Nonresident Alien Employees - Foreign National Information System

Announcements | Employees | Independent Contractors | Student Athletes | Policies and Procedures

 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that we apply U.S. withholding and reporting rules consistent with nonresident aliens’ U.S. tax status. Nonresident aliens (NRA’s) may be entitled to tax exemptions depending on their U.S. tax status or an applicable tax treaty, or both. Since nonresident aliens’ immigration actions and U.S. presence may change the way NRA’s are taxed, we request that NRA’s provide us with up-to-date information to help us verify their status and any applicable tax exemptions. Without this information, we cannot provide NRA’s with tax exemptions which might otherwise be applicable.

  • NRA’s will get a FNIS account set up by the Nonresident Alien Tax (NRAT) Specialist. NRA’s can send an e-mail request at nra@unr.edu by providing the following information:
    • Last Name
    • First Name
    • Date of Birth
    • E-mail Address
  • NRA’s will receive a notification by e-mail to the address they provided with the NRAT Specialist. We strongly suggest that NRA’s check their e-mails and follow the instructions.
  • The instruction will include a login ID and a password. However, NRA’s will be asked to create a new password after they log on to the system for the very first time. If NRA’s have forgotten their password, they need to contact their NRAT specialist.
  • When NRA’s log on to the Windstar FNIS website (FNIS WEB), NRA’s will be asked to complete a series of questions. NRA’s need to complete the questions as best as they can and in as much detail as possible.
  • If NRA’s need addition information on the questions themselves, they can click on the icons by each question field.
  • General help is available by clicking on the icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
  • NRA’s can always “save with errors” if they provided as much detail as possible. Also, they can come back to work on it later.
  • If NRA’s need additional help, they can e-mail their NRAT specialist with any questions at nra@unr.edu.
  • In Step 5: Visa/Immigration Status History, NRA’s need to make sure to click on the button to start inputting their visa records.
  • Once all relevant questions are answered, check the box where it reads “the information I have entered is correct and I wish to submit it to my host site” in Step 6: Confirmation screen, then click on the finish icon.
        • Before exiting the program, NRA’s should make a copy of the Immigration Status Data page which can be found by clicking on the View Data button on the Step 6: Confirmation page. NRA’s need to sign and brining it along with their other immigration documents to their appointments with their NRAT Specialist.

7. NRA’s will then be directed to the Information Received screen. They need to remember to click on the Please click here link to send an e-mail to their NRAT Specialist notifying him/her that they have completed the FNIS questionnaire.

  • It is strongly recommended that NRA’s send this e-mail to the NRAT Specialist. Not communicating it to the NRAT Specialist may cause delays in processing their tax forms.
      • When the NRAT Specialist receives nonresident aliens’ e-mail notifications, the Specialist will review their records on-line and follow up with them.
        • NRA’s may be asked to edit their questionnaire prior to scheduling their appointment with the Specialist.

9. NRA’s need to make sure they bring original immigration documents with them to the appointment, including but not limited to the followings:

(1) Valid passport;

(2) U.S. visa stamp;

(3) I-94;

(4) I-20, DS-2019, or I-797, depending on the nonresident aliens’ visa types;

(5) Social Security Card (or, the Social Security Number application receipt letter, if they have just applied for one); and/or

(6) Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, when applicable.

10. The NRAT Specialist will start processing nonresident aliens’ tax related paperwork as soon as they see the Specialist.

(1) However, the NRAT Specialist will not be able to complete all the tax forms unless NRA’s have their Social Security Card and bring it to the Specialist.

(2) As soon as the NRA’s receive their Social Security Cards by mail, they need to make a follow-up appointment with the NRAT Specialist to complete their tax forms.

Please direct any nonresident alien tax related questions to the NRAT Specialist at nra@unr.edu or (775) 784-6662. Our Office is located at: University of Nevada, Reno, Ross Hall, Room 101.

 

Faculty & Staff | Foreign National Information System | Graduate Assistants | Student Workers