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| ICE Warns of Scam Targeting International Students |
| Beware of ICE Imposters Flyer |
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an alert that international students are being targeted by a scam. Individuals are impersonating ICE agents, using a ‘spoofed' local ICE phone number, telling students who have valid status that their status is in jeopardy and they can proceed to a specific ICE location or pay a certain amount of money to solve the issue. This is a SCAM, though the scam callers seem very convincing.
ICE has provided an informational flyer: “Beware of ICE Imposters”
As indicated, a legitimate ICE employer will never ask for payment of any kind.
If you receive a call from someone indicating they are an official of a government agency, and request personal information or payment of any kind, this is likely a scam. You may ask the individual for their name, agency and phone number and advise them you will contact them back after speaking with your MIT International Students Office. If the caller is from the actual agency, they will support you contacting the MIT ISO first before speaking with them. If they refuse, then they are likely a scammer and you should hang up the phone (or not respond to their email) and notify the MIT ISO.
For additional information on protecting yourself from scams, please view the ISO “Scams and Fraud” webpage. |
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| Tax Resources |
| Tax Workshop: Recording & Slides now available |
Each year, by April 15, every international student, individuals in certain other nonimmigrant visa statuses, as well as American Citizens and Permanent Residents, are required to file a Federal income tax return with the U.S. Government (and in some cases also need to file a State income tax return in each state that the individual resided) based on any physical presence in the U.S. during the previous calendar year.
The April 15, 2021 deadline is to file income tax returns for all who had been physically present in the U.S. during the 2020 calendar year. Students physically inside the U.S. during 2020, whether they worked or not, are required to file an income tax return. Students who have worked at MIT during 2020, including receiving assistantships or fellowships, should receive the necessary documents needed to complete their income tax returns by the end of February 2021.
MIT provides a number of resources to support international students completing their required income tax returns. Links to the available resources are available on the ISO Taxes webpage (https://iso.mit.edu/maintaining-status/taxes/).
A brief overview of the available tax resources are as follows:
Tax Guidance for Non-Resident Tax Filers
The MIT Office of the Vice President for Finance, in cooperation with the International Scholars Office (ISchO) and the International Students Office (ISO), created a website for foreign nationals to provide resources and links related to receiving payments from MIT and guidance on income taxes. This is the best place to start with any questions about taxes and filing your income tax returns.
MIT Tax Workshops Presentation Recordings/Slidedecks Now Available
On March 2, 2021, MIT hosted Tax Workshops for MIT students and scholars regarding the filing the 2020 calendar year income tax returns.
The Workshop recordings and slidedecks are now posted on the MIT VPF “How to Get Tax Help” webpage.
Additional tax information for international students and scholars is available on the VPF website.
Glacier Tax Prep Software
The ISO makes available to MIT international students for free a license for the Glacier Tax Prep software to assist in completing the Federal income tax return. The software is available now but please wait until you have received your tax forms from MIT before using it. The ISO will email all MIT international students once the software is available. We hope this information is helpful and we will be sure to email students when additional updates are available. |
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| Clocks will "spring forward" |
| Time will move ahead one hour this Sunday |
| On Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 AM, the clocks will switch to one hour ahead to begin Daylight Savings Time (2:00AM will become 3:00AM ET) |
| READ MORE |
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| ISO Welcomes New Staff Member |
| Welcome, Alison! |
Alison Day is the newest addition to the ISO team, joining us as the new Assistant Director for Operations and Advising on February 22, 2021.
Alison has worked in the field of international education and exchange since 2014, serving most recently as an Assistant Director/Foreign Student and Scholar Advisor in the Office of International Education at Carnegie Mellon University, and previously as International Student and Scholar advisor at the University of North Dakota.
At MIT, Alison will oversee our continued development of ISO operations, while also serving as the ISO Advisor Point-of-Contact for a number of programs in the MIT Sloan School of Management. advising.
