Date of Arrival
Planning for Departure
International Students' Assembly
What/What Not to Bring
Date of Arrival
U.S. immigration regulations state that new students entering on an F-1 or J-1 student visa will only be eligible to enter the U.S. thirty calendar days or less prior to the beginning of the program date or start date, as given on the SEVIS I-20/DS-2019. For new F-1 students, this reporting date is indicated on #5 of the I-20. For J-1 students, the program start date is indicated on section #3 on the DS-2019. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S. since students cannot enter the U.S. earlier than 30 calendar days before this date.
Undergraduate Students:
Please check the International Student Orientation (ISO) website to confirm the dates of all orientations on campus. Students who have been given a USC housing assignment may be able to move into that residence earlier than the given move-in date to attend the ISO. To inquire about early move-in, please contact the Trojan Housing office at 213.740.2546 or 800.872.4632 or email at housing@usc.edu. Students should do this as early as possible, since early move-in is not guaranteed.
Graduate Students:
OIS recommends arriving at least two weeks before ISO. Although the arrival date may vary depending on each student's individual situation, they should make sure they arrive early enough to attend the ISO.
Planning for Departure
Before departing for USC, it is important for students to inform all concerned parties of arrival plans and update them regularly:
- Remember to confirm acceptance to USC.
- Students with acceptance to multiple institutions must contact the other institutions and decline their offer.
- Contact the local U.S. Consulate/Embassy in home country to find out if they hold a pre-departure orientation for students leaving to study in the U.S. These are very helpful as students may meet others who will also attend USC.
- Students who are being sponsored by an organization (especially in the case of J-1 students) should notify that organization of their plans. Maintain contact with the sponsoring organization, which can assist with pre-departure arrangements.
- Check whether the academic department offers a departmental orientation. If so, they should contact them and confirm their attendance. Students can also inquire if the department provides any form of housing/roommate assistance, on-campus jobs and assistantships.
- Students should keep in contact with the person who is going to pick them up from the airport. Carefully check and confirm the arrangements and details of pick up location at the LAX airport. Students should always have a backup plan and they should confirm all details 48 hours before departure.
- Designate a friend/relative or contact at or around USC to be the emergency contact, in case of an unforeseen problem. This person should have a detailed and updated schedule of the student’s travel plans and students (and someone in their home country) should keep this person's phone numbers (cell phone, work, and residence) while traveling.
International Students’ Assembly
When preparing to leave for USC, it is also a good idea for students to visit the International Students’ Assembly (ISA) website, which introduces the 15 nationality associations and clubs on campus representing international students. These clubs, besides serving as a support group and fostering a sense of community among current international students, they are also an invaluable resource for new incoming students.
Many of these groups maintain their own websites and group email addresses that new international students can access through the ISA website provided above. It may be a good idea to contact them and seek their advice and tips on settling in at USC and Los Angeles.
What/What Not to Bring
OIS has compiled a list of items recommended by most USC international students that new international students should bring from their home country:
What to/What Not to Bring to the U.S.