Welcome to the next chapter of your life.

Additional Steps for International Students

Thank you for certifying the University through the Graduate Admission office. As you prepare for the new academic year, international students need to complete some additional steps. After you signed your statement of intent here, you should have read your offer letter from the graduate admission office closely and follow directions.

Obtain Your Student Visa

Please read the guidelines for requesting your I-20 from USC at the I-20 Processing page. The Office of Graduate Admission is responsible for processing your initial I-20/DS-2019, but USC’s Office of International Services will advise you regarding all immigration-related issues once you arrive at USC.

Complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV)

You are required to complete Immigration Status Verification with the Office of International Services within 15 days of your arrival in the United States. This will verify your immigration status to ensure that you are eligible to start an academic program at USC for the upcoming semester. Graduate students must complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) for the F-1 before they can register for classes. Note that their ISV webpage currently says Spring 2025 at this time and has not been updated yet for Fall.  

Register for the ISE (if applicable)

If your official letter of admission from the office of graduate admission indicates that you have a continuing registration requirement to take the International Student English (ISE) examination, please contact the American Language Institute to register for the test. If you have met USC’s TOEFL/IELTS threshold with new scores since you were admitted, submit your updated scores to American Language Institute so that the examination requirement can be waived.

AY 2026-2027 Teaching Assistants (If Applicable)

If you plan to work on-campus this upcoming Fall 2026, it is important to apply for a social security number (SSN) if you don’t have one. This is specifically for all students who plan to be teaching assistants in their first year only.  In mid-May, the Student Services Advisor III will provide you teaching assistant award letter, in which you may need to use it to apply for a SSN if you have not in the past.  If you need to apply for the SSN, you may need a hard copy of this TA award letter with the Associate Dean’s wet signature.  If this is the case, please email Jennifer Vo your mailing address of where you will be in end of May to receive your SSN.

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