• Sprintax is special tax prep software designed specifically for international students and other non-residents.
• Sprintax offers 24/7 live tax assistance by phone and chat.
• Sprintax information is multi-lingual.
• Sprintax can also complete State of Georgia Income Tax Forms for an additional fee.
• Sprintax allows you to save your tax return to continue later.

1. Plan Time & Gather Your Documents:

Once you have all the documents together below, plan about 30-45 minutes to use Sprintax.

• Passport with F1, J1 or other relevant non-immigrant Visa
• Form I-20 or DS-2019
• Dates of all U.S. arrivals and departures in the past.
• W-2 forms (if you have income): wage statement from your employer(s). Contact your HR department if you haven’t received your W-2(s) by January 31st each year. If you were employed by Georgia State, electronic W-2 is available in your OneUSG Connect account.
• 1042S (if you worked for Georgia State and claimed treaty benefits and/or you have received taxable or treaty exempt scholarships from Georgia State): This is made available to you in your Glacier account or mailed to you from Georgia State's tax compliance office by the end of February. If you worked for Georgia State and haven't received these forms by February 28th, contact: Ivan Ivanov, Tax Accountant, Citizens Trust Bank Building (CTB) 75 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 1241/ 404-413-3056/ [email protected]
• SSN or ITIN
  • SSN (Social Security Number): required if you had income from a U.S. job. View details  or
  • ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) - required only if you don't qualify for an SSN but still need to file a complete tax return (example: a scholarship for food and lodging is not employment but is taxable.) The ITIN application is complex and time-consuming. View information and detailed process.

2. Log-in to iStart to Request Free Code

(e-form is viewable from February, 2025)

• Click the "US Tax Form Helper" e-form under the Taxes tab.
• Answer the questions carefully and submit the form. You will immediately receive a unique link with the free access code via email.

3. Log-in to Sprintax

• Use the free code to register and complete your Federal tax return documents, including form 8843.

4. File your US Federal Return

• Print, sign and mail a copy of your federal forms to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), whether you owe taxes or expect a refund. The IRS tax filing deadline is April 15th, 2025. Buy proper postage to affix to the envelope and address your envelope like this:

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215

5. State Return (if applicable)

• Use your Federal Return to complete your State of Georgia Income Tax Return on "form 500". You are responsible for the additional Sprintax fee to file a state income tax return.
• Mail a copy of your forms to the Georgia Department of Revenue by the same deadline.
• Address your envelope like this depending on whether you owe state taxes or not:

If Georgia owes you a refund:  

Georgia Dept. of Revenue
PO Box 740380
Atlanta, GA 30374-0380

Or,

If you owe Georgia taxes:  

Georgia Dept. of Revenue
PO Box 740399
Atlanta, GA 30374-0399

No. ISSS provides free access for your Federal filing only. If you are expecting a significant State of Georgia income tax refund and want Sprintax to prepare that for you, an addition fee is required. Please contact Sprintax directly to inquire about that service.

You should still file proper 2024 tax documents if you were a non-resident for tax purposes, even if you have departed the U.S. This will help you avoid problems with future visa applications.

• If the IRS owes you money (a tax refund), you must file a tax return to get the refund. Refunds are not issued automatically.
• If you owe the IRS money, you must file a tax return to find out how much.
• If you miss the April 15^th deadline, you may have to also pay IRS late fees.
• Following US tax law is a requirement of your visa. Failure to pay the proper tax amount on U.S. income will lead to tax penalties. In addition, if you apply for a future visa status or Permanent Residency in the US, you'll be asked to provide copies of all tax forms and tax returns for every year you were present in the US. If you failed to file them, your application will be delayed or possibly rejected.

Tuition waivers, such as the Campus Atlanta Scholarship, are non-taxable; they are considered tuition-only scholarships. You should still complete form 8843 if you had no other income or taxable scholarships.

A resident for tax purposes may use regular domestic tax prep software. A resident for tax purposes is an individual who is:

• A U.S. Citizen or foreign national with a "Green Card".
• An F & J student who has been in the U.S. during any part of 5 calendar years or more.
• J Research Scholars are generally residents for tax purposes after 2 years in the U.S.
• H-1, TN and O-1 visa holders are considered residents for tax purposes if they meet the "substantial presence" test.
• Meets the Substantial Presence Test of the IRS. View pages 3 and 4 for more information or use Sprintax to make this determination for you.

