Upon arrival to the United States (U.S.), all new and continuing (e.g. return from leave of absence, reinstatement, change of status, etc.) international F-1 / J-1 students and J-1 scholars are required to complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV), formally referred to as Passport Verification (PPV), with the Office of International Services (OIS). ISV is a mandatory online check-in procedure for international students and scholars that verifies their entry to the U.S. as well as their immigration status to ensure the student/scholar is eligible to start an academic program/appointment at USC for their upcoming start date. Once all documentation is submitted, OIS will validate the SEVIS record. Failure to complete ISV in a timely manner will affect your eligibility to legally remain in the U.S.
All international degree students (F-1 and J-1) have an STU50 (for graduate students) or STU60 (for undergraduate students) hold on their USC account. Continuing students from a leave of absence, reinstatement or change of status will have an STU55 hold on their USC account. This hold is lifted once students arrive in the U.S. and complete ISV with OIS.
Special note for J-1 Non-Degree Students and J-1 Scholars: OIS will not place holds on the USC accounts of J-1 Non-Degree Students and J-1 Scholars.
Quick Navigation
- New (Initial and Transfer) F-1 and J-1 Students (Degree and Non-Degree Students)
- New (Initial and Transfer) J-1 Scholars (Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars & Professors)
- Continuing Students Returning from a Leave of Absence (LOA)
- Pending Permanent Residents and Other Non-Immigrant Visa Types
- DACA/AB540 Students
- Change of Degree Level
- Transitioning from OPT or STEM OPT Extension to a New Degree Level
New (Initial and Transfer) F-1 and J-1 Students
Information for Summer 2024
Students Starting Their Program from Abroad as Non-F-1/J-1 Students for Summer 2024
The decision to begin an academic program from abroad is at the discretion of the academic department. Therefore, students should first consult their plans with their academic advisor. Students who are unable to begin their program in-person for summer 2024 and need to begin their program from abroad as non-F-1/J-1 students cannot complete ISV at this time as they are not in the U.S. Instead, they must email ois@usc.edu for further instructions.
Students who are admitted to USC for summer 2024 but are unable to begin their academic program in summer 2024 should notify their academic department to discuss their options.
Students Starting In-Person Study at USC for the First Time in Summer 2024
All students who arrive in the U.S. for the first time in summer 2024 or transfer their SEVIS record from another U.S. institution (and have not left the U.S.) must complete ISV. This includes any student who may have started their academic program from abroad through online enrollment and anyone who has been studying at another U.S. institution and transferring their SEVIS record to USC. OIS will remove the existing STU50/60 hold within three business days from the ISV document submission date. For all other course registration inquiries, contact your academic advisor or department coordinator.
Students who started their program from abroad and do not have a USC I-20/DS-2019 for summer 2024 should request one from OIS. Instructions on how to request the Initial Attendance Form I-20/DS-2019 for summer 2024 is available here.
OIS Immigration Status Verification (ISV) Instructions for Students
(For the J-1 Scholars ISV e-form, please see below)
STEP 1. Review New Student Information Session
- F-1 Degree Students
- J-1 Degree & Non-Degree Students
- J-1 Non-Degree Students: J-1 Student Orientation video
STEP 2. Login to Trojan International to complete the Immigration Status Verification e-Form and upload your immigration documents
- F-1 Student ISV (not International Academy students)
- J-1 Student ISV (Degree & Non Degree Students only)
Note: If you are a J-1 Scholar conducting full-time research or teaching at USC, do not submit the J-1 Student ISV e-form. The J-1 Scholar ISV e-form is located below.
Required Immigration Documents
- Signed USC I-20 pages 1 and 2 (sample document) or USC DS-2019 page 1 (sample document)
- Passport photo ID page (sample document)
- I-94 (Visit this website & click Get Most Recent I-94). If the website does not load your I-94, include a photo of your I-94 entry stamp in your passport (example).
- Travel History (Visit this website & click View Travel History). If the website does not load your Travel History, complete this form.
- F-1 student visa stamp (sample document) or J-1 student visa (sample document). Canadian citizens exempt.
