International Student FAQ
Application Fee Waivers
Does USC offer application fee waivers?
International students are not eligible for application fee waivers. Please note that USC does not accept international reply coupons for application fee payments.
Arrival Date
When should I arrive at USC?
New regulations by the United States Department of Homeland Security specify that the earliest date students with a F-1 or J-1 visa may enter the United States is 30 days prior to the beginning of the university semester, as noted on your I-20 or DS-2019.
It is advisable to give yourself enough time to locate a place to live and get settled before starting class. You should have completed Passport Verification, found permanent housing, acquired health insurance and registered for classes before the final day of class registration. The USC Office of International Services (OIS) recommends that you arrive at least two weeks before International Student Orientation.
Certificate of Eligibility: I-20 and DS-2019
What are Forms I-20 and DS-2019, and how can I obtain the one I need?
The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by your academic institution after you have been accepted as a graduate student, to enable you to apply for a visa stamp at the U.S. Consulate. The type of certificate depends on the type of visa for which you are applying. The I-20 is valid for the F-1 visa. The DS-2019 is valid for the J-1 visa.
Before USC can issue a I-20 or DS-2019, you must submit a statement of financial support, documenting that you have the financial resources for your first year at USC. Your financial statement may be a bank statement, scholarship or fellowship award that shows support for the required amount.
For complete instructions regarding the submission of financial statements click here.
I am an international student currently attending another university. How do I transfer my I-20 or DS-2019?
Your I-20 or DS-2019 must be reissued by USC before you may enroll in classes at the university. You will need to be formally released from your current institution through SEVIS, the Internet-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.
Contact your current school and establish your release date. Then, Email Us stating your intent to enroll at USC. Provide your full name, release date, and your USC and SEVIS identification numbers. USC will issue your new Form I-20 or DS-2019 after you have been released by your current institution.
How can I obtain an I-20 for my family members?
There are two ways to do this. You may complete obtain your own I-20, come to the United States and then apply for your family members’ I-20 forms through the USC Office of International Services (OIS). For more information, e-mail ois@usc.edu.
The second alternative is to obtain I-20 forms for your family members before you arrive in the United States. You must provide the following information for each of your dependents:
- Last (family), first (given) and middle name, exactly as each name appears on the passport. Please write the last name in all capital letters.
- Date of birth (month/day/year)
- Country of birth
- Country of citizenship
- Relationship to you (husband, wife, son or daughter)
To obtain the additional I-20 forms for your family, you must be able to document sufficient financial resources—$6,500 for your spouse and $3,250 for each dependent child.
What if my academic program or employment status changes while I’m attending USC?
While you are attending USC, you must notify the university’s Office of International Services (OIS) of any changes in your academic program or your enrollment, visa or employment status.
Driver’s license
If you are over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home country, you may use it to drive in California. If your license is no longer valid, you must obtain a California Driver's License. Please note that if you plan to purchase a new or used motor vehicle (a car, scooter or motorcycle), you must insure it——and most insurance companies will not provide coverage unless you have a valid California Driver's License. For more information about driver'’s licenses, click here.
Employment during graduate studies
How can I find out about employment opportunities?
For requirements and authorizations for on- and off-campus employment based on economic necessity, information about Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT), and resources for job-seekers, click here.
English-language proficiency
Is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for international students?
Although TOEFL is not mandatory for admission to USC, all international students are urged to submit TOEFL scores. Please note that TOEFL may be a requirement of the academic department or school to which you are applying. Check with your department for more information.
Are other English-language proficiency tests required?
As a newly admitted international student, you must take the International Student English Placement Exam (ISE), unless:
- your native language is English; or
- you have graduated from a college or university in the United States; or
- you have scored above 600 on the paper-based test (examination), or higher than 250 on the computer-based test, or received a total score of 100 or higher on the Internet-based test, with no less than 20 on each of the four test components.
English is not my native language. Does USC have an English as a Second Language (ESL) program?
If you are concerned that your English-language proficiency might be inadequate to pursue graduate studies at USC, you are strongly advised to take ESL classes at USC American Language Institute (ALI) during the summer before you enroll at USC.
Financial Aid
Am I eligible for financial assistance?
International students coming to the United States on non-immigrant student visas are not eligible for need-based financial aid. However, you may be eligible for a fellowship and/or scholarship from your academic department or professional school, or for a private scholarship. For more information, check with your department and visit the Financial Support page of this website.
Housing
What type of housing is available, and how do I apply for it?
If you wish to apply for university housing, the TrojanHousing website provides a detailed explanation of the types of rooms available and the application process. You should submit your request as soon as possible, because requests are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and rooms fill up quickly. Please be aware that the university does not guarantee the availability of on-campus housing.
If you do not wish to apply for university housing, the Office of International Services (OIS) provides information about temporary housing (including temporary campus housing and nearby hotels), and locating a rental apartment or house near USC or elsewhere in the Los Angeles area.
Identification card
When I try to cash a check in Los Angeles, I’m asked for my driver’s license. But I don’t have a California Driver’s License. Is there a different kind of official identification card I can obtain?
To cash a check and to apply for credit, you will need personal identification. If you will not be applying for a California Driver’s License (see Driver’s License), you will need to obtain a California Identification Card, which looks similar to a driver’s license. To obtain the card, you must apply at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Bring with you a 676-SSAL letter stating your ineligibility for a Social Security number (this letter can be issued by any Social Security Administration office), and your passport and I-94.
International Student Orientation
Does USC have an orientation program for international students?
Yes. Click here for the current program date.
What happens at International Student Orientation?