Advising Cohort:
Graduate students in MIT Sloan, specifically the MBA, MFin, Master of Management, and PhD programs. |
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READ MORE
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| Language Conversation Exchange "Conversation Cafe" |
Next Event on Tuesday, March 16
12:00 - 1:00 PM EST |
Co-sponsored by LCE & ISO
Advance registration for each event is required at this new link: http://bit.ly/LCECafeSpring21
After a short opening culture or language presentation, language learners will be sorted into breakout rooms by language where you can practice with native speakers.
Participants, please start arriving at 11:50 AM so that presentation can start promptly at 12noon.
Subscribe to the LCE email list |
| New Registration Link |
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| Zoom Break: Among Us |
Thursday, March 18, 2021
1:00 - 2:00 PM EST |
Join to play an hour of Among Us with us!
The game can be found here for Android and here for iOS.
A quick introduction video to how the game works is here! |
| Sign Up |
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| Navigating MIT Series - Spring 2021 |
Starting Friday, March 19
Sign up for each virtual session at this link |
Various topics to support international students with adjustment to MIT and the U.S. during the spring semester. Topics are repeated from the fall semester since some students have newly arrived for the spring. Open to all international students.
All sessions will be held virtually over Zoom. Even if you cannot attend the session, if you register, you will receive the slides (a recording may not be possible). |
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| Personal Empowerment Series |
| Co-sponsored by SOLE, ISO, & other offices |
First event:
Cooking Through Cambridge: Blaze Pizza
March 18th @6 pm
https://engage.mit.edu/event/6970234
Join the Student Organizations, Leadership & Engagement Office (SOLE )as we embark on a cooking series supporting local Cambridge restaurants. We are starting off this series with Blaze Pizza located on 1 Canal Street, Cambridge. Blaze Pizza will be providing/teaching you everything you need in order to recreate your favorite Blaze Pizza in your own kitchen. This event will be open to the first 30 registrations. RSVP to receive a registration link in order to participate in this event! |
| SIGN UP |
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| Pi(e) Day and Great British Bake Off Watchathon |
Starting Friday, March 12th, 2021
9 PM - 11 PM EST |
It’s not pi day but it’s the closest Friday to pi day(!) Join us as we watch Paul Hollywood ~roast~ some pies on the Great British Baking Show! Featuring intermission GBBO trivia!
Open to Everyone.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://mit.zoom.us/j/95242872059
Add our Google Calendar and/or fill out this form to be added to our mailing list! |
| Zoom Meeting Link |
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| Ilona Karmel Writing Prizes |
Deadline For Submission:
Monday, April 12, 2021 - 5:00 PM |
| The Ilona Karmel Writing Prizes are awarded every May by MIT’s Comparative Media Studies/Writing program. This competition was named in honor of the late Ilona Karmel, novelist, poet and Senior Lecturer in the writing program. Throughout her teaching career, Karmel’s outstanding contributions to creative writing at MIT were her inspirational teachings and relationships with students. |
| More Information |
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| Wellness Events & Resources |
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| Community Wellness Workshops |
| Click here to register |
Hack Your Sleep
Strategies to help you reboot your sleep schedule, get the best quality sleep you can, and make getting up in the morning easier. Learn about MIT resources to decrease stress and improve sleep health.
- Wednesday, March 31 12:30-1 pm
Motivation and Productivity: COVID-19 Edition
Manage time, energy, and productivity, connect with deeper motivations to avoid burnout and maintain focus, and make a blueprint for your own productivity plan.
- Wednesday, March 17 12:30-1 pm
- Tuesday, March 30 12:30-1 pm
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| Daily Table Grocery Store |
| Recently opened in Central Square |
| No one should have to choose between their health and their budget when it comes to food. That's why Daily Table sources nutritious, delicious food at prices that every budget can afford --an average of 30% less than other local supermarkets. |
| READ MORE |
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MIT International Students Office
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
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Office Hours:
9:00-16:00 (M-F)
Closed (W) 10:00-11:30
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