May 2015
Published monthly by International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), a division of the Office of International Initiatives, the
International Services newsletter brings you updates on immigration rules and regulations, University services and programs,
and conveys opportunities for campus and community involvement.
CONTENTS:
1. Support for Nepal
2. Reminder: iStart is Live
3. Student Voices
4. Income Tax Summary - It’s not too late : )
5. Employment Workshop Schedule
6. Travel Signatures
7. Congratulations
8. ISSS is Moving
9. Like ISSS on Facebook
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1. Support for Nepal
Vigil held at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta on April 30th, 2015.
A message from the Georgia State Nepali Student Association:
We are Georgia State University students from Nepal. We are trying our best to support our
country from here. As you know by now, Nepal suffered a catastrophic 7.9 Richter scale
earthquake on April 25. The country is in a state of emergency and the death tolls are near
8000. Nepali people are living in tents with little or no food, communication or electricity.
Hundreds of children and their families are missing. Historic buildings are in ruin, and historic
monuments listed in world heritage sites are destroyed. Nepal does not have enough
resources on its own to manage such an emergency. We request support your support to help
provide medicines, food, clothing and other relief materials. All funds collected will be
dispatched through trustworthy, established international organizations. If you are in a
position to donate, even $1, please do: http://www.gofundme.com/nepsagsu
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2. Reminder: iStart is Live!
We hope you have heard about iStart by now! Many of you have already begun using iStart to request
various ISSS services or visa benefits. We’d love to hear your comments, good or bad. Just email us your
thoughts at: [email protected]
To Use iStart: All international students on F1 and J1 visas need to activate their Campus ID in iStart. To
get started, please watch the introductory video here.
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3. Student Voices – Praise for iStart!
Ishrat Mahmud, a student in the Robinson College of Business, and former VISA Leader said about iStart,
“I loved the iStart system. I didn't have to come to the office to submit paper forms or run around to my
professors for signing. It made my life easier! Thank you!”
Learn how ISSS is going paperless at and watch a short introductory video about iStart >> here
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4. Income Tax Summary - It’s not too late!
From our records, 540 Non-Resident Alien tax returns were filed through Glacier Tax Prep (GTP). The
average refund received was almost $400.
Based on the number of waivers, assistantships and scholarships GSU provided, around 900 tax returns
should have been filed. Students with no income are not required to file a tax return, only form 8843.
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This likely means there is more than $100,000 in TAX REFUNDS still available, to GSU international
students & scholars.
If you didn’t file a tax return, you will not get a refund. You also won’t know if you owe taxes.
Failure to file a tax return based on U.S. income could have a negative effect on future visa
applications or change of status requests.
You will be required to show a tax return and / or form 8843 for every year you were present in the
U.S. for a new visa, visa renewal or change of status.
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It’s not too late! You can still file your U.S. tax return free with the Glacier Tax Prep access from ISSS.
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No penalty if you don’t owe taxes.
Small penalty if you still owe taxes.
For more information, please review this page
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5. Employment Workshop Schedule
ISSS offers small group employment workshops designed to answer common questions about applying
for CPT and OPT. All workshops will be held in ISSS, Sparks Hall room 248. Below you will final the time
and date of the next workshop. Workshop dates for the fall semester will be announced soon.
Date
Wednesday, May 19
CPT (Part I)
2:00 pm
OPT (Part II)
2:30 pm
*** PLEASE NOTE ***
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Workshop completion is mandatory before you can apply for CPT or OPT.
You can attend Parts I + II or just the section you’d like. ISSS recommends OPT applicants
complete the workshop only in the semester you plan to graduate.
There is no cost.
A minimum of 4 students must sign up in advance, or the session will be cancelled.
Space is limited: To register for an in-person Employment Workshop, please go log-in to iStart
and click on “Session Sign-ups”.
You may also complete an online workshop >> here
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6. Travel Signatures
Are you traveling outside the US over the summer break? You’ll need a valid, updated travel signature
on your I-20 or DS-2019 if the last signature is more than six months old.
HOW? Just log into iStart and fill out the Travel Signature Request eform. When the form has been approved, you will receive an e-mail
from the ISSS office. Then, bring your I-20 or DS-2019 to the ISSS
office during Walk-in Advising Hours for immediate signature. The 3-5
day processing period is no longer required if you do your part first in
iStart the day before. We aware, same day travel signatures are
generally not possible. Don’t wait until the day before travelling to
request an update.
DOCUMENTS TO TRAVEL WITH: Always remember to carry your I-20
or DS-2019, your unexpired passport and student visa. If you leave the
US with an expired visa, you must renew it while you are in your home country. If you have any questions
about travel, please contact your ISSS advisor.
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7. Congratulations!
ISSS congratulates you
on the successful
completion of the
Spring semester!
Whether you are
staying here this
summer for classes,
traveling home, or
graduating from your
program, ISSS wishes
you the best of luck
and looks forward to
seeing you soon.
Please let us know if
there is anything we can do to help.
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8. ISSS is Moving
That’s right! We’re moving.
Later this summer, ISSS will move into a newly renovated office
on the 3rd floor of Dahlberg Hall, pictured here. It’s just across
the street from Sparks Hall. We expect to move on June 15th.
The new facility will bring together, ISSS, Study Abroad,
International Partnerships and Programs all in one space. The
new facility will be called the “International Center”, and ISSS
will be a part of it! We’re excited.
9. Like ISSS on Facebook
FB is a major communications tool for ISSS with nearly 1200 likes so far. We never post more than 2-3
times per day. Posts include updates and information on future job opportunities, reminders, deadlines,
events and more. Just click the FB banner below. No student is required to use Facebook or any other
social media; it’s your choice, and we hope it helps you stay informed : )
For questions about any of the information mentioned above, contact:
International Student & Scholar Services
Office of International Initiatives
Georgia State University
252 Sparks Hall
404.413.2070 (phone)
404.413.2072 (fax)
isss.gsu.edu
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30am-5:15pm
Walk-in Advising Hours
Monday & Wednesday Mornings:
9am-11:30am
Monday-Friday Afternoons:
1pm-4:00pm