On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that establishes a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay procedure that impact students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas, and other academic restrictions specifically for F-1 students. The rule is anticipated to take effect Sept. 15, 2026 and will affect members of the international community in different ways. As OISS gathers more information and communicates specific guidance to individuals and groups, we ask that members of the international community refer to the DHS Rule on Admission and Extension webpage as an up-to-date resource. Members of the Northwestern international community who have questions are encouraged to reach out directly to their assigned OISS advisor.
Taxes
Understanding Your U.S. Tax Responsibilities
If you are an international student or scholar in the United States, you are required to file U.S. tax forms each year, even if you did not earn any income.
Filing taxes is a normal part of being in the U.S. While the process can feel unfamiliar, there are resources available to help you understand your responsibilities and complete the required forms.
Who Can Help Me With Filing Taxes?
OISS staff are not able to provide tax advice or answer individual tax questions.
To support international students and scholars, OISS has compiled resources and information to help you understand your tax filing obligations and requirements. Northwestern University also provides access to Sprintax, an online tax preparation service designed specifically for nonresident tax filers.
Sprintax access codes for federal filing were emailed to all international students and scholars who were in active status or were completing program objectives at Northwestern on February 14, 2026. If you did not receive this code, email oiss-students@northwestern.edu and we will be able to relay this information and the code directly to you.
Please review the tax resources below and plan to complete your required tax filings by the IRS deadline.