ISSS-BU News  19 January 2009   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: Today, Monday, January 19, 2009 is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Most university offices, including the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, are closed.

CONTENTS:
1. Community Celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, January 19
2. ISSS Staff Availability on Tuesday, January 20
3. Employment and Health Insurance Walk-In Appointments in the ISSS for January 20 and 21
4. Spring 2009 Orientation For New Students Begins Thursday, January 22
5. ISSS Staff Availability on January 22nd and 23rd
6. Confusion About Off Campus Work Authorization and Social Security Cards
7. Course Registration Information for Spring 2009
8. News From the Career Development Center
9. Income Tax Information: Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statements
10. Income Tax Information: Form 1099-INT

1. Community Celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Monday, January 19

The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is celebrated in the United States each year on the third Monday in January.  Dr. King was a well-known leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

In Binghamton, a number of community organizations have planned activities for January 19.  There will be a program in the Binghamton City Hall second floor gallery, in downtown Binghamton from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.  Refreshments will be provided.  For more information, call 607-232-0456.  On Monday night at 6:00pm, there will be the annual march from the Promenade along the Chenango River (near the Regency Hotel) to the First Congregational Church on the corner of Main and Front Street.  A service and refreshments will follow.  For more information, call 607-786-5449.  Additional details are available on the City of Binghamton website at:
http://www.cityofbinghamton.com/viewarticle.asp?a=3039

To read a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, visit:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

To view his speeches, visit:
http://www.mlkonline.net/

2. ISSS Staff Availability on Tuesday, January 20

ISSS staff will be attending a presentation for University Faculty and Staff on Tuesday morning, January 20.  Starting at 12 noon, ISSS staff will take their lunch hour to view the inauguration of President Obama (which begins at 12 noon).  It is recommended that you visit the ISSS after 1:00pm if you need to speak to a member of the ISSS staff on that day.  The office will be open until 4:30pm.

3. Employment and Health Insurance Walk-In Appointments in the ISSS for January 20 and 21

4. Spring 2009 Orientation For New Students Begins Thursday, January 22

International Student Orientation activities begin Thursday, January 22, and orientation packets will be distributed during orientation check-in, Thursday January 22 from 9:30am to 12 Noon in the University Union Food Court (to the left of the University Book Store).

Orientation schedules and orientation information may be viewed at: http://isss.binghamton.edu/orientation/spring/orient.htm

 5. ISSS Staff Availability on January 22nd and 23rd

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be open for regular office hours beginning Tuesday, January 20. However, most staff will be away from the office during Thursday and Friday, January 22 and 23, participating in various New Student Orientation activities.

6. Confusion About Off Campus Work Authorization and Social Security Cards

Sometimes, a student asks a question of ISSS staff that is so important that it becomes an article in ISSS-BU News.  This article is the result of such a question.

Most international students in F-1 status know that they cannot work off campus without advance authorization, and that federal regulations greatly limit the kinds of off campus employment that can be authorized.  Students in J-1 status must have all employment authorized in advance, whether it is on campus or off campus. 

For F-1 students, the authorization may be printed on page 3 of the I-20 (Curricular Practical Training) or it may be on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security-issued Employment Authorization Card (Optional Practical Training, Off Campus Employment Due to Economic Hardship).  For J-1 students, the employment authorization will be in the form of a letter, issued by the student’s J-1 program sponsor, or, if academic training, as a letter and on the DS-2019.

But, some students have become confused about the Social Security Card issued by the Social Security Administration, and believe that having a Social Security Card with a Social Security Number printed on it is the document that confers eligibility to be employed.  NOT TRUE!

In fact, the purpose of a Social Security Card is for presentation to a U.S. employer so that the employer can fulfill U.S. government requirements for reporting taxes on wages, and other taxable income earned in the United States.  The Social Security Card is also used as an identity document to obtain other benefits not related to employment, such as certain kinds of health insurance or a driver’s license.  But, the Social Security Card does not give someone in F-1 or J-1 status the ability to work.

The Social Security Card issued to F-1 and J-1 students will have a notation on the front of the card “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization.” “DHS” stands for Department of Homeland Security.  The notation is a reminder to the student and the off-campus employer that other documentation will need to be shown to prove eligibility to work.

