Checklist: Office of International Services (OIS)
Review the Office of International Services New Student pre-departure and arrival checklists here.
Request your I-20 as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Details about the process to submit immigration documents and request an I-20 can be found on the Admission I-20 Processing Website, and Trojan International Checklist.
VERY IMPORTANT: Special I-20 budget amounts have been set for students in some Thornton programs.
I-20 Budget Amounts for MOST Thornton MM, MA, and DMA programs:
- Master: $71,871
- GCRT & ARTD: $50,435
- Doctoral: $71,871
International Students in the following programs should refer to the I-20 budget amount posted on the Admission I-20 Processing Website ($75,899):
- MS Music Industry
- MM Screen Scoring
- MS Arts Leadership
I-20 Deadlines:
July 18 – Initial I-20 request deadline (45 days before the first day of fall classes)
* applies to students who do not already have a valid I-20
August 10 – SEVIS transfer deadline
* Applies to students who have a valid I-20 issued by another institution (Not USC). Refer to the SEVIS transfer details on the Admission I-20 Processing Website
English (ISE) Examination
If you have been admitted with a condition that reads “Complete the International Student English (ISE) examination at the USC American Language Institute (ALI)…” then you are required to take the ISE exam before the start of the semester in August. Please review the information at the link below for more details and sign up for the exam online. You will not be allowed to register for classes until you have completed the ISE.
Verification of Prior International Degrees
If you have been admitted with a condition that reads: “Verification of all your previous post-secondary degree(s) earned outside of the United States is required.” You must satisfy this condition of admission by engaging the International Education Research Foundation to verify your credentials. Details are available on this page under the heading “VERIFICATION OF PRIOR INTERNATIONAL DEGREES.”
Please review the requirements and fees on the special USC IERF web pages (www.ierf.org/usc) and follow the instructions to obtain a “Certification of Studies for USC.” The evaluation service will send a verification report directly to USC.