Office of International Students and Scholars |
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Hurricane Evacuation Information Hurricane Personal Office of International Phone: (504) 280-6021 Email: oiss@uno.edu
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UNO-OISS News Issue #67—March 2019
UNO closed for Mardi Gras Break —Please keep in mind that all UNO offices will be closed Monday, March 4, 2019 and Tuesday, March 5, 2019.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information Session —If you missed the OPT information session in February, the second session for the spring semester will be on Thursday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m. in ED 205 . Advisors will give a general overview of OPT and explain the application process. If you are graduating in May, you should plan on applying for OPT as soon as possible and attend this information session. Current USCIS average processing times for the OPT application is three to five months, so make sure to contact an advisor as early as possible in March to make your application appointment. If you are unable to attend the session on March 21, you will need to schedule an appointment with an OISS advisor for an overview. Information sessions are open to all F-1 students and we encourage you to attend, especially if you will be graduating in May 2019.
Income Tax Information —International students who work, are not exempt from filing income tax forms – even if the U.S. has a tax treaty with the country of origin. If you are an international student who needs help filling out your tax forms, come to one of the tax sessions. These tax sessions are scheduled to take place throughout March and at the beginning of April. Dates, times and locations will be announced soon.
Make sure that you are signed up for the OISS Listserv so that you receive this important information: http://oiss.uno.edu/subscription.cfm .
If you prefer to file your taxes through an online US tax prep solution for international students and scholars, please check out Sprintax . University of New Orleans arranged a discounted access to Sprintax to guide you through the process, prepare the necessary documents and even check if you are due a refund. The first 30 students get a $5 discount on their federal taxes if they use Sprintax to prepare their returns. All you need to do is: Register and follow the simple instructions; complete the online questionnaire, enter the unique discount code Spx2018UNO5F in the box on the ‘ Review your order' page, and Sprintax will prepare your tax forms. As a reminder you have to print, sign and mail your documents once you complete the preparation process in Sprintax. If you have any questions, please use the Sprintax live chat function and the team will be happy to help.
Travelling soon?— Be sure to have your I-20 or DS-2019 when you travel, as well as the other recommended documents listed on our Travel Instructions Handout . Also, make sure that you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019. The travel signature should be less than six months old as of the date you will return to the United States. Remember, you need a travel signature even if you are going on a cruise that will make stops in ports outside of the U.S. If you need a travel signature please bring your I-20 or DS-2019 to OISS for processing at least two weeks prior to traveling. Keep in mind that travel to other countries often requires students to obtain visas. Make sure to contact the embassy for the country you are visiting to determine if you need a visa in advance of travelling.
Credit Union Workshop – “Creating Budgets to Achieve Your Goals” – Wednesday, March 13 th at 12:30 p.m., International Student Lounge - This presentation by UNO Federal Credit Union will give you the strategy you need to create a budget for your long-term and short-term goals. By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to set your goals and achieve your dreams. Handouts include templates and hands-on tools to construct the foundation of a working budget.
International Night 2019: “UNOdyssey”— Saturday, March 23 rd , 6:00–9:30p.m., UNO Human Performance Center - The International Student Organization (ISO) and the Student Activities Council (SAC) present International Night 2019! If you are interested in volunteering, participating in the event or need additional information, please contact ISO at iso@uno.edu or ISO's President Gabriela Aldana at mgaldana@uno.edu Tickets for the event will be $5 in advance and $8 at the door. Advance tickets will be available in the following locations: OISS, IC 125 during open office hours Tuesdays, March 12 & 19 from 11:00a.m.–2:00p.m. in the Library Breezeway Wednesdays, March 13 & 20 from 11:00a.m.–2:00p.m. in the University Center
Spring Semester Campus Events— For a calendar of events taking place on campus this month, check out UNO's Event Calendar at:
Student Involvement and Leadership's Calendar at: http://calendar.uno.edu/MasterCalendar/studentlife.aspx
Spring Semester 2019 University Calendar— To view the official university calendar for Spring 2019, please go to the following link: http://new.uno.edu/registrar/bulletin/important-dates#spring Important March Dates — March 1: Deadline to file an Application for Degree for May 2019 commencement March 6-8 Spring Break for students, University Open March 23: International Night 2019 OISS Spring Walk-In Hours Reminder — Monday & Thursday 8:00 am -12:00 pm Please note: For past issues of OISS News please check our website under the heading “OISS News” http://oiss.uno.edu
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