Leaving TU: Immigration and Tax Issues

Leaving Temple University: Important Visa and Tax-Related Information

Before you leave Temple University, be sure to inform your Department Administrator. S/he should inform Human Resources and International Student and Scholar Services of the end date of your Temple University appointment. Depending on your visa status, ISSS may be required to notify the appropriate U.S. government agencies that you have left Temple.

In addition, please review the following information:

• I-94 CARD (Arrival/Departure Record): When you leave the United States, you should surrender your I-94 card (usually to the airline). Otherwise, there will be no record that you departed the United States in a timely manner and you could be considered an "overstay" by the U.S. government. This may also cause problems for future visits to the United States.
  
  If for some reason you do not give up your I-94 card upon departing the United States, contact ISSS and we will give you instructions for forwarding it to the appropriate government office.
  
  
• VISA DOCUMENTS: Keep ALL visa documents (e.g. Form DS-2019, Form I-797, Form   I-20) in a safe place for your records. You may be asked to provide copies of these documents in the future if you return to the United States.

Early Termination:

• J-1: If you leave Temple more than 30 days before the end date on your DS-2019, ISSS is required to process an "early termination" in SEVIS, and your J-1 program will end as of your early termination date. We will confirm this date with you and your Department before processing the early termination.
  
  
• H-1B: If you leave Temple before the end date on your H-1B approval notice, ISSS is required to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of Labor. Please notify ISSS in writing if you complete, withdraw, or resign from your appointment prior to the expiration of your current H-1B status, and provide the specific date of early termination.

"Grace Period":

• F-1 OPT: Individuals in F-1 status (and their dependent family members) have an automatic 60-day grace period after the end date of their F-1 OPT during which they may remain in the United States. However, they are not allowed to work during the grace period.
• H-1B: The H-1B regulations require you to leave the United States on or before the end date on your I-94 card. When you enter the United States in H-1B status, the immigration officer may give you an extra 10 days beyond the end date on your H-1B approval notice during which you may remain in the United States. However, this "grace period" only applies if the extra days are given at the time of entry and clearly marked on your I-94 card.
  
• J-1: Individuals in J-1 status (and their dependent family members) have an automatic 30-day grace period after the end date of their J program during which they may remain in the United States. However, they are not allowed to work during the grace period. If they need more time to complete their research at Temple, they must obtain an extension of Form DS-2019.
  
• TN: There is no "grace period" for individuals in TN status. They must leave the United States on or before the end date on the I-94 card.

Taxes:

Review the tax information on Human Resources' website

If you were paid by Temple University, be sure the Payroll Office has your forwarding address. Payroll will send you a "W-2" form, which is required for your tax filing. You should receive this form by early March for the previous year. If you do not receive it, contact the Payroll Office