Tip: Sprintax will determine if you are a Resident for tax purposes. If yes, seek the advice of a professional tax advisor since you are not eligible to use Sprintax.

Spintax offers options to complete tax forms and returns for previous years. The cost would be your responsibility. The code ISSS issues each year is only valid for the current tax season.

Form 8843 is titled, "Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition" - This may sound confusing but the form has many uses. It must be completed by all F and J visa holders, regardless of whether or not U.S. income was earned. Its purpose is to record your physical presence in the US for tax purposes. You are welcome to use the free Sprintax code via iStart even if you only need 8843. However, you may also simply download and print form 8843 yourself if you prefer not to use Sprintax. Mail form 8843 to the same address indicated in the “Free Sprintax Code” section below.

Form 8843 Student Example

Form 8843 (fillable form)

If you worked for Georgia State, in addition to receiving your W-2 in the mail, you can view and download it in OneUSG Connect. Please follow the instructions here.

• The fastest way to get help with individual tax or technical questions regarding Sprintax is to use the Sprintax 24/7 Live Chat function within the software. It’s available “24/7” (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or
• Call Sprintax at: 1-866-601-5695

In all forms of communication, be sure to include:

• Your full name
• Sprintax ID
• Indicate Georgia State University, not just “GSU” as there are other schools with those letters.
• Indicate if you are a returning or new Sprintax user and what your immigration status is.

For consideration: applications must be complete and all statements made about a hardship must be well-supported with evidence or documentation of the situation. Examples would include: headlines or articles about monetary fluctuation, catastrophic events, a notice of termination from employment, supporting medical letters, etc... Making false statements for the purpose of consideration for a waiver may be a basis for expulsion from Georgia State.

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Subject to availability, Georgia State offers a limited number of need-based, non-resident tuition waivers to international students on all Georgia State campuses each term.  If this is your 2nd application, please be sure to update all content. As applications are accepted and reviewed based on availability and because the number of applications may exceed available waivers, we cannot guarantee that waivers will be awarded or that waivers will be available to everyone who applies. We wish you success in this process and thank you for applying.

 

Eligibility and Application Instructions

Eligibility is indicated in section I of Non-Resident Tuition Waiver Application.

All required supporting documentation is indicated in the application itself.

Review the checklist at the end of the application to help you verify that your materials are ready to submit. You cannot re-submit or edit your application after submission.

Upload all components of your application as PDF files via iStart under the "Tuition Waiver Application" tab for your campus.

In the summer semester, a minimum enrollment of 6 credit hours is required to receive the waiver. In Fall and Spring, normal full-time enrollment is required.

What is Covered?

Only out-of-state tuition is waived, not student fees or the in-state portion of tuition.

Is this different than a Graduate Assistantship?

Yes. This waiver is need-based, open to students at all degree levels and does not require a work commitment. If you have a GRA, you are not eligible for this waiver.

Is this different than the "Campus Atlanta Scholarship"?

Yes, this waiver is need-based and assists eligible students experiencing financial hardship in their final year. The Campus Atlanta Scholarship is merit-based at the time of undergraduate admission or transfer.

 Non-resident Waiver Application Open and Close Dates*

Below are general deadlines.  Applications will be accepted and reviewed based on availability.

TIME FRAME	Applications Open	Application Close
Fall Semester	April 5th	April 30th, by 5 p.m.
Spring Semester	October 5th	October 26th, by 5 p.m.
Summer Semester	March 5th	April 2nd, by 5 p.m.

 *If the Non–resident Waiver Application Open or Close Dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the waiver will open or close on the next available business day.

Contacts

For more information or if you have questions about this process, please contact:

Atlanta Campus: [email protected] / 404-413-2070

Perimeter College: [email protected] / 678-891-3235

Graduate Assistantships

Full-time graduate students in F-1 or J-1 visa status may qualify for graduate research, teaching or administrative assistant position, also known as a GRA, GTA or GAA, commonly referred to as simply “Graduate Assistantships.” This funding generally waives tuition and provides a small stipend in return for work performed in the department. The availability of these positions varies by academic department. For more information, contact the graduate coordinators in your department.

Other Support for Graduate Students

For more information about external funding, internal funding such as Final Year Fellowships, Dissertation Grant Program and the Second Century Initiative (2CI) or for assistance with research writing, please visit Graduate Fellowship Resources.

