theater stage with all the formality and pageantry befitting the Queen herself.

Established at Edinburgh Castle and Buckingham Palace, these two groups are among the oldest military regiments in the world whose bands have gained international fame participating in competitions, concerts and parades.  The Scots DG Pipes and Drums rendition of “Amazing Grace” was the No. 1 hit for 5 weeks in both the UK and Australia.

Six local representatives of various US military branches will respectfully carry both the American flag and the Union Jack flag in honor of the occasion.  At the end of the program, as tradition requires, President Lois DeFleur will receive the Regimental Salute after which she will dismiss the company. 

Tickets are $21 for students, $36 for faculty, staff and senior citizens, and $41 for the General public.  For tickets and information: 607-777-ARTS or visit http://anderson.binghamton.edu
This performance is sponsored, in part, by Newschannel 34.

8. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations on March 28

The Public Inquires Unit of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) is organizing the first annual student observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Friday, 28 March 2008 at UN headquarters in New York City.  The video-conference event from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm will have as its theme “Lest We Forget: Breaking the Silence on the Transatlantic Slave Trade”.

The commemoration is part of a diverse educational, civil society and media outreach worldwide by DPI to increase awareness of and educate present and future generations about the causes, consequences, lessons and legacy of the 400-year slave trade; and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice.

The 28 March commemoration will also include high school students at videoconference sites in Norway, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, United States as well as select students assembled at UN headquarters.   In addition, students sailing on the schooner Amistad on the trans-Atlantic
slave route, which would dock in Barbados on 28 March, would be part of the videoconference. The program, which will be webcast live at www.un.org/webcast will include brief presentations by experts and notables setting the stage for subsequent discussion among the students here and abroad and the panel of experts.

Students who would like to attend the conference at the United Nations (March 28 is during BU’s spring break) must send an email no later than March 10th to Kelly Roberts at Fordham University:  keroberts@fordham.edu  This is an invitation-only event.
 
The video-conference attendance is first come, first served with a limited number of attendees possible.

9. Income Tax Information:  Who Needs To File a New York State Income Tax Return?

Staff in the ISSS are frequently asked, do I need to file a New York State income tax return?

You will want to file a New York State tax form:

• if you have New York State-sourced income (look at Box 15 on form W-2 for a “NY” code), and
• if NY State income tax was withheld in Box 17 of form W-2 and
• you would like to apply for a refund, regardless of how much money you earned. 

You must file New York State form IT-203 if you have income from a New York State source and your New York adjusted gross income is more than your New York State standard deduction ($7500 for single or married individuals, $15,000 if a married individual from Canada, Mexico, Korea).  New York state adjusted gross income includes income from New York State and any other states you may have worked in 2007.

Note: New York adjusted gross income is determined by completing IT-203 lines 1 through 31 and comparing line 31 Federal Amount (which includes income from NY State and other states) with your New York standard deduction.  Thus, you may be required to file a New York State form IT-203 if your wages from work in other states plus your New York state wages is greater than your New York State standard deduction. 

For those of you who will need to file a New York State tax return you may prefer to print your New York State tax forms on the computer rather than handwrite them.  The New York State Tax Department provides “fillable forms” on-line that you can then print from your computer.  Here are the links (all are pdf files and require a pdf reader such as Adobe Acrobat):

Form IT-2:	http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/2007/fillin/inc/it2_2007_fill_in.pdf
Form IT-203-B:	http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/2007/fillin/inc/it203b_2007_fill_in.pdf
Form IT-203:	http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/2007/fillin/inc/it203_2007_fill_in.pdf
IT-203 Instructions:	http://www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/2007/inc/it203i_2007.pdf

You can save the information you type on forms IT-203 and IT-2, but not IT-203-B. The IT-203 Instructions is a 92 page document.  Paper copies of these documents are available in the ISSS. 

10. Income Tax Information: In-person Assistance With Your Non-Resident Income Tax Forms

ISSS is pleased to announce the availability of in-person assistance with completing your non-resident income tax forms.  This service is primarily to assist you if you need help with New York State forms IT-2, IT-203 and IT-203ATT, since CINTAX is available for completing your federal returns.  However, federal non-resident tax questions can be answered as well.

Mr. Jim Rollo, who graduated from Binghamton University’s School of Management in 1984 and is a local businessman, will be available beginning Monday, March 3 on Mondays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, Wednesdays from Noon to 2:00pm and Fridays from Noon to 2:00pm in Room 125, in the Hinman Commons portion of Rockefeller Center (up the outdoor stairs and enter to your left).  Then, follow the signs down the hall to Room 125. 

Appointments are not required. Be sure to bring your income tax forms with you.

11. Income Tax Information:  Filling Out and Mailing Your Income Tax Forms

This information applies to F and J students who are non-residents for tax purposes (those who entered the United States in F or J status in calendar year 2003 or later).

Use CINTAX to fill out and print your federal income tax forms.  If you have not yet obtained a CINTAX password, go to: http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/cintax.htm  Remember that non-resident income tax forms cannot be e-filed.  You must print them and mail them to the appropriate address. 

Be sure to sign both your federal and state income tax returns BEFORE mailing them, and be sure to make keep a copy for your records.  For information on assembling and mailing your income tax forms, see: http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/taxaddress.html

12. Income Tax Information: What To Do If You Have Received Form 1099-G

Some international students may have received form 1099-G in the mail, also called a "Statement of Tax Overpayment." These forms are issued by states (for example, New York State) to provide a record of a state and/or local income tax refund paid to you during calendar year 2007. Not all students receive this form, but if you filed a state tax return for calendar year 2006 and received a refund payment from that state, the refund would have been paid to you sometime during 2007.

This amount, which is reported on Form 1099-G, must also be reported on your income tax return. If you will be filing form 1040NR EZ, the amount is reported on line 4.  If you use CINTAX, it will report your 1099-G income in the appropriate section of Form 1040NR EZ or 1040NR.  Students from India should note that CINTAX does not print the line 1099-G amount on line 4 of the 1040NR EZ.  It’s not an error.  The reason why the amount does not appear is because citizens of India who are F or J students do not claim state tax withheld as a deduction on their federal income tax forms.  For a more complete explanation, visit http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/cintx1099G.htm

Students who did not file a state income tax form for calendar year 2006, or who did file a state income tax form but either did not get a tax refund or instead had to make a tax payment to the state, do not receive form 1099-G.

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.