[Honduras99]

Hi, I am wondering if I should enroll in my company's 401k program because I am on an F1 student Visa working the job as CPT while in college.
Also, I have lived in the US now for close to 3 years so am I a resident alien or a non-resident alien? Would appreciate any light you can shed on this topic.
Thanks

[MukatA]

For 5-years on F1 and OPT/CPT you are exempt from residency and must file nonresident tax return. Your income is not subject to FICA taxes. Read about nonresident tax filing:
Your U.S. Tax Return: U.S. Tax Filing Requirements for Non-Residents

You should think twice before investing in any retirement plan in the U.S. If you withdraw money before 59 1/2, you will pay 10% early withdrawal penalty and the amount will be treated as your income. At the time of withdrawal, you may not be in the U.S.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

What MukatA says is accurate, but the fact that you may not be in the U.S. come withdrawal time is irrelevent IMHO.

Wire transfers of funds between banks are common these days. You could even have the money held in Internet banks such as ING or HSBC or via transfer vehicles like PayPal. These accounts can be managed from ANYWHERE you have access to the Internet.