ISSS-BU News  16 March 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

CONTENTS:
1. BU Men’s Basketball Team is Going to the NCAA Tournament!
2. In-Person Income Tax Assistance Has Begun
3. Updates From the Career Development Center
4. New English as a Second Language Class for Spring 2009 International Spouses Program (ISP)!
5. Off Campus Employment Rules
6. The Clock is Ticking on Some Practical Training Applications
7. Information on Fall 2009 Pre-Registration and Schedule of Classes
8. Frequently Asked Income Tax Questions, and Answers
9. Income Tax Information: Important Items to Remember When Completing Income Tax Forms

1. BU Men’s Basketball Team is Going to the NCAA Tournament!

The BU Men’s Basketball Team won the America East Conference Championship on Saturday when it defeated University of Maryland Baltimore County by a score of 61-51 in front of a record crowd of more then 5,300 at the BU Events Center.  This is the first time in the 63-year history of Binghamton University that the Men’s Basketball Team has won its conference and gone to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.  ISSS-BU News congratulates the Team for its great success, and gives a special cheer to the members of the Team who are international students; Moussa Camara, Chretien Lukusa and Jaan Montgomery.

Binghamton will play Duke University in NCAA first-round play on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 9:45pm in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is nicknamed “March Madness” because it takes place primarily during March and includes 65 different men’s collegiate teams.  It is also nicknamed “The Big Dance.”  Thirty-one teams are entered automatically because they are the winners of their conference championship.  Thirty-four additional teams are invited to play by the NCAA selection committee.  The tournament is split into four regions, and the games are played in 13 cities across the United States.  It is single-elimination play, leading up to the national title game on Monday April 6, 2009.  All games are broadcast on CBS-TV, which in the Binghamton area, can be viewed on Time Warner Cable channel 2 or on non-cable channel 12.  Games will also be broadcast on line at http://www.ncaa.com

Go Bearcats!

2. In-Person Income Tax Assistance Has Begun

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-203B, 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, is available to provide in-person assistance with completing your non-resident income tax forms on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00am to 1:00pm in Room 126, 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 126. 

This service continues through Friday, April 10.  Please note the following two dates when Mr. Rollo is NOT available, due to scheduling conflicts:  Friday, March 20 and Wednesday, April 10.

Appointments are not required. Please be sure you have already obtained your CINTAX access code, and have created your user id and password in CINTAX, before visiting Mr. Rollo. Be sure to bring your income tax forms with you.

3. Updates from the Career Development Center

Resource Of The Week: The CDC Website!

What it is: The Career Development Center’s website is the largest website on campus! We have information for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alumni, employers and parents.

Why we love it:  Well, because it’s ours, of course! And because we work really hard to provide useful information related to choosing majors, choosing occupations, applying to graduate/professional school, gaining experience, writing resumes, finding employment, and much, much more!

How to access:  Visit the CDC site at http://cdc.binghamton.edu.

Dining Etiquette And Networking Mocktail Programs

The Career Development Center and Office of Alumni and Parent Relations invite students to participate in the Spring 2009 Etiquette Programs! Our two programs will include networking time with BU alumni, staff and fellow students, along with interactive instruction on networking and etiquette basics. Employers and graduate programs can afford to be picky in this market - be sure YOUR skills in these areas are top-notch!

Networking Mocktail:
Friday, March 20, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Susquehanna Room, University Union
$5 participation fee

Etiquette Dinner:
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 pm-8:30 pm, Susquehanna Room, University Union
$7 participation fee

Participate in one or BOTH programs! Registration details and application available at http://cdc.binghamton.edu/EtiquettePrograms.htm. APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 17th.  ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED!!

Professional Etiquette ... yet another SMART MOVE IN A TOUGH ECONOMY!

Students: Get Academic Credit For Your Summer 2009 Internship!:

If you are interested in receiving credit for your internship, registering through CDC's Academic Internship Programs is one way to gain that credit. Students interested in obtaining internship credit through the CDC MUST attend one of the advising sessions offered on 3/17, 3/18, 3/24 or 4/2 (for complete details see Upcoming CDC Programs below or the full CDC program calendar at http://cdc.binghamton.edu/programs.html ).

International students in F or J status should note that they may require employment authorization to participate in an off campus internship.  Be sure to visit the ISSS and discuss your plans with an advisor.  Walk-In appointments for your employment questions are held every Tuesday from 1:30pm to 3:15pm.

