Fall 2021 course registration began on March 29^th.

As such, International Student & Scholar Services wants to update you on enrollment guidance for F-1 and J-1 international students.

At this time, International Student & Scholar Services has not received updated guidance from the Department of Homeland Security’s Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regarding Fall 2021.
However, it is ISSS’s expectation that SEVP and Department of State will end special COVID allowances for majority on-line and hybrid classes and revert to pre-COVID standard enrollment regulations.

In preparation for the possibility that the rules will revert to pre-COVID regulations, ISSS strongly advises all international students on F-1 and J-1 student visas to follow the standard immigration regulations when registering for fall classes. For a refresher on those requirements, please review the Enrollment Requirements webpage.

Please note This is subject to change but currently, we do not have updated guidance. While we understand this may be challenging information to receive, we recommend you make enrollment plans with the expectation that these regulations will go back to the way they were before COVID. Should new guidance be released in the future, we will effectively communicate that to you.

For full article click here

Sprintax is hosting a series of free tax webinars about nonresident tax filing obligations for international students and scholars. Each webinar will cover the same topics listed below.

Please review the details and use the links provided to register for the date and time convenient for you:

• Thursday, April 8^th @ 11am – Register here

• Tuesday, April 13^th @ 11am – Register here

The informational webinars will cover:

• An overview of tax for nonresident students and scholars

• Who must file a 2020 US tax return

• What income forms students/scholars may receive

• Forms that need to be completed and sent to the IRS

• We cover terms like FICA, ITIN and Form 1098-T

• What happens if students don’t file, or misfile

• State tax returns

• IRS stimulus payments

• Sprintax overview

For questions about these webinars, please email hello@sprintax.com.

• This non-resident tuition waiver is based on financial hardship.

• Applications for the Non-resident Tuition Waivers for Fall 2021 will open on April 5th and close on April 30th, 5 PM.

• This wavier is for international students who are within one academic year of graduation.

• Applications must be complete and meet requirements to be considered.

• For more information or to apply, please click here.

Volunteer International Student Assistant (V.I.S.A.) Leaders at Georgia State University are a group of students who are trained to be assistants during new international student orientation each semester. Their roles during orientation include:

• Providing a smile and warm welcome to new international students

• Individually leading a four-hour small group session of about fifteen new international students that includes an icebreaker, campus tour, and information session

• Providing information about registration, housing options, banking, campus life, and general information about adjusting to life in the USA, in Atlanta and at GSU

• Assisting with orientation check-in

• Providing help during course registration

• Taking lost/late students to the proper locations on campus

• Helping with the general administration of orientation

• Answering any and all questions and generally being as helpful as possible

For more information on requirements and how to apply, click here.

Application Deadline: 5pm, Friday, April 23, 2021

2021 International Education Awards Call for Nominations

Do you know outstanding faculty, staff or students who deserve recognition for their international achievements? The Office of International Initiatives is accepting nominations for the International Education Awards.

Since 2012, the International Education Awards have recognized outstanding faculty, staff and students for their commitment to international education. International students are welcome to apply for the International Undergraduate and Graduate Student of the Year awards as well. Awards are given at the annual International Honorary Reception during International Education Week in November.

AWARDS

• Sheth Distinguished Faculty Award for International Achievement

• Faculty Award for Global Engagement – Teaching, Service & Outreach

• Faculty Award for Global Engagement – Research & Scholarship

• Faculty Award for Global Engagement – Virtual Exchange

• Staff Award for Global Engagement

• International Undergraduate Student of the Year

• International Graduate Student of the Year

• Study Abroad Alum of the Year

• Study Abroad Program Director of the Year

Visit the International Education Awards page for more information about the awards and to nominate a candidate. The deadline for nominations is April 9th. Award recipients will be honored at the invitation-only International Honorary Reception on Monday, Nov. 8.

ISSS has received reports of unknown individuals pretending to be IRS agents who try to collect tax payments via calls or emails. THIS IS A SCAM! If you receive such contact, ignore it or ask ISSS first.

If your current travel signature is more than 6 months old, remember to have your form I-20 or DS-2019 signed before you depart the U.S for travel. Your I-20 will be digitally endorsed and emailed to your GSU student email. Note also that there are still international travel restrictions in place.

For details on this requirement and request process, please click >> here.

Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute!
All requests in iStart take 3-5 days to process.

It is very important to continue monitoring the CDC website, U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories, the ISSS website, and Georgia State Ahead for up-to-date information regarding travel to the U.S. and campus. Some countries have restrictions on entry into the U.S., and we highly recommend that you check the above resources on a regular basis and/or speak to the airline you plan to use before flying. GSU is offering free saliva-based testing to all students, faculty and staff at the downtown campus and perimeter campuses: https://ahead.gsu.edu/covid-19-resources/. You may take a test before returning to campus for spring classes.

Curricular Practical Training (“CPT”) is temporary, off-campus employment authorization for F1 visa students. Curricular means the work must be required or related to a course in the student’s major program of study, and the student must receive academic credits for the work.

Eligibility

• Full time enrollment for at least one academic year (Fall + Spring) prior to authorization at GSU or at another SEVIS approved institution, unless your internship experience is required (and clearly stated in the Academic Catalog) to complete your program.

• Active F-1 status

• Good academic standing with the school

• Completion of a CPT workshop in ISSS no later than the 1st week of the current semester

• Availability of an existing course in the student’s major or program of study to support CPT authorization by the student’s academic department or supervising faculty member.

• IEP students are not eligible

Summer 2021 Applications are open from March 1st until Friday, June 11th, 2021 by 5pm*

* New CPT applications must be complete and approved by the secondary approver, only pending ISSS review by the deadline each term to be processed. Regardless, applications submitted at the last minute are still subject to the the normal 3-5 day processing time. You may not be able to begin work on Monday even if you submit a completed CPT application by the Friday deadline.

For more information click >>HERE<<

Students graduating in May could qualify for Optional Practical Training (OPT)!
OPT is an authorization approved by the government that allows you to work within your field of study for up to 12 months after you have completed your program.
Students will need to apply for this benefit with USCIS, and the processing time for OPT applications has been extended to 3-7 months. If you are interested in working after graduation, we recommend you apply for OPT as soon as possible!
For more information on OPT and the application process, visit our website here.

Adopting positive behaviors to support your learning can help make a semester involving online learning successful. In the following link you can find resources and online learning tips curated by the
Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Online Education:
https://cetl.gsu.edu/resources/resources-for-learning-remotely/getting-ready-for-learning-online/

Spring has sprung at Georgia State! To celebrate, join your fellow Panthers for a special spring edition of Homecoming.

This thrilling week of virtual and socially distanced in-person events, including the fan-favorite “Georgia State’s Got Talent” show and the crowning of the Royal Court, culminates in the annual Blue and White football game at Center Parc Stadium.

Don’t miss the excitement and a chance to show your Georgia State spirit. Find the details on the festivities and fun at homecoming.gsu.edu and be sure to share every moment on social media using #GeorgiaStateSpringHC.

Let’s paint the town blue!

ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest possible manner as we resume on-campus operations. To prioritize your health and safety, ISSS will continue to provide a variety of phone and virtual advising options to assist you.

NEW Phone/Virtual Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students) are below.

Monday, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Noon)

Wednesday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Thursday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Friday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Office Number: 404-413-2070

Limited in-person appointments for

exceptional circumstances must be scheduled in advance.

If you wish to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting with one of our advisors, please email your request and reason for visit to isss@gsu.edu