Financial Aid & Taxes

Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund for Students from Latin America or The Caribbean
www.oas.org/rowe

Are you interested in ways to obtain additional financing for your studies at UT Austin? Are you a citizen of a member state of the Organization of American States? If so, the Rowe Fund Student Loan Program helps citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS Member States finance their studies in universities across the United States by awarding interest free loans. Applications are accepted and reviewed year-round.

Rowe Fund loans are of supplementary assistance.  Students may apply for a loan to cover expenses directly related to their studies or emergencies not covered by their principal sources of financing—there is a maximum of USD7,500 per academic period and of USD15,000 over all, per student. We grant loans for graduate, postgraduate and the last two years of undergraduate studies. We also grant loans to professionals who are currently pursuing or wish to pursue advanced research studies or technical activities in accredited institutions within the United States. 

These loans are made on the understanding that, when the recipients have completed their studies, they are to return to their respective home countries in Latin America or the Caribbean to assist in their countries’ development and further their welfare.  Loan applications can be submitted directly by the students. They are reviewed by a Committee comprised by representatives of four member states selected by the Permanent Council, plus the Secretary General who meet once a month. In granting the loans, the Committee considers the student needs and academic performance. Our Rowe Fund student loans must be underwritten by a guarantor who signs an agreement pledging to repay the unpaid balance of the debt should the loan recipient defaults.


For more information, see the Rowe Fund brochure online at http://www.oas.org/rowe/brochure.pdf ; to download the application forms, please visit the OAS webpage at www.oas.org/rowe or email: rowefund@oas.org

More Financial Aid Opportunities:

ZONTA International Scholarships for Women (NEW)

Since 1928, Zonta International has addressed challenges to women's equality in science, business, public affairs and government by providing critical financial support through programs aimed at furthering women's education, leadership and youth development. Only qualified candidates of the Amelia Earhart Fellowships, Women in Business Scholarships, and Young Women in Public Affairs Awards are eligible for financial awards. These are the only academic awards currently funded at the International level. Zonta does not accept requests for scholarship funding outside of these programs.

Since 1928, Zonta International has addressed challenges to women’s equality in science, business, public affairs and government by providing critical financial support through programs aimed at furthering women’s education, leadership and youth development.

Only qualified candidates of the Amelia Earhart Fellowships, Women in Business Scholarships, and Young Women in Public Affairs Awards are eligible for financial awards. These are the only academic awards currently funded at the International level. Zonta does not accept requests for scholarship funding outside of these programs. Please see the ZONTA International Scholarships web site for scholarship descriptions and application instructions.

Tuition Assistance for Mexican Students 2008-2009 (TAMS)

For the first time we have received more applications for TAMS than waivers available. Because we have reached the limit of TAMS awards for the 2008-2009 academic year, we are unable grant additional waivers.

Depending on the number of students who graduate in December, it is possible that there will be a very few new TAMS waivers available for spring or summer 2009.

You can access the financial aid application for TAMS at: http://www.utexas.edu/international/isss/students/financialaid/FAapp.doc
On Page 2 indicate that you are applying for TAMS.

Eligibility:

A student can apply at first admission to The University of Texas at Austin, before submitting Affidavits of Financial Support. The student must:
· Demonstrate financial need
· Be a citizen and resident of Mexico
· Continuing students must have been enrolled at UT for at least one academic year
· Undergrad GPA of 2.0 or higher or grad GPA of 3.0 or higher for continuing student

Completed applications and required supporting documentation should be turned into the International Office Student and Scholar Services reception desk, to the attention of Louise Donnell. For additional information about TAMS, please email louised@austin.utexas.edu.

Margaret McNamara Memorial Scholarship Fund for Women From Developing
Countries

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

Fund Eligibility
* Citizen of country other than U.S. or Canada
* Graduate student or student attending Cottey
* Student or P.E.O. may request the Eligibility Form from the IPS Office or download it from the P.E.O. Web site

Maximum Grant, Loan or Scholarship
* Up to $6,000, based upon need

Renewals Assessment and Financial Aid
* May request renewal one time
* A student who has received assistance for study at Cottey College is eligible to apply for one more scholarship while in graduate school

Contract
* Upon completion of degree program, student will return to her own country within 60 days, depending on her visa status, to pursue her professional career

Application Forms
* If eligibility is established, application material will be mailed from the IPS Office in Des Moines, Iowa

Application Requirements
* Application Form
* Four recommendations
* Transcripts
* Confirmation of Admission to Graduate study
* Round-trip or return travel expense guaranteed

Time to Apply
* Request eligibility information anytime between July 1 and December 1. Mail eligibility information to IPS Office between August 15 and December 15
* Except for admissions, all application material must be postmarked on or before January 31
* Admission due by April 1

Sponsor
* U.S. or Canadian citizen who will act as student's nonacademic adviser

For more information and the eligibility form go to: http://www.peointernational.org/projects/overview.php

Fulbright – García Robles Call for Scholarship Applications 2008

The US - Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS) provides scholarships to both Mexican and U.S. citizens.

Program for Mexican citizens:
1. Graduate studies for students
2. Research and teaching internships
Applications will be received beginning on January 2nd, 2008.

To obtain more information on requirements, funding, application deadlines and new programs, please visit The COMEXUS website: http://www.comexus.org.mx/Mexicanos/EstColSug.htm
Please direct questions or comments, to: becas@comexus.org.mx

Please note that incomplete applications will be discarded.

Selection Committee
The Fullbright-García Robles scholarships are publicized through open calls. The candidates are evaluated and interviewed by the COMEXUS selection committee, which is a group of scholars from higher education institutions, both public and private, from the whole country. The list of selected applicants will be posted on the Commission’s website. The decisions made by the selection committee are final.

Fraud Alert

Identity Thieves Target Non-Residents with U.S. Source Income
The United States Internal Revenue Service Qualified Intermediary Program is tracking a fraudulent scheme targeting non-resident aliens who have income from a United States source. The scheme uses fictitious IRS correspondence and an altered IRS form in an attempt to trick the foreign persons into disclosing their personal and financial data. The information fraudulently obtained is then used to steal the taxpayer's identity and financial assets.

In this particular scam, an altered IRS Form W-8BEN, "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding," is sent with correspondence purportedly from the IRS to non-resident aliens who have invested in U.S. property, such as securities or bonds, and therefore have U.S. sourced income. A non-resident alien with U.S. sourced income may pay U.S. income tax at the full or at a reduced rate, depending on the terms of the tax treaty the U.S. has with the foreign person's country.

Although there's no way of knowing how many non-resident aliens have responded to the bogus request for personal information, there are approximately 2.5 million non-resident aliens who receive U.S. sourced income, based on the number of Forms 1042-S that were issued last year. The 1042-S is used to report the amount of U.S. income a non-resident alien earned in that year.

The altered W-8BEN form asks the recipient for detailed personal information, such as date of birth, passport number, bank name, account number, type of account and date opened, and information on the recipient's spouse, children, and parents. The legitimate IRS Form W-8BEN is used to establish the non-resident alien's foreign status and determine whether the foreign person is subject to U.S. income tax. It doesn't ask for any personal information, except in some cases for a Social Security or IRS-generated Taxpayer Identification Number. So far the QI team has received reports of the scheme targeting non-resident aliens in Europe and the Caribbean. The thieves ask their victim to send their information to a fax number in the United States, which is re-routed and changed frequently.

Generally, identity thieves use someone's personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim's existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim's name and even file fraudulent tax returns.


Financial aid opportunities
See the Financial Aid Opportunities website.