1. Spring Break Starts Later This Week
2. Off Campus Employment Rules
3. The Clock is Ticking on Some Practical Training Applications
4. Updated Information on Fall 2008 Early Registration
5. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Wednesday, April 9
6. Income Tax Information: Economic Stimulus Payments
7. Income Tax Information: Important Items to Remember When Completing Income Tax Forms

1. Spring Break Starts Later This Week

Classes will recess for Spring Break beginning Friday, March 21.  There are no classes scheduled on that day.  Classes resume on Monday, March 31.  University Offices, including International Student and Scholar Services, will be open during this period.  If you are traveling away from Binghamton, even within the United States, please be sure to have your passport and visa documents with you.  Best wishes to all our readers for a pleasant Spring break!

2. Off Campus Employment Rules

Previously, staff in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services have had to address several issues regarding off campus employment that have not had pleasant consequences for some students.  A reminder: A student in F-1 or J-1 status cannot be employed away from the Binghamton University campus unless they have obtained appropriate federal authorization to do so before employment can begin.  This includes internships.  The only exception to this rule are F-1students who are working away from BU but are paid on a Binghamton University state or research foundation payroll.

• All off-campus internships must be authorized in advance
• Employment at another SUNY campus (such as Cortland or Oneonta) or Community College (such as Broome Community College) must be authorized in advance.   Other SUNY campuses are no different than any other off-campus location; the employment must be authorized.

The U.S. government exacts heavy penalties for students who work without authorization.

Readers may wish to take note of the following two articles on the ISSS website:

Employment Overview
http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/overview.html

Don’t Place Your Immigration Status at Risk: Consequences of Illegal Employment
http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/illegalemp.htm

The ISSS website has many resources on employment.  Just visit http://isss.binghamton.edu and click on “Employment.”

If you have questions regarding employment, please do not hesitate to contact the International Student Advisor, Amelia Shafer at ashafer@binghamton.edu or Assistant Director, Karen Keefe-Guzikowski, kkeefe@binghamton.edu They are happy to assist you.
If you would like to make an appointment to discuss issues of employment, please call the ISSS office at (607) 777-2510.

3. The Clock is Ticking on Some Practical Training Applications

F-1 students who will be graduating in May 2008 and plan to apply for optional practical training are reminded that they must submit their application paperwork to the ISSS, and then send the processed documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) so that it is received at the USCIS before May 17, 2008, since May 17 and 18 are Binghamton University's degree conferral dates for May graduate and undergraduate students.

F-1 students who have not yet begun the practical training application process are urged to do so soon so that you will have the best possible opportunity to obtain your employment authorization card in a timely manner. Currently, it is taking the USCIS Vermont Service Center approximately 12 weeks to process OPT employment authorization applications. Employment cannot begin unless you have the card "in hand."

4. Updated Information on Fall 2008 Early Registration

The Registrar’s Office announced late last week that the start date for Fall 2008 Early Registration has changed, and will not be until after Spring break. The new dates for Fall 2008 Early Registration are April 2 to May 9, 2008.  Students’ time tickets have been updated accordingly in BU Brain, the student portal. Check the Registration Times link from the BUSI Web Center for a list of the starting times.  For full details, visit:
http://registrar.binghamton.edu/newinfo.html#regdates

The Schedule of Classes for Fall 2008 is now available at http://bubrain.binghamton.edu/  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.

5. Important Workshop on Post-Graduation Employment Issues Wednesday, April 9

What may be the most important immigration workshop offered this year will be held Wednesday, April 9 at 4:30pm in Science Library Room 306. Will you be seeking employment in the United States after graduation? Do you have questions regarding H-1B visas, labor certification, PERM and employment-based permanent residency? Are you confused about the H-1B “cap” and the “cap gap?”   What will happen if all the available H-1B visas are taken soon after April 1, 2008, which is the earliest date for submitting an H-1B petition with an October 1, 2008 start date?  What about those 20,000 extra H-1B visa slots for those with U.S. master’s degrees or higher?  You do not want to miss this workshop!

Learn about your options under U.S. immigration law from special guest and featured speaker, immigration attorney Rosanne Meyer from the law firm of Miller Mayer in Ithaca, New York. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and the Career Development Center.

6. Income Tax Information:  Economic Stimulus Payments

In January, it was announced that many tax payers will be eligible for “Economic Stimulus Payments” (more popularly known as tax rebates) in amounts of $300 or $600, as long as they file a tax return for calendar year 2007.  It is expected that these payments will be sent in May of this year. However, it is important to note that only those who are considered residents for tax purposes are eligible for this benefit.  Non-residents for tax purposes, which include many F and J visa holders, will not be eligible to receive these payments.  As it states in the Economic Stimulus Payment Notice: “Individuals cannot receive a payment if they…filed a 2007 Form 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, …”

If you are a resident for tax purposes (e.g. in the United States as a F or J student since 2002 or earlier), the economic stimulus payment will automatically be sent if you are eligible to receive it.  There is no additional paperwork for you to file.  If you were eligible for a refund and indicated direct deposit information on your 2007 federal income tax form, the payment will be direct deposited.  Taxpayers who did not indicate direct deposit on their federal income tax form will have the payment mailed to them.

Complete information on this new payment is available on the official Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at: http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

7. Income Tax Information: Important Items to Remember When Completing Income Tax Forms

A number of students sometimes forget all of the necessary steps when completing their income tax forms.  Here is a helpful reminder for ISSS-BU News readers:

• Remember that CINTAX-prepared income tax forms must be printed from the CINTAX website, and mailed by you to the Internal Revenue Service Center in Austin, Texas.  Be sure to print the CINTAX instructions page, which provides all of the information you need for assembling and mailing your federal income tax forms.

• All income tax forms (federal and state) must be signed before mailing.  Otherwise, they will be returned to you.

• Be sure to make a copy of your income tax forms before you mail them!

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