International Student and GA Procedures

Below are the step-by-step procedures to becoming an on-campus student employee or graduate assistant at Missouri State University.

  1. If you do not already have a social security number, you will be required to complete the Foreign National Employment Certification. The department who hired you will need to complete the Job Offer Letter for a Social Security Card Application and you will need to take it to the International Services Office to be signed. Then take the Job Offer form, the Social Security Application, and the Questions for 12 or Older to the Social Security office at 1570 W Battlefield, Suite 100, Springfield, MO 65807. You cannot work until you receive your Social Security Card and have completed your employment paperwork with the International Employment Specialist.
  2. After receiving your social security card you must request access to the Foreign National Information System by completing the Request for Access to the Online Foreign National Information Form. Email the completed request to Internationalpayroll@missouristate.edu. An email will be sent to you with your username and password with a link to the Foreign National Information Systems (FNIS) website.
  3. After receiving the email, log into the FNIS website and complete as much information as possible. Below are some helpful hints when filling in the form:
    1. If you cannot provide the information, you may leave fields blank. At the bottom of each section is a button that allows you to save with errors.
    2. In Section 1 indicate that your occupation is On-Campus Student Employee or Graduate Assistant.
    3. If you are a graduate assistant or if you have been awarded a scholarship please be sure to indicate you are a recipient of a grant on Section 4.
    4. The visa history section (Section 5) is the most important section of the form and will be rejected if not completed since this information is used to determine your tax status. Be sure to include ALL visits to the U.S. in F, J, Q, or M status since 1985 and ALL visits to the US in any other immigration status within the current and last two years.
    5. In Section 6 select the box next to the statement, “The information I have entered is correct and I wish to submit it to my host site.” Then click the FINISH button. The next screen will ask you to click next to the statement: “to create an email notifying your administrator at Missouri State University that you have just submitted your Foreign National Information Form.” By sending this email you will ensure that the International Employment Specialist handling Foreign National Taxation is notified that you have completed the form so that it may be checked for completeness. After you have sent the email you may use the back button to view the data or return to the Welcome page. Once you have submitted the form you will no longer be able to make changes to the form until it is made accessible to you again by the International Employment Specialist handling the Foreign National Taxation.
  4. Once you have completed the on-line information the International Employment Specialist will contact you for an appointment. The appointment will take approximately 20-30 minutes. Be prepared to bring to the appointment: your passport, I-20 or DS-2019 with sponsor’s employment authorization letter, I-94, social security card and any other past or present pertinent immigration documentation.
  5. The W-4 and any other relevant tax documents will be completed during the interview with the International Employment Specialist handling the Foreign National Taxation.