U.S. Visa Documents

Undergraduate F-1 Students

• Request an Initial I-20
• Request an Initial I-20 to Return to Gordon College (old version)
• Request an Initial I-20 as an Exchange Visitor

Master's-Level F-1 Students

• Request an Initial I-20 for Graduate Education (MEd, EdS, Montessori)
• Request an Initial I-20 for Graduate Finance (MSFA)
• Request an Initial I-20 for Graduate Leadership (MA Leadership *summer residency*)
• Request an Initial I-20 for Graduate Music Education (MMEd *summer residency*)

All F-1 Students

• Transfer a SEVIS Record to Gordon College
• RCL: Reduced Course Load
• CPT: Curricular Practical Training
• OPT: Optional Practical Training - including the application checklist 
• SEVIS I-901 Fee 
• U.S. Embassies - find "consular services" for "nonimmigrant visas" 
• Airport Customs in Boston
• Secondary Inspection
• I-94 - lookup your most-recent entry into the U.S.
• Maintaining Status
• SSN: Social Security Number
  • DO NOT WORK WITHOUT COMPLETING THIS PAPERWORK.
  • Apply for an on-campus job at Handshake.
  • Ask your new boss for a Job Offer Letter (must be printed on paper and signed). Here is an example: Job Offer Letter.
  • Email Caroline a picture of your Job Offer Letter, and she will make you an SSN Request Letter.
  • Go to Student Employment to complete all New Hire Paperwork. 
  • Email Ingrid to get a blank SSN Office form and complete it. Here is an example: Application for Social Security Card. 
  • Follow Ingrid's instructions to either [A] mail your paperwork, or [B] get a ride to visit the Social Security Office.
  • THEN, YOU MAY BEGIN WORKING ON-CAMPUS! 
• RMV: Proof of Residency Letter
  • Email Caroline to ask, and include your current U.S. address, including ZIP Code.
• Visitor Invitation
  • Email Caroline to ask, and include information about the visitor: full name, date of birth, passport country, relation to you the student, reason he/she is visiting, approximate length of stay in the U.S. (in weeks), and the month he/she plans to arrive in the U.S.
• Taxes and Reporting Obligations ​
  • Overview: Tax Workshop WORKSHEET; F-1 Taxes; Free Resources
  • Professional Help: www.sprintax.com/gordon ​Sprintax is the company that we recommend for complex tax preparation (e.g., married not single; working in multiple states; taking advantage of a tax treaty; amending or completing a form from a previous year).  
  • Calculating Days in U.S.: Look up your I-94 Travel History and use the Date-to-Date Calculator (check "include end date").
  • Forms: Form 8843 (all F-1, even if did not work), Form 1040NR (all F-1 who worked in U.S.), Massachusetts Form 1-NR/PY (all F-1 who worked in Massachusetts and earned at least $4,400). Find "true tax owed" on the federal tax table and the Massachusetts tax table. Your income is listed in Box 1 of your W2 from your employer (Student Worker W2 lookup: employee self-service, click "Sign Up," company = Gordon, and if it doesn't work then you need to email Student Payroll for help). 1042-S for a taxable scholarship. 1095-B and 1099-HC from American health insurance company.
  • "0" or "1" on the W4: Entering "0" on the W4 tells your employer to withold some of your earned income on each paycheck, and you might get a tax refund in April.  Entering "1" on the W4 tells your employer to withold nothing, and you will have to personally save 10-15% of your income, in case you need to pay U.S. taxes.