• available to international sophomores (second-year) and juniors (third-year) based on a combination of GPA, extracurricular involvement, and recommendation letters

• sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shades Valley
• available to international juniors (third-year) and seniors (fourth-year) based on a combination of GPA, leadership skills, and extracurricular involvement

• available to degree-seeking students at the undergraduate or graduate levels, or postgraduate students pursuing research and/or classes

• available to degree-seeking students based on a combination of GPA, demonstrated leadership potential, and involvement in extracurricular activities

At least 50% of tuition each year for four years of undergraduate study. Consideration given at the time of admission to a student from Nigeria (first preference) or a West African country (second preference). Must have 3.0 GPA at the time of application and maintain 3.0 average for all years to retain scholarship.

That depends on the type and source of scholarship. If the scholarship funds are paid by an institution located in your home country, you will not have to pay US tax. If the scholarship money is paid by an institution located in the US, it will be subject to US taxes.

There are essentially two types of US-based scholarships: “qualified” and “non-qualified.” They can be taxed differently based on whether the scholarships are specifically designed to pay only tuition, room and board, or all expenses combined. Everyone’s “scholarship” is not the same.

Not everyone who receives scholarship funds will receive a Form 1042-S. It depends on the type of scholarship/fellowship. If your scholarship/fellowship was paid directly to your personal bank account, you will likely receive a Form 1042-S. If the funds were paid straight to UAB/ Student Accounting and never touched your personal bank account, you will not receive a Form 1042-S.

Please keep Copy B for your personal records, enclose Copy C with your federal tax return, and enclose Copy D with your state tax return.

Gently tear the four segments apart using the perforated lines between each segment. Enclose Copy B with your federal tax return, keep Copy C for your personal records, enclose Copy 2 with your state tax return, and keep the other Copy 2 also for your personal records (since you do not need to file a city or local income tax return).

You do not have to file a “tax return,” but you still must print and sign Form 8843 and mail it to the IRS at: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215.

Form 8843 is used to confirm how many days you were present in the US so that you can be exempt from certain federal taxes. You should file a Form 8843 with the IRS every year. F-1 and J-1 students should complete the sections for name, taxpayer ID, and US and international addresses, plus Parts I and III. J-1 exchange visitors should complete the sections for name, taxpayer ID, and US and international addresses, plus Parts I and II. There are samples on our website at the following links:

• 8843 for Students
• 8843 for Scholars
• 8843 for Dependents

No. This money is considered foreign-source income and will not be taxed if you are still a non-resident alien for tax purposes.

Our office does not have access to students’ Form W-2. You should receive your Form W-2 in the mail in February every year. If you don’t receive it, make sure your residential address is correct with Sodexo and visit Richard or Roseanne in the HR office. They will help you log in to the ADP system and download your Form W-2.

No. International students are not eligible for the tuition expenses tax deduction. Please just keep the Form 1098-T for your personal records, and do not mail it in with your tax return.

No. International students are not eligible for the healthcare expenses tax deduction. Please just keep the Form 1095-B/C for your personal records, and do not mail it in with your tax return.

Yes. Add the amount on the Form 1099-G on Line 4 of this year’s Form 1040NR-EZ.

No! If you are still a non-resident alien for tax purposes you must file either IRS Form 1040NR or IRS Form 1040NR-EZ. Generally, all F-1 students who have been in the US for any part of five or fewer calendar years are considered “non-resident aliens for tax purposes.” Failure to file the correct tax form is fraud and can place your immigration status in jeopardy. Your friend may have been in the US for more than five calendar years, changed immigration status to H-1B, or experienced another change that caused them to become a “resident alien” for tax purposes.

UAB does not refund FICA taxes withheld in previous years. The following is from the IRS website:

If you are unable to get a full refund of the amount from your employer, file a claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement. Attach the following items to Form 843:

• A copy of your Form W-2 to prove the amount of social security and Medicare taxes withheld,
• A copy of the page from your passport showing the visa stamp,
• Your most recent Form I-94,
• Most recent Form I-20 (if F-1 student) or DS-2019 (if a J-1 student or research scholar), and
• A statement from your employer indicating the amount of the reimbursement your employer provided and the amount of the credit or refund your employer claimed or that you authorized your employer to claim. If you cannot obtain this statement from your employer, you must provide this information on your own statement and explain why you are not attaching a statement from your employer. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request this letter. Our office cannot issue this letter.
• If applicable, Form 8316, Information Regarding Request for Refund of Social Security Tax Erroneously Withheld on Wages Received by a Nonresident Alien on an F, J, or M Type Visa (PDF)

Send all of the above to via certified US Mail (with a tracking number) to:

Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service,
Ogden, UT 84201-0005.

Sometimes the tax software fails to apply the FICA exemption when F-1 students are enrolled less than full-time. If you took an official “vacation” semester and were enrolled less than full-time while you worked on campus, the software may have failed to keep you FICA exempt. If you think you are owed a FICA tax refund, please email the UAB Payroll office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our office has no access to the Payroll system and does not issue refunds. Only Payroll can do that.

No. Those taxes are not refundable. County and city taxes are not covered by any tax treaty.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your DOB, last four digits of your Social Security number, and the residential mailing address where you want the W-2 sent.