Discussion Forum

#1

• HM
• mail
• 2026/05/07 16:53

Please tell me about OPT tax returns.

I am currently on OPT (F1 visa) and working as an independent contractor （ signed W8BEN ）. The company does not deduct taxes in advance, so I will pay them all by myself on my tax return next year.

I understand that I am usually exempt from Medicare tax and Social Security tax （ FICA tax ） as I have been in the US less than 5 years.
However, I have also heard that independent contractors are not exempt, so I am confused as to what is really going on.

Also, if I am not exempt, what percentage of my income should I keep for tax purposes ？

I would like to know if anyone is on OPT working as an independent contractor or is familiar with tax returns. I would like to know if you are working as an independent contractor on OPT or if you are familiar with tax return. Thank you ！

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書き込めなくなるまであと49日

#4

• 2026Tax
• 2026/05/12 (Tue) 13:02
• Report

FICA Tax is 15.3% and is calculated and paid on Tax Return.

If you are an Independent Contractor, you will pay W-9 instead of W8Ben.
Income Tax is not withheld, so you pay the following rate, （ maybe 10% ） on Tax Return, depending on your annual income.
https://www.irs.gov/filing/federal-income-tax-rates-and-brackets

OPT is exempt from FICA Tax, so you can get a Refund if your W-2 was withheld. However, it is difficult to explain to the IRS that you are not paying FICA because you are an OPT but an Independent Contractor ） who performs work without the direction of an employer, which is inconsistent.　It is best to hire them as employees.

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#1

• st@kns
• mail
• 2025/06/10 16:22

My child has started attending OC Comic College.

I know this termbalance is for the tuition fee, but what is the previousbalance? I know this termbalance is the one I took, but what is previousbalance ？
I thought I paid only for the summer term, but is the fall term included ？?

I would really appreciate it if someone could help me.
The amount is just the amount, so I can't ignore it.

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#2

• OCCの学生
• 2025/06/19 (Thu) 02:07
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If you took a course in the previous semester, the previous balance should be worth that payment. If this is your first semester, it may be other payments such as enrollment fees. If it includes fees for a course that you did not take, you should contact the school's staff office via e-mail with the receipt or checkout page. \The address can be found on the website under the "contact" tab ）.

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#1

• Maki
• mail
• 2024/11/03 12:20

I am studying abroad in Los Angeles.
I am a learner driver and am looking for assistance with the practical test.
I am looking for someone in the Culver City neighborhood to assist me with practice lessons.
Please let me know of any services you know of.

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#3

• うざい！
• 2024/11/04 (Mon) 07:10
• Report

Local driving schools: There are several driving schools in and around Culver City. For example, there is the Culver City School of Motor Vehicles and the Neighborhood School of Motor Vehicles. These schools will help you learn and practice to obtain your license.

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#4

• 昭和のおとっつぁん
• 2024/11/04 (Mon) 08:05
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If you search for Driving School on the Internet, you will find a lot of information.

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#5

• うざい！
• 2024/11/04 (Mon) 12:19
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Personal Instructors: Some instructors offer personalized instruction. You can find a personal instructor by searching the Internet for "Culver City Neighborhood Driver Instruction.

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#5

• うざい！
• 2024/11/04 (Mon) 12:20
• Report

Online Teaching Platforms: There is a growing number of online teaching platforms available these days. These platforms offer online instruction and practice.

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#12

• おめでとー
• 2025/03/17 (Mon) 13:48
• Report

Good for you ！ drive safe and have fun ！

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#1

• cube
• mail
• 2024/03/27 16:37

I am looking for a private high school with low fees to study abroad in Los Angeles.
Does anyone know of any schools ？ I would appreciate it.

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#2

• 呆
• 2024/03/27 (Wed) 19:06
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In the meantime, don't leave a topic up, and try to answer the questions that are asked, or you won't make any progress ？.

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#5

• 倍金萬
• mail
• 2024/03/28 (Thu) 17:18
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＞私立高校で料金が安い学校を探しています

この質問自体がおかしいと私は思う。

学費を低く抑えたいならまず選ぶのは「私立」ではなく「公立」でしょう。

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#7

• 孤独のおとっつぁん　　　　　　.　　　　　　.　　　　　　.
• 2024/04/02 (Tue) 08:45
• Report

5
what's funny ？
if it was easy to go to public school, everyone would go there you're asking about private schools because it's hard to get a visa
if you want to recommend public schools, you should start by answering how to get a visa as usual 💩 germ man's answer
6 is naive
he said this was 30 years ago （ lol ） it's legal to study half day at F1 language school and the rest at dance school

only mom and dad here （ lol ）

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#1

• Asa
• mail
• 2023/07/28 08:17

I attend EC Los Angeles and am looking for a café or space to study in Santa Monica. Do you know of any cafes where a lot of people are working or studying and it's not a problem to stay for a long time ？ please.