ISSS understands that circumstances beyond your control may arise, so please inform your ISSS advisor if you are having unexpected financial problems.

• Please note, ISSS is unable to change or delay payment deadlines established by the University System of Georgia. Please contact Student Financial Services directly to discuss payment options.
• F-1 experiencing unexpected financial hardship may be eligible to request the Severe Economic Hardship work authorization. View details.

All Georgia State students must apply for graduation in order to trigger the process of an official audit. This will ensure that you have officially met all the requirements of your degree program in order to receive your diploma. However, you are not required to participate in the graduation ceremony. Failure to apply for graduation when you have completed your degree program requirements could put your immigration status at risk.

• All graduation matters are handled by the Graduation Office within the University Registrar's office.
• Read How to Apply information.
• Helpful frequently asked questions about graduation.

One semester before graduation:

• Meet with your academic advisor to ensure all degree requirements will be met in time to graduate.
• To take advantage of post-completion employment authorization through F1 visa OPT (Optional Practical Training) or  J-1 visa AT (Academic Training), be sure to apply within established deadlines.  Also visit the Georgia State Career Services Center for resume, job search and interview assistance.
• If you plan to leave the U.S. after graduation, make flight arrangements and submit the Notice of Future Intentions form in iStart.
• If you plan to stay in the U.S. for further study at a different school, talk to an ISSS about the process of transferring your SEVIS record.

2-3 months before graduation

• If family and friends are visiting for the commencement ceremony, prepare for their lodging or make hotel arrangements. If your visitors will need visas to enter the US, remind them to apply for their B2 visitor visa at the US embassy or consulate closest to them.
• Start the job search if you’re interested in staying in the United States for authorized employment.

1 month before graduation, departure from the U.S. or moving:

• Notify your landlord or housing office that you will be vacating your apartment. Most leases require 30-days written notice. Check your lease for details.
• Make sure your roommates are aware of your plans.
• Agree on a date to have a check-out appointment with your landlord and discuss your deposit if you had one.
• Contact your US service accounts to inquire about termination of service:
  • • Phone service
    • Gas
    • Water
    • Electric
    • Garbage
    • Cable TV / Internet
    • Newspapers/Magazines
    • Renter’s Insurance
    • Make arrangements with your bank to close your account(s).
    • Unsubscribe to e-mail lists you no longer need.
• Consider what to do with your vehicle if you have one
• Contact health, car and life insurance companies to discuss coverage options and whether to close the account.
• Leave a forwarding address at your local Post Office so they can send your mail to your new address if staying in the U.S.
• Pay any fines you may have (library, parking, etc.) or return library books.  If you owe money to Georgia State, your official transcript will not be released.
• Sell miscellaneous personal items like furniture, appliances, computers, automobiles, bikes, etc. by holding a garage sale or placing the items on a website such as Craigslist or eBay.
  • • You can also give away items to a local thrift shop, such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
    • Contact shipping or storage companies if needed.
• Contact the Georgia State Alumni Association and register yourself to receive updates and establish yourself with the Georgia State Alumni Community.

ISSS congratulates you on your upcoming graduation. It is a major accomplishment indeed!

If you are planning to invite friends or family members from abroad to your graduation ceremony, they may need a visa. Application is made at their nearest US Embassy or Consulate for a visitor (B2) visa. They should prepare all the documentation indicated on the Embassy or Consulate website.

It will be very important for your visitor to demonstrate permanent ties to the home country to receive a visitor visa. Examples would include providing documentation of:

·        home or business ownership

·        loans to banks in the home country

·        utility bills

·        automobile ownership/insurance

·        bank statements, etc…

The Embassy will also want to know the address where your guests will be in the US, the exact dates of their visit, your US phone number and the full names and dates of birth of your visitors.

Invitation letters for international guests or family visitors

The Georgia State Registrar provides a number of services related to graduation, including support letters for international visitors. ISSS does not provide these letters since we are not able to confirm enrollment or graduation. To request this letter, visit the Degree Conferral and Diploma Information page and scroll down to “Services”.

