Before Leaving IUPUI

Important Visa and Tax-Related Information

Before you leave IUPUI, be sure to inform the human resources administrator in your Department of your plans for departure. Please notify our office as well as to your final employment date at IUPUI.  The Office of International Affairs will report your departure to the appropriate U.S. government agency, depending on your visa status.

IU prefers that you register to receive an electronic copy of your W-2.  This will be the data that you will use to complete a U.S. tax return.  It will be a summary statement of your total earnings plus any taxes that were paid.  Go to this website:  http://www.fms.indiana.edu/tax/w2/consent.asp  for further information on using w2Express. 

Please remember that even though you are not in the U.S., you are required to file a tax return on all U.S.-based income.  This becomes most important if you owe the U.S. government taxes.  This debt will keep accruing interest until it is addressed.

For All Scholars
When you leave the U.S., be sure to submit your I-94 card at airport. Otherwise, this may cause problems for future visits to the U.S.

Keep all visa documents, for example: DS-2019 forms and H1-B approval notices (I-797), 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 U.S.  Please remember to pick-up any visa documents that we have notified you of at our office—OIA.

For J-1 Scholars
If you leave earlier than your program end date, OIA is required to shorten your program in SEVIS. Your J-1 program will end as of your employment end date. J-1 scholars and their dependents have an automatic 30-day grace period after the end date of their J program to stay in the U.S. However, they are not allowed to work during the grace period.

For H-1B Scholars
If you leave IUPUI before the end date on your H1-B approval notice, OIA is required to notify the USCIS to rescind your H1-B petition. The H1-B regulations require you to leave the U.S. on or before the end date on your I-94 card, or on your last day of H-1B employment. There is no grace period for scholars in H1-B status.