Questions?  Send your employment questions to Karen Keefe-Guzikowski kkeefe@binghamton.edu or Amelia Shafer ashafer@binghamton.edu
Visit the ISSS website for information on employment:
http://isss.binghamton.edu/emp/index.html

7. Course Registration Information for Spring 2009

Please note that compliance with the University’s Immunization Requirements is a pre-requisite for registration for new students.  New international students with any questions or concerns regarding these requirements will find additional information at the following link:
http://www2.binghamton.edu/health/new-students/index.html

The University’s registration system on BU Brain http://bubrain.binghamton.edu will be turned on for Spring 2009 course registration beginning Friday, January 23, 2009 for new and continuing undergraduate students.  Graduate students will be able to access BU Brain for course registration beginning January 19, 2009. The system will be available seven days a week until the evening of the course withdrawal deadline, which is March 27, 2009.  Course adds will be accepted until the deadline of Friday, February 6.  The system will accept course drops and deletes until the course drop deadline, Friday, February 6. After that date, the system will allow for course withdrawals until the course withdrawal deadline of March 27.  Please note that students who drop courses during the course withdrawal period will receive a grade of W. 
Registration start times are available at: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm

Schedule of Classes

The Schedule of Classes for Spring 2009 is available online 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.

Students with outstanding debts to the University, and students who have not complied with University Health Service requirements will be blocked from registering. Students can also view their account balances and pay any outstanding debts through BU Brain, http://bubrain.binghamton.edu and select “my account.”

Registration Starting Times and Room Assignments

Students are assigned starting times for spring registration according to their total cumulative credits, not including advance registration credits. Students can check their total cumulative credits by going to BU Brain http://bubrain.binghamton.edu

You can view and print your schedule from BU Brain at any time. Student schedules will not be mailed. Please look online for your classroom assignments.

* Classroom assignments are subject to change. Assignments on BU Brain are the most
accurate and up to date.

Registration start times are available at: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm

8. News from the Career Development Center

CDC’S Message To Seniors

These tough economic times are impacting us all in various ways.  For students, the news about the job market instills a range of emotions. While the CDC cannot make the job search process easy, we can teach you how to utilize all the resources at your disposal in order to position yourself for employment.

Graduation alone can be a little scary, but doing so during a recession can really wreak havoc on your nerves. The good news? There are job opportunities out there; you just need to know where to look and how to demonstrate that YOU are the best candidate for the position. For strategies and tips on making your job search successful, the Career Development Center has pulled together helpful information just for you.

Resource Of The Week: helpstartshere.org

 What it is: When many people think of social work, they think “child protective services,” but, as this website demonstrates, there are MANY other options for working in the area of social work.

Why we love it: For individuals who want to help make a difference in the world, social work can be a great option, and this site provides reliable information on career options, education/licensing, salary, and more. To highlight the possibilities:

”Social workers serve individuals, families, and communities. They are managers, supervisors, and administrators. They serve at all levels of government. They are educators. They are therapists and researchers. More and more, they are also elected political leaders and legislators.”

How to access:  helpstartshere.org is linked on the CDC website under Career Exploration Links, but can be accessed at http://www.helpstartshere.org/Careers.html

Exciting Jobs & Internships Have Been Posted To eRecruiting!

Employers Are Still Hiring!!  Apply Today!  New positions are posted to eRecruiting on a daily basis. Students may view and apply for positions through their eRecruiting account. All matriculated students have an account and there is great diversity in the types of employers/positions available.

Current Sample Employers For Jobs And/Or Internships:

Spring 2009 Job & Internship Fair

Spring 2009 Job & Internship Fair
Thursday, February 12, 2009, Events Center
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 pm
A list of participating organizations can be found at http://binghamton.erecruiting.com/stu/cf_details?fhnd=3629

Students are encouraged to review the list of organizations in advance, research the employer and what they offer, and plan their time at the fair to make the most of the experience.

9. 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 2008 may have just received or will soon receive their W-2 forms in the mail.  If you were employed in the United States for any period of time during 2008, 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 2008, 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.
 
Different kinds of taxes are withheld by employers. The W-2 form has boxes for reporting withholding of Federal Income Tax (box 2), Social Security Tax (box 4), Medicare Tax (box 6), State Income Tax (box 17) and local income tax (box 19). Some individuals who received form W-2 will find that all of these boxes have amounts in them, others will find only some or none of the boxes showing tax withheld. We'll discuss Social Security and Medicare withholding in a future tax information article.

10. Income Tax Information: Form 1099-INT

If you have an interest-bearing savings account, checking account, or certificate of deposit, you may have received or will soon receive a letter from your bank that summarizes the interest you earned on your account(s) during calendar year 2008.  Known as form 1099-INT, it is a statement of interest earned from your bank or credit union.  Be sure to retain such statements, they may be needed for your federal income tax filing.

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