To promote international exchange and maintain compliance with
various federal requirements, International
Support for Faculty and Staff at USC provides comprehensive
consultation, counseling and support services for U.S. and foreign
faculty and staff throughout the eight campus system including the
Law School, School of Medicine and affiliate institutes. Listed
below is a summary of services provided by the office, and information
on contacting the staff for assistance.
Foreign faculty, staff and visiting scholars are offered the following
services:
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Administration of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for professors,
research scholars, short-term scholars and specialists.
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Management of employer-driven immigration petitions such H-1B
temporary worker applications, labor certifications, and employment
based permanent resident petitions; information on tax liabilities,
adjustment to status as a U.S. permanent resident, consular
processing and applications for U.S. citizenship.
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Pre and post-arrival counseling and support services to insure
a smooth transition into U.S., southern, and University culture.
This includes pre-arrival information sent overseas, individual
orientation sessions upon arrival, consultation on individual
immigration concerns, and continued availability for cross-cultural
and personal counseling as needed.
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Consultation, assistance, liaison, and advocacy on behalf of
the University with all outside agencies pursuant to the employment
of foreign scholars.
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Coordination of the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program
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Cross-cultural programming and support for foreign scholars
and their families.
U.S. faculty are offered the following programs and services:
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Coordination of the Fulbright Program for American Scholars.
- Information:
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Liaison and advocacy for international educational exchange
with community, government agencies and exchange organizations
pursuant to faculty matters and USC internationalization efforts.
The office maintains regular contact with the Council on International
Educational Exchange and the International Research and Exchanges
Board to identify training and research opportunities made available
through these organizations. The staff works closely with the local
chapter of the National Council for International Visitors to coordinate
the unique strengths of the visitor program into University internationalization
efforts.
For the Fulbright program, the office acts as the USC liaison with
the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars, the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State
and the Fulbright Alumni Association, all in Washington, D.C. The
staff also works closely with the USC Student Fulbright Coordinator
and the South Carolina Fulbright Association.
International Support routinely provides travel information involving
cross-cultural educational materials and pre-departure briefing
materials as requested by American faculty whose work takes them
abroad. Background and/or briefing materials also are provided upon
request for USC faculty hosting groups from abroad or those who
may be writing grants for which such information may be useful.
The office plays a central coordinating role for certain multi-disciplinary
grants involving international training or cooperation.
Links for additional information:
If you have questions or need assistance, contact International
Support for Faculty and Staff at 803-777-0288 or via e-mail
at isfs@gwm.sc.edu.
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