Happy Halloween!
Upcoming Events and Opportunities:
Understanding US Taxes workshop
H1B and Permanent Residency presentation by immigration attorney
International Education Week: November 16-21
Ek Chamakti Shaam-- Diwali Dinner 2009
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 1th. Don’t forget to change your clocks back one hour!
Non-US Employees - It's Tax Treaty Renewal Time for 2010!
If you are an employee of Georgia Tech, and enjoy the benefits of a tax
treaty, then it is the time of year in which you need to renew the
treaty paperwork to guarantee that your treaty benefit will be renewed
in January 2010. This includes you whether you are an F or J student, an
F student on CPT or OPT, a J scholar, or perhaps an H-1B employee. The process begins 9 November and you must complete this before the Thanksgiving Holiday (November 26th).
Employees that have already created tax files in Tech's new tax
compliance software program, GLACIER, can...
1. log back into GLACIER review and update their data
2. print and sign the "Tax Summary Report" and treaty documents prepared
by GLACIER
3. make copies of their I-20/DS-2019, I-94, visa stamp, & passport
4. submit all of the above to OHR
Students who are continuing students at Tech and do not have files in
GLACIER (have probably never heard of GLACIER) can...
1. E-mail Faye Wheatfall (Faye.wheatfall@ohr.gatech.edu), Foreign National Tax Specialist, and request a GLACIER account to allow them to update their treaty information
2. They will then receive an email from support@online-tax.net and they
should follow the instructions to create their initial tax analysis
3. Print and sign the "Tax Summary Report" and treaty documents prepared
by GLACIER
4. Make copies of their I-20/DS-2019, I-94, visa stamp, & passport
5. Submit all of the above to OHR
OR
Any student or scholar, from both groups above, may come to OHR at 500
Tech Parkway NW with their immigration documents and complete everything
necessary on the computers available in OHR. OHR is open from 8 AM to 5
PM--early mornings are the quietest times to visit our office. The
foreign national tax specialist leaves the office at 4:00 PM each day.
THIS UPDATE SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!
Questions should be directed to
Faye Wheatfall
Foreign National Tax Specialist
Faye.wheatfall@ohr.gatech.edu
If your I-20 expires in December, but you won’t complete your program of study by then, you should extend your I-20 as soon as possible. If your I-20 expires and you have not completed your program of study, you are considered to be out of status and cannot work on-campus at Georgia Tech.
To extend your I-20 you should meet with an International Student Advisor who will give you the Program Extension form with the amount of funding you need to show. Have your Academic Advisor or Graduate Coordinator complete the form and return the completed form and proof of funding to OIE.
The new I-20 will be ready 5 business days after dropping off the form.
If you are an F-1 visa holder and you plan to work in the U.S. after graduation, you must attend an OPT session prior to applying for Optional Practical Training. OPT applications can be filed up to 90 days before your program end-date. OIE strongly recommends students who are completing their program this Fall to apply for OPT by December 12 to be considered eligible for this benefit.MANDATORY OPT sessions are held in Rm. 308 of Savant building.
November
Monday, 11/2 2pm to 3pm
Tuesday, 11/10 8:30am to 9:30am
Wednesday, 11/18 1pm to 2pm
Tuesday, 11/24 11:30am to 12:30pm
December
Thursday, 12/3 4pm to 5pm
Friday, 12/11 10am to 11am
Monday, 12/14 9am to 10am
Please do not be late as the workshop will begin on time.
Understanding U.S. Taxes workshop
- Do I have to pay U.S. taxes?
- What forms do I fill out and when?
- What forms do I receive and when?
- When do I pay taxes?
- Do I get a tax treaty?
- How can I get help filing taxes?
If you are asking yourself these questions, come to the Understanding U.S. Taxes workshop. This will tell you what to expect for tax season. You can come to the workshop whether you are a new student in the U.S. or have been here for some time.
Location: Student Center Theater
Time: Monday November 2nd, 2pm.
Presentation on H1B & Permanent Residency applications by immigration attorney
Overview of Permanent Residence ("green cards") for Georgia Tech International Faculty, Staff, and Students
Location: Klaus Building, Room 1116 East & West
Date and time: Thursday, November 12 at 2:00pm
This session will provide information about the routes to permanent residence (a "green card"). It will briefly address family-based immigration but focus on employment-based immigration. We will discuss the most common routes to permanent residence through employment and how
one chooses the most appropriate route. In addition to providing an introduction to the labor certification process, the session will describe the immigrant petition, the adjustment of status application, and the required supporting documentation. The process for family members will be discussed. The session will also provide a brief overview of the options available to researchers who do not have permanent positions, for instance, post-docs.
