ISSO专栏 | 龙年到来，春意盎然：一份为国际学生准备的新学期生活与学习指南

龙行龘龘，前程朤朤

ISSO祝大家龙年吉祥如意！你知道吗？青龙年六十年一遇，在青龙年出生的人被认为是富有创造力、探索精神和思想开放的。

The Wood Dragon comes once in 60 years. People born in the Year of the Wood Dragon are considered to be creative, explorative, and open-minded.

More here:

https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/entertainment/year-of-the-wood-dragon-chinese-zodiac-personality-health-career-love-2024

超详细！OPT&AT要开始准备了

如果你将在春季学期结束时完成你的课程，并且有兴趣在美国寻求就业机会，那么是时候开始准备OPT（F-1签证）和AT（J-1签证）了！越早准备越好！

OPT是你F-1学生身份的福利和延续，在美国移民局的授权下，允许你在专业相关领域工作长达12个月。ISSO将在本月举办两场线上宣讲会，届时将向应届生介绍OPT签证的申请资格与流程。快来报名吧：

http://bit.ly/postcompopt

2024年2月13日10:00AM-11:00AM（纽约时间）
2024年2月22日11:00AM-12:00PM（纽约时间）

AT是J-1学生身份的福利，允许你从事有薪或无薪岗位，将你所学的知识和技能应用到实际工作中。有意申请AT的学生学者，请参阅ISSO官网上的相关资料：

http://bit.ly/issoj1at

If you are completing your program at the end of the spring semester (Congratulations!) and are interested in pursuing employment in the U.S., it's time to learn about the Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 status and Academic Training (AT) for J-1 status. Start your preparation early!

OPT is a benefit and extension of F-1 student status that allows you to work in your field of study for up to 12 months and is authorized by USCIS, the immigration agency. There are two webinars in February in which an ISSO advisor will discuss eligibility requirements and application procedures for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization after your graduation. Find a time that works for you! Register and read more about OPT on the ISSO website here: http://bit.ly/postcompopt

Feb. 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM EST / Feb. 14, 2024 from 11:00 PM-12:00 AM CST
Feb. 22, 2024 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM EST / Feb. 23, 2024 from 12:00 AM-1:00 AM CST

Academic Training is a benefit of J-1 student status that allows you to work —either paid or unpaid — for the purpose of applying knowledge and skills learned during your program of study. Graduating students in J-1 status interested in Academic Training (AT) should review the information on the AT webpage here: http://bit.ly/issoj1at.

留学生也要报税？这些事项你需要了解

2023年报税季（2024年2月至4月）即将到来，越早准备越好。凭借UNI和密码通过ISSO官网登录Sprintax后，ISSO将承担持有F/J类签证的国际学生学者的联邦非居民申报费用。需要进行州税申报的学生学者同样可以选择使用Sprintax，但需要支付个人申报费用。

如果你是持有F/J类签证的国际学生学者，请登录ISSO官网报税主页，并报名参加Sprintax税务网络研讨会，了解更多申报信息和流程：

http://bit.ly/nonrestaxreturn

观看视频（由哥大国际学生参演），了解美国税收的简要介绍：

https://bit.ly/taxbasicsvid

登录ISSO官网报税主页了解详情：

https://isso.columbia.edu/content/taxes

第一场

周二，2024年2月27日12:00PM-1:00PM（纽约时间）

第二场

周四，2024年3月28日1:00PM-2:00PM（纽约时间）

了解更多关于美国所得税的信息，前往链接：

http://bit.ly/fjtaxbasics

It's never too early to understand your US tax obligations and be prepared for the 2023 tax season (February to April 2024)! ISSO covers the cost of federal nonresident forms and tax returns for students and scholars in F and J status when they log into Sprintax through the ISSO website with their UNI and password. Individuals who need a state tax return as well can choose to use Sprintax for an individual fee.

