Attention incoming international faculty and research scholars: If you have not already done so, please contact International Support for Faculty and Staff at 803.777.0288 or by e-mail at ISFS@sc.edu to schedule your intake/orientation session as soon as possible. Remember that to be paid by USC, all new employees must complete certain payroll documents (I-9 & E-Verify) on or before the first day of paid employment.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new fees effective November 23, 2010, for immigration applications and petitions. Click on the Fee Summary (PDF) for information about the new fees for the H-1B, I-140 and Premium Processing. For more details, see Questions & Answers on the USCIS website.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released Questions & Answers about pending employment-based applications for permanent residency. Related statistics (PDF) also were released and are available on the website.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is in effect as of June 1, 2009. WHTI requires U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. by land or sea. WHTI went into effect for air travelers on January 23, 2007. For current travel document requirements, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently expanded use of its US-VISIT Program, a biometric security program introduced in 2004. All non-U.S. citizens, including non-immigrants and U.S. permanent residents, arriving at major U.S. ports of entry should expect to participate. For more information, please see the US-VISIT website.
Attention internationals traveling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): Effective Jan. 12, 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) becomes mandatory for all VWP travelers to the U.S. Individuals planning travel to the U.S. who are nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries should review important information on ESTA and related passport requirements under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Internationals registering in ESTA in anticipation of coming to USC for an academic activity should request clearance under the Visa Waiver for “Business” (W/B) status. Additional online resources include the steps to register for the ESTA program, an information page and a FAQ sheet. USC departments planning to host international visitors should contact ISFS at 803.777.0288 or isfs@sc.edu to request invitation letter templates and related forms. Please note that the Department of Homeland Security’s ESTA requirements do not supersede the University’s travel policy or TA process.
