What is the “reporting period?”

If you are a candidate, your reporting period is the previous 12 months from the date you are filing the F-1. If you are newly appointed to an elected office or state appointive office, your reporting period is the previous 12 months from your effective appointment date. If you are an annual filer, your reporting period is the previous calendar year. The electronic filing application will determine the correct filing period for you based on your answers to the initial questions.