Sprintax will host tax webinars to provide information on the nonresident tax filing process for Columbia international students and scholars in F/J status (RSVPs listed on our nonresident tax page: http://bit.ly/nonrestaxreturn).

Tuesday, February 27 from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST / February 28 from 1:00 AM-2:00 AM CST
Thursday, March 28 from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM EST / March 29 from 2:00 AM-3:00 AM CST

To start, watch this short video (featuring real Columbia international students) for a brief introduction of US taxes: https://bit.ly/taxbasicsvid and get familiar with our tax webpages https://isso.columbia.edu/content/taxes

To learn more about U.S. income taxes in general, read here:

http://bit.ly/fjtaxbasics

保护好你的个人信息和“钱袋子”！

近日，哥伦比亚大学以及美国各地的国际学生和学者们频繁成为一些诈骗犯的目标。骗子们花样百出的诈骗行为让人防不胜防——例如钓鱼电子邮件和诈骗电话。他们往往伪装成各类身份向你索要钱财，其中常见的套路包括提醒你缴纳税款，针对移民身份或签证业务要求你提供信息，或者说你的SSN身份被盗，需要核实，以及向你提供虚假就业机会等。

ISSO特此提醒大家，千万不要回复那些“不请自来”的offers！不要成为下一个受害者！做好防御，看看这些实用的反诈指南吧：

○ 消费者反诈指南

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/04/its-financial-literacy-month-protect-yourself-scammers?utm_source=govdelivery

○ 获取反诈信息，了解最新骗术

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFTCCONSUMER/subscriber/new?topic_id=USFTCCONSUMER_8

○ FBI科普帖：常见的诈骗和网络钓鱼骗术

https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/spoofing-and-phishing

前往ISSO的“反诈”网站，了解更多信息：

https://isso.columbia.edu/content/scams

International students and scholars at Columbia and across the U.S. report receiving fraudulent phishing emails and imposter phone calls demanding money for a variety of fake reasons. These include unpaid taxes, immigration status or visa problems, identity theft of their SSN, and recently, phony employment opportunities. Do not respond to unsolicited job offers! Don't be a victim! Do take the time to review these resources:

○ Consumer Alerts

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/04/its-financial-literacy-month-protect-yourself-scammers?utm_source=govdelivery

○ Sign up for Consumer Alerts for information on the latest frauds and scams

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFTCCONSUMER/subscriber/new?topic_id=USFTCCONSUMER_8

○ FBI: Common Scams with Spoofing and Phishing

https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/spoofing-and-phishing

Learn More on Our "Avoiding Scams" Webpage:

https://isso.columbia.edu/content/scams

GLASS全球领导力项目开课了！

GLASS全球领导力项目是由哥大教务长办公室通过ISSO推出的专门针对国际学生的标志性项目。这一系列课程旨在促进国际学生的专业发展，为他们适应美国和全球的工作文化、提升领导能力和成功做好准备。GLASS围绕三个重点领域构建：

1) 专业学习与发展

2) 人际关系和跨文化交流

3) 全球意识与包容

你可以前往链接，了解更多关于这个项目的信息：

https://isso.columbia.edu/glass。本学期，GLASS将提供以下课程：

《跨文化故事圈》，3月1日，周五
《多样性、公平、包容和归属感》，3月7日，周四
《情商》，3月29日，周五
《跨文化交流》，4月5日，周五

期待你的到来！

Global Leadership Advancing Student Success (GLASS) is a signature leadership program offered by the Office of the Provost through ISSO, exclusively available to Columbia University International Students. They are a series of sessions designed to advance international student professional development in preparation for U.S. and global work cultures, leadership, and success. GLASS is built around three focus areas:

1) Professional Learning & Development

2) Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication

3) Global Mindfulness and Inclusion

You can learn more about the program here (https://isso.columbia.edu/glass), and we encourage you to check the website as we will update sessions throughout the semester. This semester, we will be offering: