International students must follow the rules and procedures for employment established by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and their sponsoring agencies.
International Student Pre-employment Checklists
International Students that will be employed as a student employee with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute should complete the International Student Pre-employment Checklist. Instructions for completing the checklist differ depending on whether you are new hire or a rehire:
A new hire is a student who has never worked for Rensselaer.
A rehire is a student who has previously worked for and was paid by Rensselaer. These students have met with the Payroll Office or Student Employment and have completed their profile in Sprintax.
Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance - Sprintax
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all U.S. employers to collect specific tax information from nonresident alien employees. Under IRS rules, IRC Section 7701(b), employers must identify, report, and withhold federal taxes from non-U.S. citizens performing services within the U.S.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. government tax authority, requires Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to collect information from all non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent resident aliens to determine the appropriate rate of tax withholding and reporting for any payments that may be made to such individuals.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute utilizes Sprintax, a secure, cloud-based tax compliance platform designed for non-U.S. citizens and institutions to determine tax residency, identify tax treaty benefits, and calculate proper tax withholding on payments. It serves international students, scholars, and employees by generating necessary tax forms.
Non-resident aliens receiving payments from Rensselaer are required to complete a profile in Sprintax, in order for Rensselaer to identify the correct tax withholding on payments. More information about nonresident tax requirements can be found on RPI's Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance webpage.
Information provided to Sprintax is transmitted and stored securely and will only be used by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for purposes of tax withholding and reporting. Failure to complete a Sprintax registration may result in the maximum rate of tax withholding and/or delayed payment.
International Services for Students and Scholars (ISSS)
The office of International Services for Students and Scholars (ISSS) offers a variety of programs and services for our international community of approximately 1,800 students and scholars. Their goal is to enhance the educational and personal experience of the international community and to assist students and scholars as they navigate through academic life in the United States.
Questions
For support with student employment related systems or questions:
For instructions on how to submit a support request, click here.