Audience: This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning more about permanent residence in the U.S.
Presenter: Steve Springer, Immigration Attorney, David Ware & Associates
Guide to Post-Graduation Work Authorization for Georgia Tech International Students
Location: Klaus Building, Room 1116 East & West
Date and time: Thursday, November 12 @ 3:45 pm
This session will provide information about the routes to post-graduation work authorization for international students. We will briefly discuss the two most common options available after completion of studies, optional practical training and academic training. The session will focus on the H-1B "work visa" and provide an overview of permanent residence ("green card") and primarily address employment-based permanent residence. We will discuss the problems
posed by the potential shortage of H-1Bs and consider some possible strategies for minimizing these problems, and we will address timing issues.
Audience: This workshop is open to all international students, and students who graduate this fall or spring are particularly encouraged to attend.
Presenter: Steve Springer, Immigration Attorney, David Ware & Associates.
International Education Week November 16-21, 2009
International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
You are invited to join Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education in celebration of International Education Week.
Join us for these exciting events during International Education Week! For details about these events, please visit http://www.oie.gatech.edu/misc/InternationalEducationWeek.php
Monday, November 16th
6:00 pm—7:00 pm
4th Street Apartments, South Lounge
Tuesday, November 17th
11:00 am—3:00 pm
Student Center, Room 343
1:00 pm—4:00 pm
Student Center, Piedmont Room
Wednesday, November 18th
Career Preparation for the Global Workplace
3:00 pm—5:30 pm
Student Center, Piedmont Room
Thursday, November 19th
11:30 am—1:30 pm
Student Center, Crescent Room
5:00 pm—7:00 pm
Student Success Center, President’s Suites B,C&D
6:00 - 7:00 PM, Essay Writing Workshop:
Saturday, November 21st
7:00 pm—9:00 pm
Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Taiwanese Student Association
Chinese Cultural Center (near Chinatown)
5377 New Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30341
EK-CHAMAKTI SHAAM—Diwali Dinner 2009
Sponsored by the INDIA CLUB @ GEORGIA TECH
WHAT: Annual ICGT Diwali Dinner!
WHEN: Friday, November 6th and 20th @ 7 PM.
WHERE: Student SUCCESS Center (Behind Tech Tower)
Admission:
FREE for ICGT Members!
$10 for Non-Members per availability.
An evening full of delicious food and amazing entertainment! Come celebrate Diwali with India Club @ Georgia Tech! Please be prepared on arriving promptly at 6:30 PM in order to obtain a good seat. We will be serving delicious Indian food followed by a lively entertainment program. Our night will conclude with dancing for the rest of the evening! Hope to see you there! Happy Diwali and Sal Mubarak from the India Club Board!
ATTIRE:
Due to the auspiciousness of the event, we require that you arrive in formal attire.
Ladies: Saris or traditional Indian attire
Gentlemen: Shirt/Tie or Suit or traditional Indian attire
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
- All Members MUST RSVP by November 12th for either date at www.GTIndiaClub.com by signing up with your Email Address and ICGT ID
- IT IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO BRING YOUR ICGT MEMBER CARD AND A PHOTO ID (Buzzcard, license, etc.)NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
- Doors will OPEN at 6:30 PM and CLOSE at 7:30 PM. After 7:30 PM, spots will open up for Non-Members
- Non-Members must wait for sign-ups until all Members have been given due priority or per availability.
PERFORMERS:
If you are interested in performing a dance or musical at the dinner, please contact Nisha Palvia at Nisha.Palvia@GTIndiaClub.com by NOVEMBER 4th.
If you have any questions, please forward your concerns to info@GTIndiaClub.com.
Happy Diwali!
WHEN: November 14th @ 6-9 pm
WHERE: Student Center Ball room (3rd floor)
Come enjoy African food, Dance, Fashion show and Drama skit.
* Food will be served at 6pm
Admission:
$5 pre-sale ticket
$5 with GT ID at doors
$7 general public at doors
Tickets will be sold in the Student Center. Contact Namory Keita, nkeita3@mail.gatech.edu for more details.
If you missed the town hall meetings conducted to get feedback from students about GT's strategic plan, you can submit your Big Ideas on-line:
http://www.gatech.edu/vision/themes/global-engagement.html