• Sample Invitation Letter

Other support letters available at the same link include:

Certified Diploma

Replacement / Duplicate Diploma

Degree Verification

Letter of Completion

Study Abroad Programs (SAP) offers many opportunities for international students to complete part of their degree requirements through affiliated academic programs outside the U.S. These range in duration from a full year or semester to short, 2-week programs.

Scholarships
Please check directly with the Study Abroad office (3rd floor Dahlberg Hall) to determine eligibility and current funding.

F1 and J1 enrollment requirements
You are considered properly enrolled at Georgia State – even when studying outside the U.S. – if the Georgia State study abroad program meets the “full-time enrollment” requirement of your U.S. F1 or J1 Visa. However, additional visas issued by the country you plan to visit may be required. That depends on the diplomatic relationship between your home country, your destination country and purpose. Your F1 or J1 visa only allows you to enter the U.S., not other countries.

You are encouraged to visit the Study Abroad office to learn more. Then, consult with the embassy of the country you will be visiting well in advance to inquire about visa requirements relevant to your citizenship.

Georgia State Study Abroad Programs
International Center, Dahlberg Hall, 3rd Floor
30 Courtland Street SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: 404-413-2529
Email: [email protected]

Definition of Study Abroad

Classes taken outside of the U.S. for Georgia State (GSU) credit, including Georgia State exchange agreements and dual degree programs that require full-time study outside the U.S. Study abroad through an external study abroad provider, other universities, or other outside programs that will result in transfer credit will not follow the guidelines outlined in this policy. Please consult with an ISSS advisor if you have any questions about your study abroad program.

ISSS Procedures During Study Abroad

Based on 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(10), ISSS will continue to maintain the student's SEVIS record (including properly registering the student's record each term or session the student is studying abroad), pending that the student provides the appropriate documentation (defined below). The student’s SEVIS record will be annotated in the remarks section that the student is pursuing a full course of study while engaging in an authorized study abroad program.

International Student Responsibilities While Studying Abroad

Maymester or Summer Study Abroad:

Full-time enrollment is not mandated during Maymester or Summer study abroad sessions. Students who wish to study abroad during Maymester or Summer terms need to obtain a travel signature on their I-20 at least 2 weeks prior to their trip abroad.

One or More Academic Semesters Abroad:

Before studying abroad, students must:

• Have been enrolled in a full course of study at Georgia State for at least one full semester prior to the study abroad term.

• At least 1 month prior to their departure, provide written documentation from their academic advisor or program coordinator that they will be studying abroad. The documentation must include the following components:
  • Must be on Georgia State letterhead or from Georgia State email address
  • List program name, location, start and end date
  • State that health insurance will be purchased or has been purchased

• Obtain a travel signature prior to leaving the U.S. (Note: travel signatures are only valid for 6 months.)

• Update Student Accounts with their study abroad status, making sure that health insurance will not be charged during the term they are abroad.

While abroad, students must:

• Remain registered at Georgia State and continue to pursue a full course of study while abroad (9 credits for graduate students and 12 credits for undergraduates).

Note: ISSS does not recommend that international students study abroad during the final semester of their degree program if they intend to apply for OPT. Studying abroad during a student's final semester may endanger their chances of applying for OPT, as they will be unable to apply for OPT from outside of the United States and may not be permitted to return to the U.S. to apply after the last day of final exams.

Many students at Georgia State speak English as a second (2nd), third (3rd) or fourth (4th) language. They come from all over the world or from right here in the U.S. However, English is the medium of instruction in all courses, except foreign language classes. The goals, needs and challenges of these students are different. The following resources are available to help you succeed.

Intensive English Program (IEP)

The IEP is an accredited, intensive, non-credit program designed for non-native speakers who want to develop the language and cultural competence necessary to make success at an American university an achievable goal. View more information.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Credit Program

This program offers selected courses at Georgia State for credit. It is available to students who are already enrolled in a Georgia State degree program. Instruction in these courses is designed for bi-lingual or non-native speakers of English. View more information. 

Tutoring for IEP and ESL Students

Tutoring is available to IEP students and all Georgia State students whose first language is not English. An appointment is required. These services are provided by Graduate Students in the Department of Applied Linguistics and ESL. View more information.

Georgia State Test of English Proficiency (GSTEP)

GSTEP is an English proficiency exam for future or current university-level students whose native language is not English. The exam is administered by the Department of Applied Linguistics and required by some academic departments. View more information.

Learn more about Georgia State Certificate Programs.