Questions regarding ISV requirements?
F-1 Students, email oisisv@usc.edu
J-1 students, email j1student@usc.edu
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New (Initial and Transfer) J-1 Scholars
OIS Immigration Status Verification (ISV) Instructions for Scholars
STEP 1. View J-1 Scholar Orientation video
STEP 2. Login to Trojan International to complete the J-1 Scholar ISV e-Form and upload your immigration documents
(Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars & Professors only)
Note: If you are a J-1 degree student or non-degree student enrolling full time in classes at USC, do not submit the J-1 Scholar ISV e-form. The J-1 student ISV e-form is located above.
Required Immigration Documents
- Signed USC DS-2019 page 1 (sample document)
- Passport photo ID page (sample document)
- I-94 (Visit this website & click Get Most Recent I-94). If the website does not load your I-94, include a photo of your I-94 entry stamp in your passport (example).
- Travel History (Visit this website & click View Travel History). If the website does not load your Travel History, complete this form.
- J-1 Scholar visa (sample document). Canadian citizens exempt
Questions regarding ISV requirements?
Email j1scholar@usc.edu
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Pending Permanent Residents, Other Non-Immigrant Visa Types and Online Program Admits
Students who are pending permanent residency, on other non-immigrant visa types such as E1, E4, H-1B, H4, L1, L2, O1, or R1 who are currently in the U.S. or online program admits who will complete their program outside the U.S. must complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV).
OIS Immigration Status Verification (ISV) Instructions
STEP 1. Activate your USC NetID Account Services
STEP 2. Login to Trojan International using your USC NetID to submit the Non F-1/J-1 Visa Immigration Status Verification e-Form and upload your immigration documents
Required Immigration Documents by Visa Type
Pending Permanent Residency:
- Passport photo page with expiration date and passport number (sample document)
- Pending PR documents (sample document)
Other non-immigrant visa types (i.e. H-4, E-2, J-2, etc.):
- Passport photo page with expiration date and passport number (sample document)
- I-94 (Visit this website & click Get Most Recent I-94). If the website does not load your I-94, include a photo of your I-94 entry stamp in your passport (example)
- Travel History (Visit this website & click View Travel History). If the website does not load your Travel History, complete this form
- Visa stamp (sample document)
Online program admits (completing program from outside the U.S. with no US in person requirements)
- Complete form
- Wait for Academic Advisor to confirm eligibility
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DACA/AB540 Students
DACA/AB540 students are NOT required to complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV). Instead, email your USC ID number to oisisv@usc.edu to request to have your STU50/STU60 hold removed.
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Change of Degree Level (example: BS Business Admin to MBA)
Students who have completed a degree program at USC in spring 2024 and are starting a new program at USC in summer or fall 2024 will have a STU50 hold placed on their record by USC Admissions. These students are not required to complete ISV with OIS.
To remove the STU50 hold, complete the Validation of Higher Degree Request via Trojan International and upload a copy of the signed I-20/DS-2019.
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Transitioning from OPT or STEM OPT Extension to a New Degree Level (example: OPT based on Bachelor’s Degree transitioning to start a Master’s Degree)
F-1 international students who have graduated from USC, are currently on OPT or STEM OPT Extension, are maintaining their F-1 status, and are starting a new degree program at USC for the upcoming semester must submit the New F-1 Student Request in Trojan International. This action is required to receive the Change of Education Level (COEL) I-20 from USC Graduate Admissions. The COEL I-20 will retain the same SEVIS ID Number as the OPT I-20.
After receiving the COEL I-20, students must submit the Validation of Higher Degree Request in Trojan International to remove the STU50 hold, which restricts course registration. The Office of International Services (OIS) will remove the hold within three business days after receiving this form.
Students may continue to work on OPT or STEM OPT Extension until the EAD expiration date OR until the Friday before the start of the academic semester, whichever date comes first. Students currently on OPT or STEM OPT Extension are not eligible to participate in CPT during the first semester of their new program at USC UNLESS off-campus work during the first semester is a degree requirement. Learn more about CPT eligibility on the OIS website.