Upcoming CDC Programs

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 Job/Internship Titles:

4. New English as a Second Language Class for Spring 2009 International Spouses Program (ISP)!

To better serve the needs of the International Spouses Program, ISSS is offering a new class:

Basic Conversational English:     Mondays and Wednesdays

                                                                   2:00pm to 3:30pm

                                                                   Room RC 205

Classes begin on Monday March 23rd in Rockefeller Center Room 205

The Intermediate – Advanced ESL class will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:40am to 11:10am in Fine Arts Room 250.

ISP Discussion Group (open to all levels of English and native speakers) continues every Friday in the International Conference Room from 9:00am until 10:30am.  (Stop by the ISSS for directions). New members welcome at anytime!

A $5.00 fee per semester per student is requested towards the copying of materials (no need to purchase a textbook for these classes).  The instructor will collect this fee.

These are non-credit bearing classes for spouses of BU international students, faculty and staff.  BU Research Scholars are welcome to join as well.  These classes are NOT intended for current BU students. The focus is to practice conversation, reading, grammar skills and discuss daily living in the United States.

Our ESL instructor is Ms. Myriam Stanton. Myriam has many years experience teaching English as a Foreign Language and we are very happy to have her here!

If you have any questions about the ESL classes, please contact the Assistant Director, Amelia Shafer, at ashafer@binghamton.edu

5. 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 Assistant Director Amelia Shafer at ashafer@binghamton.edu or Associate 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.   Employment Walk-In hours are Tuesdays from 1:30pm to 3:15pm.

6. The Clock is Ticking on Some Practical Training Applications

F-1 students who will be graduating in May 2009 and plan to apply for post-completion 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 no later than sixty days after their degree conferral date, which this year is May 17, 2009.

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."

7. Information on Fall 2009 Pre-Registration and Schedule of Classes

The Registrar’s Office has posted the Fall 2009 Schedule of Classes on BU Brain  It can be viewed as a grid schedule of classes and as a detailed schedule of classes. 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.

Fall 2009 Pre-Registration begins March 23, 2009.  For general information on registration times visit: http://registrar.binghamton.edu/registration.htm  For your specific registration time for Fall 2009 pre-registration, go to BU Brain

8. Frequently Asked Income Tax Questions, and Answers

Here are the top income tax questions being asked this week, we hope you find the questions and answers helpful!

1. Both the Federal and NY State income tax forms allow for my income tax refund to be direct-deposited into my bank account.  Is this a good idea?

It’s actually a very good idea.  Most U.S. citizens have their income tax refunds direct-deposited into their checking account, rather than have the check mailed to them.  You’ll receive your refund more quickly, you don’t have to worry about lost checks, and even if you are traveling, you will know that your funds are safe.  It is easy to look at your on-line bank statement or monthly paper bank statement to see when your refund is credited to your account.  There is no fee for this service.

2. CINTAX and New York State Form IT-2 ask me to enter an “Employer Identification Number” from my W-2 form.  I’ve reviewed my W-2 very carefully, but I cannot find the “Employer Identification Number.”  Where is it?

The Employer Identification Number is also known as Federal ID Number.  You should be able to locate it on the W-2, where the employer name and address have been printed.

3. CINTAX is indicating that I am a resident for tax purposes, and therefore cannot use it for my tax filings.  But I have been F-1 for fewer than five years.  Has CINTAX made a mistake?

Perhaps not.  If you were in the United States in some other non-immigrant status prior to becoming an F-1 student, federal tax law require that those prior years be counted.  CINTAX then computes your income tax status.  If it is determined that you are a resident for income tax purposes, follow the instructions for filing as a resident, available at: http://isss.binghamton.edu/taxes/residentaxinfo.html

4. I am a graduate assistant/teaching assistant.  My New York State W-2 form has Box 13 “retirement plan” checked.  Does that mean I have a retirement plan?  If I am completing form IT-2 for New York State, what instruction should I follow for Box 13?

If box 13 on your New York State W-2 has been checked, it only means that you are eligible to be enrolled in a New York State retirement plan, not that you have actually enrolled.  There is nothing special you need do for your federal or state income tax filing if Box 13 is checked.  If you are completing New York State form IT-2, leave Box 13 blank.

9. 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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