You will learn about the programs and services available to you at USC, receive academic advisement to guide your class registration and (if required) be tested for English proficiency. Orientation also includes a talk about student life by a current international student and sessions dealing with U.S. immigration requirements and USC policies and procedures. You will also have the chance to meet other international students who may become lifetime friends.
Is International Student Orientation mandatory for all international students?
Yes.
International student services
Does USC offer special services for international students?
Yes. The Office of International Services (OIS) provides numerous programs and activities for international students, including workshops on immigration, job searching, Optional Practical Training (OPT), tax filing and returning to your home country after earning your degree.
Other OIS programs include social events, the International Diners’ Club, USC World Café, an English-language program for student spouses and Thanksgiving Match-Up, in which international students are invited to the homes of local families to celebrate the national holiday in late November. In addition, the website contains valuable information about preparing for your graduate experience at USC.
International transfer students
Who is considered an international transfer student?
An international student who is studying in another U.S. educational institution on a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and will be transferring to USC is considered to be an international transfer student.
How do I maintain my legal status as an international transfer student while transferring to USC from another U.S. college or university?
If you will be staying in the U.S. after leaving your previous college or university, and your visa status is F-1, or if it is J-1 and you have been granted a “D/S” (duration of status) by the U.S. Immigration Service:
- You must ask the your previous institution to formally release you in SEVIS, the Internet-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. USC will then give you a new Form I-20 (for F-1 visa holders) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visa holders).
- You must bring the original and one copy of both your previous I-20 or DS-2019 and your new I-20 or DS-2019 when you register with the Office of International Services (OIS) upon your arrival at USC.
- Registration with the OIS for Passport Verification is necessary to maintain your legal status in the United States as an international transfer student and must be accomplished before registering for classes.
Please note: If you leave the U.S.—to return to your home country, or for any other reason—before you enroll at USC, simply show the Immigration Officer your I-20 or DS-2019 upon reentry to the U.S. You do not need to visit the U.S. consulate, unless your student visa has expired.
What happens at Passport Verification?
Regardless of your visa status (F-1 or J-1), your formal transfer to USC will be processed during Passport Verification (PPV), mandatory for all international students. You must complete PPV before registering for classes. You can make an appointment for a PPV session during the orientation for new international students.
All new international transfer students must submit the following items at PPV:
- Passport and I-94 card. Your original passport, with the attached white card you received at your point of entry to the U.S.
- Photocopies. One photocopy each of the passport pages that contain your photo, passport number and passport expiration date, and a photocopy of the front and back of your I-94 card.
- Permanent Record Form. Download this form here and fill it out.
- (for F-1 students only) Your USC I-20 and one photocopy each of pages 1 and 3; and one copy each of pages 1 and 3 of the I-20 from your previous institution.
- (for J-1 students only) Your DS-2019 and one photocopy each of your and your dependents' DS-2019.
- If you were working on Optional Practical Training prior to coming to USC, please provide a copy of your Employment Authorization card (EAD).
Reentry on USC I-20: If you traveled outside the US and re-entered on USC's I-20, you do not need to follow these procedures. You have been automatically "transferred" to USC's I-20. But you must turn in copies of your I-20, I-94 card, passport, and visa to OIS during Passport Verification.
How do I maintain my legal status as an international transfer student if I travel outside the United States while I am studying at USC?
As an enrolled USC student, you should request a new Form I-20 prior to leaving the U.S. Instead of "transfer pending," your new I-20 will read, "continued attendance."
Social Security card
Do I need a Social Security card to open a bank account or apply for a job?
The only reason you need a Social Security card is to apply for a job. If you have a job offer, the Office of International Services can help you obtain a Social Security number. To open a bank account, you will be asked to fill out a form attesting that you are exempt, as an international student, from the Social Security number requirement. For more information, click here. See also Identification Card.
Transportation
Will I need an automobile? Are there alternative means of transport?
Although USC is a large campus—it takes about 20 minutes to walk from one side of the main (University Park) campus to the other—most students either walk or bicycle. (A used bicycle, available from shops near campus, costs about $30.) There is also a campus tram service.
If you live off-campus, you will probably need an additional source of transport. Los Angeles does have a bus and light-rail system, run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). However, depending on where you live, bus service may be slow, infrequent and/or involve numerous changes.
Many students prefer to own a car. Please be aware that even the cheapest used car costs several thousand dollars and will involve the purchase of automobile insurance, which can cost hundreds of dollars annually. Driving without automobile insurance can put you at risk for serious legal and financial consequences. A California Driver’s License is required by most automobile insurance companies.
If you need personal transportation only for occasional trips, you may consider renting a car. A valid driver’s license from your home country will be sufficient to rent a car during your first year in the state. After the first year, you will need to apply for a California Driver’s License.
Tuition and fee payment
What is the procedure for having money wired directly to USC?
Click here for detailed information.
Visa classifications
What is the difference between the F-1 and J-1 visa?
The F-1 (non-immigrant) visa enables you to enroll in academic and language study programs in the United States. You are permitted to remain in the U.S. up to 60 days after graduation, and you may request permission to stay in the U.S. for up to one additional year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) in your field of study.
The J-1 (exchange visitor) visa enables you to enroll in a U.S. academic institution if your initial funding is “substantially” derived from sources other than personal or family resources, or if you are participating in an exchange program formally established by a written agreement between governments, or between the university and a foreign government or institution. You are permitted to remain in the U.S. up to 30 days after graduation, and you may work for up to 18 months in the U.S. if the employment qualifies as “academic training” and is approved by your sponsor.
Does USC admit international students with other types of visas?
Yes. These students are generally holders of "dependent" visas—the student spouse is the primary visa holder. Click here for a list of these visas.
