Tax Return Time Is Coming:  ISSS has once again purchased the GLACIER Tax Preparation Program to assist our non-resident alien international students and scholars prepare their 2012 federal tax returns.  Access codes will be available soon; keep an eye on the ISSlist for the announcement.  W-2 forms will be mailed by January 31, 2013.   Everyone on a non-immigrant visa must file a tax report form so please be on the lookout for additional e-mails to follow.

Attention New Students!:  For your reference, we have posted all of the presentations ISSS gave during check-in orientation and the required info session.

F-1 Graduating in May 2013?:  Now is the time to get your OPT application together to submit to ISSS.  Immigration will accept your application as of February 10th.  Don't forget that you must attend the workshop and that space is limited.

I-9 Paperwork:  All international students and scholars on nonimmigrant visas must complete employment paperwork in ISSS, not in the department.  Failure to do the I-9 paperwork in ISSS will result in your payment being delayed.

Regulations Highlight:  When F and J students start at ODU, they all go through and sign a summary of the regulations/requirements/policies called "ODU F-1/J-1 Student Responsibilities Under SEVIS."  Because there is a lot of information flowing around during check-in and such, ISSS will be helping to remind students of these items by highlighting a few of them each month with the intention of preventing students from running into visa status violations:

• Only three (3) credits per semester of online, off-site or distance learning coursework can be taken each fall and spring semester.  Immigration regulations state that I should primarily be a student at ODU's main Norfolk campus with the professor in a classroom, so online, off-campus (e.g. Higher Ed Center in Virginia Beach) or Distance Learning classes will be rare in my academic program.
• I understand that I am allowed to work on campus no more than 20 hours per week when classes are in session and 40 hours per week during school vacations.
• I will report changes in my address in the U.S. or in my home country within five days.  This is done by submitting an address update via the FORMS page on the ISSS site.  I will also log into LeoOnline to update my "Permanent" address in the U.S., which is the same as my SEVIS U.S. address.  The "current", "mailing", etc. addresses are not used for international students.

Visa Status Check-Up:  You can still get one of these during advisor walk-in hours (9 to 12 and 1 to 4) to help ensure your status is being maintained.  It takes just about five minutes and you'll have peace of mind that your status is in good standing.  Please bring your passport when you come for a visa status check-up.

ESL Class for ODU Community:  As you likely saw yesterday, this semester's class began this week.  Tomorrow's class will start at 10 a.m. in Dragas 2008.  The class is for adults but children can accompany them.  Questions?  Contact the teacher, Nathan, at ncord001@odu.edu.