Welcome to our new international students and welcome back to our continuing students! New students, we're excited to have you as part of the Wake Forest family. Continuing students, we hope you had a relaxing and rejuvenating Winter Break.

As always, ISS is here to help you maintain your immigration status as well as provide services and programming. We hope you have a great Spring 2025 semester!

Note the below dates/times that the ISS office will be closed up to March 2025. These dates/times are subject to change. We ask that you plan accordingly for any requests and/or processing.

• February 11 (8:30am-1pm) - Global Wake Forest meeting
• March 7 (all day) - ISS staff attending NCAIE conference
• March 10 (all day) - ISS professional development

In most cases, F-1 and J-1 students must maintain full-time enrollment during all semesters of study. Full-time enrollment is considered to be 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate students. Graduate students should refer to their academic program for full-time enrollment requirements.

Students may apply for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) under very limited circumstances. 

For more information regarding enrollment requirements including Reduced Course Load (RCL) review our website: https://iss.wfu.edu/enrollment-requirements/

All international students and scholars in the U.S., are legally REQUIRED to file a tax return if you worked in the U.S. or received a stipend, grant or allowance in 2024.

NOTE: Even if you didn't work or receive income in the U.S., you're still legally REQUIRED to file a Form 8843 with the IRS if you were a student or scholar in 2024.

TAX FILING DEADLINE: APRIL 15, 2025



To assist in this process, ISS is partnering with Sprintax to simplify the tax filing process for international students and scholars. 

You will also have access to our Sprintax YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sprintax/videos

Action Steps:

1. Register and follow the simple instructions online.
2. Complete the online questionnaire.
3. Enter the code WFU250F24 in the box on the 'Review your order' page.
4. Sprintax will prepare your tax return and even check if you are due a refund.

NOTE: ISS will cover the cost of filing a federal tax return and Form 8843 with Sprintax. Please note: If you also need to file a state tax return through Sprintax, you will be charged separately. 

If you have any questions, please email Sprintax at hello@sprintax.com or utilize their 24/7 live chat.

As a reminder, you MUST print, sign and mail your documents once you complete the preparation process in the Sprintax software.

You may sign up for a session on a first come first serve. Only for students using Sprintax.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FA8AC23A2F8CF8-54464468-taxpreparation#/

The ISS team are not tax professionals and cannot assist with any tax preparation.

Students that are considered a resident for tax purposes cannot use Sprintax and should contact a tax professional. This IRS link provides details on enrolled agents and CPAs that can assist you. Below are some other referrals for tax specialists we've received from trusted immigration attorneys:

Keith Hyatt with Breslow Starling in Greensboro, NC

CliftonLarsonAllen in Charlotte, NC

GreerWalker in Charlotte, NC and Greenville, NC

Goldberg & Davis in Charlotte, NC

We are often alerted to reports of various scams directed at international students and scholars, particularly during this time of year with tax season, in addition to new scams via text messages alarming students of inaccurate information regarding visa statuses.

Additionally, you may receive text messages that are not relevant to you. Please refrain from engaging in these messages. 

As a reminder any campus phone number will begin with 758 then the department extension.

There are several variations such as email and mail, but most are via phone calls from what appears to be the USCIS customer service line or the IRS and the caller is providing significant data such as name, date of birth and last digits of I-94 numbers.

The targeted individual is being told that if they don’t make an immediate payment to certain online payment services, purchase gift cards, or provide bank account information to facilitate payment of a “penalty” or to “correct an error”, they will be subject to immediate deportation. 

If you receive a call from anyone requesting information and/or money to resolve an immigration matter DO NOT COMPLY.  Do not provide any credit card, bank or personal information over the phone.

If you have been a victim of an immigration services scam or know of a scam that you wish to report, you can go to the USCIS Avoid Scams website: https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams

Also, immediately notify iss@wfu.edu and Campus Police (336-758-5911).

Spring Involvement Fair

Wed., Jan. 29| 4-5 PM | Benson. University Center

Be sure to stop by the Spring Involvement Fair to learn how you can get involved with the Office of Civic & Community Engagement this campus! We’ll have staff and students present with information about:

• Campus Kitchen/Kids Cooking Coalition
• Deacon Dialogue
• Deacs Decide
• DESK
• The Social Justice incubator/Artivist
• Summer Nonprofit Immersion Program
• Virtual Tutoring
• Wake ‘N Shake

Looking to explore the city of Winston-Salem outside of the Wake Forest campus?

Explore the VisitWinstonSalem website for some ideas.