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#3

• 図書館はどう？
• 2023/07/29 (Sat) 06:36
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＞ Otherwise, why don't you just do it in your room

I guess you don't have air conditioning ・ ・ ・

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#1

• Ryan
• mail
• 2023/05/20 17:23

I am considering studying abroad in Los Angeles in September of my junior year. I would like to know if it is possible to enter a high school in Los Angeles without a certificate of graduation from junior high school. I would also like to know the conditions under which a junior high school student can attend a public junior high school in Los Angeles. Thank you in advance.

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#30

• そもそも②
• 2023/05/24 (Wed) 20:37
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My parents are in favor of me studying abroad ？.

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#31

• 断捨離
• 2023/05/25 (Thu) 14:25
• Report

I think it's wonderful that you are a junior high school student and are trying to do all this research on your own.

I think you can find out most of the information on the Internet, so if you want to know more, you should contact the U.S. Embassy in Japan or the Japanese Consulate in the U.S. and visit them.

Also, there are various groups on Facebook, etc. If you join a study abroad group, you may be able to get more realistic advice from people of similar ages or seniors who are close to your age.

Japanese living in the US
https://www.facebook.com/groups/637768156431069

There are several Japanese people in this group who are local teachers. You may be able to get their opinions on the position as a local school and the rules ・ and mechanisms. Why don't you write once?

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#32

• はいい？
• 2023/05/25 (Thu) 16:40
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#31
I don't know this guy, so I can say this: he started the exact same topic almost 10 times, got deleted, and kept starting new topics without thanking the person who gave him long-winded and polite advice in the beginning. After being warned several times, I finally got to the point where I could say thank you. It can't be great. Not knowing is scary.

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#34

• 親切な人
• 2023/06/06 (Tue) 07:44
• Report

#18
Mequillan means Mexican. Sorry for the confusing expression.
In short, illegal immigrants can attend compulsory public schools without any problem.

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#36

• gurdian
• 2023/06/07 (Wed) 22:59
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If the pattern is that the parents are illegal immigrants and the children are citizens, I don't see a problem, but I don't think the illegal immigrant or the person in question can.

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#1

• Riku
• mail
• 2021/09/17 01:25

I have been in Los Angeles for language study since last week.
I am currently in a homestay
in an area called Krenshaw.
I live on Potomac Ave.
Is it a safe place to live ？ ？
I don't think it is good, but I have been here for a short time
I would like to hear from someone who has been in L.A. for a long time.
I am planning to change my place of stay at the end of this month to the Los Cauti Museum and other places,
I wonder if it would be better to change as soon as possible ？.

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#12

• スラム街
• 2021/09/18 (Sat) 18:23
• Report

In the first place, the questioners who get angry when they don't get the answer they expect shouldn't be asked on a message board. After all, a message board is nothing more than a post in a lavatory.

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#29

• ホリデーボール
• 2021/09/19 (Sun) 20:47
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Is the owner of the homestay a Japanese American? ？ It may not be as safe as the Japanese neighborhood in Torrens. However, house prices in the Crenshaw area have exploded in the last few years, and the number of white residents in this area, which used to be considered a black neighborhood, is increasing, so it is definitely becoming safer. If you go to Adams, a little north of Potomac Avenue, you will find more and more popular cafes. I guess you are a man, Riku? But it is the same everywhere. Even in LA, where people say it is safe, there are places where it is dangerous to go off the beaten path. This may not answer your question very well. I wish you a wonderful study abroad experience.

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#39

• 住み慣れた環境
• 2022/03/15 (Tue) 08:26
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Anywhere you live is a home.
If you live in a familiar environment
you will naturally adapt to your surroundings
and worry can be reduced considerably.

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#40

• NTR
• 2022/03/15 (Tue) 08:27
• Report

depend on the person

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#41

• 昭和のおとっつぁん
• 2022/03/15 (Tue) 11:50
• Report

More white residents are also coming because of its proximity to downtown.

Main Street, one block west of the former New Otani Hotel in Los Angeles, was

in the 1980s, home to many homeless people and pornographic movie theaters, and the general public just drove by, but

buildings were converted into lofts where people could live in stylish shops.

