FNIS Instructions for International Students

Mount Holyoke College uses FNIS to collect information from ALL international students/faculty/staff and short-term visitors who need a visa to enter the U.S, to determine the proper taxation and treaty qualifications. FNIS is a web-based, data-entry software application for foreign national tax compliance and income tax treaty analysis.

We collect information on ALL international students so that we can determine taxation if:

  • You receive an award, a prize or a scholarship/fellowship
  • You receive payment for student employment
  • Your tax residence status changes

You will need:

  • An email (sent by Teresa Azahar) with a link, and user/password access to FNIS.
  • Your Passport
  • Your Visa
  • I-20 Form (F-1 Visa) or DS-2019 (J-1 Visa), or any other form that applies to your visa type
  • Travel History to the US. You can obtain some of your travel history through the Department of Homeland Security I-94 Website.  Please note, if this is NOT your first visit to the US, you will need your Visa information for all previous visits.

You can view the video tutorial.

Login Instructions:

  • To log into FNIS go to https://fnis.thomsonreuters.com/mtholyoke/
  • Enter the username that appears in the email you received
  • Enter your current password (also listed in the email)
  • Enter a new password and click on “Change Password” to register the change.

Consent for IRS Forms:

  • Give consent to my institution to deliver the Form 1042-S securely over the internet
  • Give consent to deliver IRS forms and reports securely over the internet

What is the 1042-S Form?:

  • Normally these forms are made available at the beginning of the calendar year
  • Not everyone will receive or need one
  • If you receive a 1042-S form, you will need it when filing your taxes

Data Entry and Selection:

  • Select “Data Entry” and start entering your personal information

Step 1: Basic Information

  • Enter/Review your name
  • For identification:
    • Social Security Number: Enter the number if you have one, otherwise you can leave it blank.
    • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is the ITIN number. Leave it blank if you do not have one.
  • Foreign Taxpayer ID (optional): if you have a document from your country that you use to file taxes you can enter it here or you can leave it blank.
  • Student type: Select “Undergraduate"

Step 2: Individual Information:

  • Enter or review your date of birth
  • Enter your marital status as "Single" (even if you are married).
  • Dependents: Complete the dependents section only if any of the conditions apply to you
  • Update your email to your MHC email
  • Date first ever entered the US.
  • Claim Personal Exemption. Select “Yes”

Step 3: Address Information

  • If possible, verify your campus PO Box Information
  • Enter your foreign residence address

Step 4: Additional Information

  • Enter your information correctly. Make sure to write your passport number and expiration date correctly.
  • Country of Tax Residence: enter the country where you lived before coming to the College, or where you/your family reside and/or pay taxes.
  • Other Information: Review the standard selections here.

Step 5: Visa / Immigration History:

  • Enter your visa and travel history. Begin with your most recent (current).
  • Enter your visa immigration activity of the past three calendar years.
  • Enter any visa immigration activity for visa F, J, M or Q since January 1, 1985.
  • Enter visa immigration activity since January 1, 1985 for which you received treaty benefits.
  • Primary Purpose of the visit: select “Studying in Degree Program”
  • Your Visa number is typically the RED NUMBERS below the Expiration Date. Sample
  • Your first day in the US in this status: is the date stamped in your passport
  • Your last day in the US in this status: is the “Program End Date” located in the middle section of your I-20 form.
  • SEVIS ID: is located in the top left corner of the I-20 page
  • If necessary, you can obtain some of your travel history through the Department of Homeland Security I-94 Website
  • Enter as many records as you need. For old visits to the US: if Visa numbers are not available, type “0000”. Dates are important here. If you do not have exact dates, enter the month and year.
  • Finally, check that the dates for your immigration activity are correct.

Administrator Confirmation

  • Do not click "finish" until you have completed all sections and reviewed your data. You may save your information and return to complete the questionnaire at a later date.
  • WARNING: Once you click "finish" you will not be able to edit the information anymore.
  • Click on "view data" and review that the information you entered is correct.
  • Once we have reviewed your information, we will send you an email with further instructions on how to submit your completed form.

For any questions, please contact fnis-g@mtholyoke.edu