International Services for Students and Scholars (ISSS)

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

Serving the International Students/Scholars at Rensselaer

Volume 13, Issue 3 Date: March 17, 2004


Table of contents:

Tax Information
Optional Practical Training

American Slang
Driving Tips


Tax Information

Tax Information

Did you miss the tax workshop last night? There will be another one held on:

March 29, 2004
2:00pm
Hudson Valley Community College
Amstuz Hall room 204

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If you have a question about filling out your tax forms, you can email the question to Jane Havis at havisj@rpi.edu and she will forward it to either the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) representative or the NY State tax representative.

You can also check the ISSS homepage under Taxes for information.

The IRS representative also stated that if you want help you can go to this web site:

www.utexas.edu/international/taxes/

I went to this web site and I think it is very helpful.

It also has a section just for students from India.


Optional Practical Training Q & A

Make sure you read the OPT packet available in the ISSS reception area, or online in the ISSS homepage before coming to ask any questions.

Q: I don’t know what start date to put for employment because I don’t have a job.
A: You must give the ISSS office a start date. It CANNOT be changed so think before you put down a date. The start date can be anytime within 60 days of graduation.

Q: I might move. What address should I put down?
A: If you think you will be moving put the ISSS Office as a local address.
If you don’t do this and move, you need to notify immigration by mail and by calling them to tell them your new address. This has been a problem in the past.

Q: Do I have my advisor fill out the bottom ½ of Form I-538?
A: On the Form I-538 the ISSS office fills out the bottom ½.
Be sure to sign Form I-538.

Important Reminders:

Make sure you sign the new I-20 the ISSS office issues you BEFORE you send copies to immigration.
Make sure you make copies of ALL the I-20’s issued by RPI AND any other school you have attended.


American Slang

“Cat got your tongue”.
If someone asks you a question and you do not respond they could say to you “ What’s the matter cat got your tongue?”

“You let the cat out of the bag”
If someone tells you a secret and then you tell the secret to someone else, the first person would say, “You let the cat out of the bag”.


Driving Tips

Yes, winter is still here. Last night while I was driving home in the snow storm I had to pull into a gas station and remove the ice from my windshield wiper. So much ice had stuck to it, the wiper was not cleaning the windshield. Being able to see clearly is very important when you are driving.

Remember when you are using your windshield wipers you must have your headlights on, it’s the law.