Today, the street is no longer a shadow of its former self and is becoming safer.

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#1

• たつ
• mail
• 2022/02/17 14:07

Is it true that I can't get H1B visa support for economics ？
I was told that economics is the same as sociology and they don't offer visa support. I'm surprised it doesn't match the information I know, but I'd like to hear what you guys think.

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#26

• 誤字脱字
• 2022/02/20 (Sun) 18:23
• Report

I grew up in the US ？
No wonder I don't understand katakana.

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#27

• ゆう学生さんかな
• 2022/02/20 (Sun) 20:01
• Report

citizens bank
citizen's bank
google it, it says this, misspellings, you can't use a computer ？

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#28

• ウケる
• 2022/02/20 (Sun) 20:14
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It says Citizen

I'm gonna bite my tongue.

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#29

• ウケる
• 2022/02/20 (Sun) 20:17
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Then Citibank ？.

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#30

• pooske
• 2022/03/01 (Tue) 22:35
• Report

If you have a BA or BS in any discipline and the company that wants to hire you can sponsor you, I think an H1B is possible. The problem is the company.
Also, there must be a reason why it must be you. It is the same whether it is economics or sociology. There must be a reason why they want to hire you and not an American.
For example, it is important to be able to speak Japanese because we are planning to expand into Japan, or it does not matter what department you are actually in.
Ultimately, it comes down to why they want to hire you.

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#1

• K
• 2021/01/17 13:16

What is the cheapest and loosest language school in Los Angeles ？ I'm looking for a place that will issue me a proper I-20 ….

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#2

• 釣り
• 2021/01/17 (Sun) 15:03
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You've got a lot of time on your hands, old man.

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#3

• バレバレ
• 2021/01/17 (Sun) 15:21
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So what do you want in LA ？
There is no loose school now.
If you want to play school, don't do it.
You're a student marriage topper ？ You want to transfer to a lax school and have fun until you get married ？
You're obvious.

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#4

• 学生
• 2021/01/17 (Sun) 22:14
• Report

Nowadays, unlike in the past, such schools are almost non-existent. You will end up being deported for some reason or another and return to Japan. If you say such a thing, go back to Japan right now.

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#1

• 芋けんぴ
• mail
• 2020/11/23 14:06

初めまして。クラスは全てオンラインで取ってる学生です。次の学期も全てオンラインです。

以前、コロナの影響もあり、全てオンラインのクラスを取ってる学生は一時帰国できても、アメリカに戻ってこれないという情報を耳にしました。その情報から数か月経ちましたが、今はどういう状況かご存じの方や周りに同じような状況の方はいますか？調べてもよく分からなくて、、、

ちなみに、12月中旬に一時帰国し、1月中旬にアメリカに戻ってきたいと考えてます。

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#2

• えっと
• 2020/11/23 (Mon) 15:03
• Report

移民法の弁護士さんに聞くのが一番確実かとは思いますが、
トピ主さんが日本へ一時帰国し、再びアメリカへ入国できるかに対して最終的な権限を持つのは入国審査官です。不透明な状況が続くなか、入国できない可能性が少しでもある場合はアメリカ国外に出ないのが鉄則かと。
それにカリフォルニア州はロックダウンに近い状態になることはほぼ間違いないので、完全帰国はともかく帰省のための一時帰国はするべきではない状況になるかと予想されます。

#4

• 無理矢理
• 2020/11/24 (Tue) 01:15
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自分や友達が再入国出来たからといって、学生全員が再入国出来る訳ではない。性別や年齢、目的みんな状況は違うし、決めるのはイミグレ
一時帰国なら荷物ある程度まとめて行った方がいいかも。

#5

• soso
• 2020/11/24 (Tue) 08:46
• Report

＞一時帰国なら荷物ある程度まとめて行った方がいいかも

本当にその通り。
一時帰国と言ったのに帰ってこなくなって
ルームメートや家の人に迷惑をかけた学生さんが山ほどいる。

#6

• Ⓜ︎
• 2020/11/24 (Tue) 10:59
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>結論から言いますとアメリカに戻って来れます。

勝手な事言う事は辞めましょう。
そうやって言えるのはイミグレや関係者だけでしょう。
コロナの時だけじゃ無くて、いつでも入国出来るかはその人次第。

基本学生は出て行ってもらいたい、自ら出て行くのだから再入国の保証は無いでしょうね。
帰って来れ無い物だと覚悟して帰国した方がいい。