It is hoped that the information provided in the FAQ will be useful, but it by no means constitutes legal advice. For taxes and immigration you are encoraged to consult more authoritative sources.
Taxes:
Q: I have been awarded a GRA/GTA. How much will I have to pay in taxes?
A: There is a tax treaty between the US and the Russian Federation. You can download its text from the IRS website. Go there and search for "Income Tax Treaties". Read Article 18. The article is vague, but one possible interpretation is that you are entitled to a federal tax exemption for a period of five years. Most Caltech Russian students take advantage of this provision. This provision is not necessarily applicable to California state taxes.
Q: Then, if my paycheck is $X before taxes how much will I actually get?
A: Normally, federal and state taxes will be withheld from your paycheck by the payroll office. Theoretically, it should be possible to tell the payroll not to withhold the federal taxes, because there is a treaty. In practice, most Russian students get the federal tax refunded to them after filing the tax return in the next calendar year.
Example. This is your first year at Caltech. Your GRA is $1200 and starts in October. Federal taxes will be withheld at around 11% and state taxes at around 1.5%. So you will be taking home $1050 a month. Some time early next year you will receive the form W-2 from Caltech, showing that your gross income for the year had been $3600 and that federal income tax (FIT) withheld $396 and state income tax (CA) SIT $54. The deadline for filing your return is April 15th. Some time in late March the International Student Office conducts tax seminars. You prepare your return and send it to the IRS on April 10th. You choose the direct deposit option. Some time in May your federal tax refund for $396 appears on your bank account. For your second year more money will be withheld in FIT and accordingly the refund amount will be higher.
Q: Which tax forms do I need to fill out?
A: If you are first year go to the ISP tax seminar in late March to find out. For the first five years you will be filing forms 1040NR-EZ, 8843 and 8833 for the federal tax return. For the state tax return you will probably filing 540NR as a non-resident your first year, and 540 2EZ as resident thereafter.
Passport and visa:
Q: I have a foreign travel passport that is expiring in 3 years. Will I have to come back to Russia to get it extended?
A: When your foreign travel passport expires you can get a new one from the Russian Consulate in San Francisco. However, if you return to Russia you will have to get it stamped at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow before you can come back to the US. For that you will need a current domestic passport. The Consulate website has the details.
Q: Will I have to come back to Russia to get a new visa when my entry visa expires?
A: International students with an F-1 can be legally present in the United States for the duration of their studies, as long as they have a valid I-20 form provided by the University, even after the F-1 "visa" stamp in your passport expires. However, in that case if you leave the US you will have to get a new F-1 before you can come back because both an I-20 and a current F-1 visa are required for entry into the United States.
It used to be possible to obtain a new F-1 visa in any US consulate abroad including those in Tijuana and Vancouver. However, this has changed and now, most likely you will have to go back to your home country.
The same applies if you have a J-1 visa.
Q: What is the different between the J-1 and the F-1 visa?
A: If you are married then you definitely want to have a J-1 visa, because then your spouse (who will have a J-2 visa) will be able to get an authorization to work in the US. Your spouse will not be able to work with an F-2 visa.
The practical training period after the completion of your studies is 3 years for J-1 and only 1 year for F-1. So, for example you can do one postdoc while still on a J-1 visa.
By default, if you are not married Caltech will sponsor you for an F-1 visa.
Immunizations:
If you get an immunizations form try to find your medical records and fill out the form to the best of your knowledge.
It is _not_ critical to have all the vaccinations before coming to Caltech. If you don't have rubella for example you can get it at Caltech Health Center after you come here.
Getting to Caltech:
Q: How do I get to Caltech from LAX
A: The ISP can arrange pickup for new students arriving in September. If you are arriving at a different time, you can contact us to see if anybody is willing to give you a ride. However, we do have busy schedules and may not be able to help you, epecially if you are arriving on a weekday. Luckily getting to Caltech with Super Shuttle is easy and convenient.
Even if we can't pick you up we will likely give you phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. You should also have the ISP number with you, although they will probably help you only if you call them during their regular hours.
Your flight will be arriving at the Bradley International terminal at LAX. You will pass through the INS, claim you luggage and go through customs. At that point you'll follow a corridor to the terminal lobby and exit to the arrivals level.
The waiting area for SuperShuttle is on an island in front of the terminal under orange sign 'Shared Ride Vans'. For more info go to LAX website and then 'Ground Transport', 'Shared Ride Vans'. The Super Shuttle vans are blue with yellow letters.
There will be a Super Shuttle representative wearing a blue uniform on the island with a walkie-talkie. Tell him you are going to Caltech in Pasadena. They usually wait for the shuttle to fill up, so it may make a few turns around the airport.
You will probably be going to the Catalinas. Tell the driver you are going to Caltech Super Shuttle stop on Wilson and San Pasqual. They'll know how to get there. Check out the Caltech Super Shuttle Information for locations of the Caltech stops. Again, the shuttle may first drop off other passengers. Caltech has negotiated a special fare with Super Shuttle - it should be $16 which is rather cheap. It is also customary to tip the driver $2 or so.
If you are arriving after normal business hours you should arrange with the Housing Office that they leave your keys with the Caltech security.
