ISO Student News: 2/15/2022
Table of Contents
- Don't Become a Scam Victim! Join ISO’s Virtual Town Hall 2/18 (more)
- Employment Workshop Series: Recorded & Upcoming 2/25 (more)
- Use Sprintax for Your Tax Filing Requirements (more)
- Registration for H-1B Temporary Worker Petitions (more)
- UHS Programming: Eating Disorder Screenings (more)
- Medallion Program: Student Mindfulness Facilitation Workshop (more)
Don't Become a Scam Victim! Join ISO's Virtual Town Hall 2/18
As incidences of international students being scammed out of money has been on the rise, the ISO will be sponsoring a Virtual Town Hall to address this issue. Please join us on Friday, February 18th, 2022 from 4:00 PM—5:00 PM to hear from students and staff about how to protect yourself from being scammed.
Zoom Link: https://rochester.zoom.us/j/97962956421?pwd=MlJDbi9wS2pweXA0SWhLMEdSQzNiUT09
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Employment Workshop Series: Recorded & Upcoming 2/25
ISO’s spring employment workshop series continues! If you missed our recent sessions on ‘Work After Graduation & F-1 OPT Application Procedures’, please check out the ISO Event Archives for links to recordings and presentation materials. This includes our initial instructional program, as well as a recent open Q&A session for students preparing to apply for OPT.
Additionally, if you are preparing for an academic internship this summer or other employment activities prior to completing your degree requirements, please join us for our upcoming session.
Topic: Academic Internships During an F-1 Academic Program
When: Friday, February 25, 2022, 11:00am Eastern (with Q&A)
Zoom Link: https://rochester.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hoKP2HxPTbm9RoEZGzhb2g
Summary: This workshop provides a detailed overview of considerations that F-1 students should make when pursuing a paid or unpaid job or internship opportunity in the United States during their academic program. This workshop explores what is considered employment and the various types of on- and off-campus work authorization that F-1 students may be eligible for during their academic programs, including F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
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Use Sprintax for Your Tax Filing Requirements
Tax Season is here and ISO is ready to help you with your tax preparation. Filing has never been easier with Sprintax. Follow the link for access to the Sprintax platform and use the filing code for your free Federal filing: 21UR100FI.
https://taxprep.sprintax.com/uni-lp.html?utm_ref=uni-of-rochester-lp&utm_content=prmc
- Need help filing your taxes? hello@sprintax.com
- Filing Deadline is April 18, 2022
- If a student has applied for an ITIN but does not have it by April 18 the deadline for filing is June 15th
Live Virtual Workshops Are Scheduled For:
Session 1: Feb 23, 2022 1:00 PM EST
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8864992139806227467
Session 2: Mar 15, 2022 5:00 PM EDT
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8736774790356412687
Session 3: Apr 12, 2022 3:00 PM EDT
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6647975376465765131
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Registration for H-1B Temporary Worker Petition
As in recent years, petitions for the H-1B Temporary Worker category are likely to exceed the annual quota for FY 2023 (Oct 2022 to Sept 2023) during the application period opening this spring. In an effort to manage the lottery process more efficiently, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to use an online H-1B Cap Initial Registration process prior to accepting eligible H-1B petitions. The registration period will run from 12:00 noon (ET) March 1 to 12:00 noon (ET) March 18, 2022. Employers subject to the quota will have to file electronically their intent to sponsor a specific individual for the H-1B visa category, including payment of a $10 fee. USCIS will then complete the lottery selection from the total registrations and notify petitioning employers of selected beneficiaries in late March. Following the registration period, selected employers will then have a 90-day application period to file a complete H-1B petition, inclusive of all fees and supporting documentation. The filing period should begin on April 1, which is the earliest that H-1B cap-subject petitions may be filed for the upcoming fiscal year beginning in October.
Implications for F-1 Students:
If you are currently working on an OPT or STEM authorization that will expire this spring but would like to continue working in the US beyond that, it is important that your employer begin preparations now to file the H-1B registration in March and to prepare for the full application in April, if selected. If you are graduating this May or June, it may be possible to participate in the H-1B Cap registration and, if selected, to delay the filing of the full application until after your degree is awarded. Please discuss these arrangements with your intended employer, or alternatively plan to pursue the H-1B next year while pursuing authorized F-1 OPT.
If you are selected and timely file the H-1B application this spring, you may become eligible for the OPT Cap-Gap Extension through September 30th. The intention of this extension is to avoid any gap in work permission prior to the H-1B taking effect on October 1st. Only the immigration permissions that are actively in place (work authorization versus grace period) on the date your H-1B petition is properly filed are subject to the extension. Please see the ISO webpage about the Cap-Gap Extension for more information.
If you are eligible for the 24-Month STEM Extension and are considering this option as a back-up plan, it may not be possible to wait until you learn the outcome of your H-1B petition before filing that application. As a reminder, USCIS must receive your complete STEM application before your initial 12-month OPT expires! Please contact ISO to schedule an appointment to discuss the STEM Extension in further detail.
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UHS Programming: Eating Disorder Screenings
In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness (NEDA) Week, the University Counseling Center and Health Promotion Office (HPO) invites you to stop by for a brief screening with one of their clinicians so you can explore your relationship with food and have your questions answered. The HPO interns will also be there to answer questions you may have, and to learn about mindful / intuitive eating, their nourishment & body image events coming up, and to sign up for our EAT Mindfully challenge.
Open to all U of R students.
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Medallion Program: Student Mindfulness Facilitation Workshop
Are you passionate or curious about the practice of mindfulness? Want to support the mental well-being of your peers, develop leadership skills, and tap into your creativity? In this workshop, students will learn the history of mindfulness, the neuroscience of mindfulness and meditation, various mindfulness meditation practices, trauma-sensitive approaches, inclusive language, and best practices for facilitating mindfulness. As a result of this program, students will receive credit towards the Medallion Program and then can choose to become Student Mindfulness Facilitators with the Mindful University Project. Registration is required.
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Prepared by: ISO Student Services & ISO Support & Engagement