Harvard Medical School BostonコミュのHarvard International Office Newsletter

Harvard International Office Newsletter

1. TAXES: You should have already received an email from the HIO
regarding filing 2007 tax returns. If for some reason you did not
receive that message, please let us know. Since that email went out,
we are pleased to announce that we have a new professionally prepared
tax web site available to our students and scholars, created by a
noted tax lawyer, Paula Singer. CINTAX is a great tool for those of
you who are required to file a non-resident federal return, however
it does not help with resident returns or with Massachusetts State
returns. To link to this new site, please go to our web site at
http://www.hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/taxes.php. We will also
be sponsoring one tax seminar on Tuesday, 3/18 from 6-9 at 2 Divinity
Ave. in the first floor Auditorium. This session will only address
federal returns - it will NOT address Massachusetts State r eturns.
In general, 2007 tax returns are due by 4/15/08. The presenter is
Donna Kepley, President of Arctic International, the company that
brings us CINTAX

2. F-1 OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING: This is the time of year that
many students are considering their summer work options or their post-
graduation plans. Many F-1 students will take advantage of the
optional practical training (OPT) permit. Those of you who are
still considering whether or not to apply should be aware that the
processing of OPT applications will slow down considerably on 4/1/08,
when the immigration office will be deluged with H-1B applications.
It is advisable to apply for OPT as soon as possible. To make an
appointment with your HIO advisor, please visit our web site at www.
hio.harvard.edu and click on Schedule an Appointment. For additional
information regarding OPT, please visit our web site at http://www.
hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/student_employment/f1_opt.php

3. CHANGE OF ADDRESS INFORMATION: We would like to remind everyone
of the requirement that you keep your residential address information
up to date. Updating the Registrar's Office at your school does NOT
get passed on to us. F and J visa holders can give us new address
information through our web site at http://www.hio.harvard.edu/
students_scholars/address_change.php. Those of you holding other
types of visas should consult our web site for the proper procedure.
This is essential to maintaining legal status in the United States.

4. If you are travelling over spring break, please make sure you
have the proper documents for your return to the U.S. If you need an
updated travel signature on your visa document, stop by Monday -
Friday between 9-5 to obtain the signature from our advisor on call.
For information on the proper documentation for travel, please go to
our web site at http://www.hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/travel/
required_documents.php.

5. Please take a moment to check the expiration date of your visa
document. If you will not be graduating by the expiration date on
your visa document, you should contact our office regarding extension
procedures. For additional information, please visit our web site at
http://www.hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/student_employment/
f1_i20_ext.php.

6. We receive many questions at this time of year regarding inviting
family members to attend graduation. There is information on this
topic on our web site at http://www.hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/
invitation.php.

7. We are happy to welcome back Maria Hernandez on 3/10/08 from
maternity leave. Maria is the advisor for HSPH, HSDM, and Children's
Hospital. Darryl Zeigler, who filled in for Maria, will take over
the GSAS workload previously held by Kathryn Fogle, who recently
moved to Pennsylvania with her family. Welcome!

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