With the 2026 tax season approaching, an Education Times column published on 30 November spells out the **must-do filing obligations** for international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. Although aimed at a broad audience, the guidance is highly relevant to the estimated 240,000 Indian students currently in the United States, many of whom remain unaware that they must file Form 8843 even with zero income.
Failure to file can jeopardise future immigration benefits such as OPT, CPT and eventual H-1B transfers. The article lists common errors—submitting a resident Form 1040 instead of the non-resident 1040-NR, missing the April 15/June 15 deadlines, or ignoring India-US treaty deductions on wages—that have led to RFEs (Requests for Evidence) and, in rare cases, visa denials at consular renewal interviews.
![US tax-filing reminders for F-1 and J-1 students spotlight compliance risks for thousands of Indians]()
Indian corporate mobility teams that sponsor graduate hires under STEM OPT should circulate the reminder; a clean tax record increasingly factors into USCIS adjudications. Universities have begun scheduling workshops, and several Big 4 firms offer discounted Sprintax licences in February–March so students can self-prepare returns.
Practical tip: students who drove ride-share or freelance remotely—activities often restricted by visa rules—must disclose that income; under-reporting could trigger both tax penalties and status violations. The article also clarifies SSN vs ITIN rules, another area of confusion for new arrivals.
In the longer term, US policymakers are considering bundling basic tax-filing education into SEVIS orientation. Until then, advance communication from Indian employers can help graduates transition smoothly from campus to H-1B without unpleasant surprises at the consulate.
Failure to file can jeopardise future immigration benefits such as OPT, CPT and eventual H-1B transfers. The article lists common errors—submitting a resident Form 1040 instead of the non-resident 1040-NR, missing the April 15/June 15 deadlines, or ignoring India-US treaty deductions on wages—that have led to RFEs (Requests for Evidence) and, in rare cases, visa denials at consular renewal interviews.
Indian corporate mobility teams that sponsor graduate hires under STEM OPT should circulate the reminder; a clean tax record increasingly factors into USCIS adjudications. Universities have begun scheduling workshops, and several Big 4 firms offer discounted Sprintax licences in February–March so students can self-prepare returns.
Practical tip: students who drove ride-share or freelance remotely—activities often restricted by visa rules—must disclose that income; under-reporting could trigger both tax penalties and status violations. The article also clarifies SSN vs ITIN rules, another area of confusion for new arrivals.
In the longer term, US policymakers are considering bundling basic tax-filing education into SEVIS orientation. Until then, advance communication from Indian employers can help graduates transition smoothly from campus to H-1B without unpleasant surprises at the consulate.
