USC students on OPT have been targeted by scammers and we want to ensure you have the information you need to protect yourself from danger. Scammers aggressively target international students, usually through phone calls or social media messages, impersonating government agency personnel and intimidating them by threatening their OPT status. Scammers then ask students to…
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Updated 04/29/2025 Quick Navigation Part 1: General STEM OPT Extension Based on a Prior Degree InformationPart 2: Completing the Form I-983Part 3: Requesting a STEM OPT (Prior Degree) I-20 from OISPart 4: Filing the Form I-765Part 5: USCIS Application DecisionPart 6: Maintaining F-1 Status While on STEM OPT Extension Part 1: General STEM OPT Extension…
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Department administrators may submit a DS-2019 Extension Request on behalf of their J-1 Non-Degree Student if they would like to extend their USC academic program. Extension durations are based on the maximum period of participation for the exchange visitor’s category. This includes time spent at previous institutions (e.g., Transfers). Exchange visitors that have applied for…
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When a J-1 Non-Degree Student is invited to USC, the department administrator submits a DS-2019 request on their behalf. All Exchange Visitors must have a DS-2019 document issued by OIS to receive a J-1 visa and status. J-1 degree-seeking students receive the DS-2019 from the Office of Admissions with their admission letter or shortly thereafter. Change of…
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updated 12/24/2024 The following instructions are intended for international students who started their program from abroad and do not have a USC Form I-20/DS-2019 for the upcoming semester. STEP 1: Request an Initial Attendance Form I-20/DS-2019 from OIS F-1 Students: Return to USC: Initial I-20 RequestJ-1 Students: Return to USC: Initial DS-2019 Request All Students (Except…
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updated 1/23/2025 Quick Navigation A standard leave of absence (LOA) is a temporary leave from the university, which may be necessary during the academic program due to personal or financial reasons. Students can also request a standard LOA due to health reasons if they are receiving medical treatment from outside the U.S. F-1 and J-1…
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Updated 05/06/2025 Quick Navigation F-1/ J-1 Students F-1 students who apply and are admitted to another institution may be eligible to transfer their USC SEVIS record to their new school. The SEVIS transfer must be completed within a specific timeframe in order to maintain valid F-1/J-1 status. Upon acceptance to a new school, the student…
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Overview of SprintaxTDS Personal SprintaxTDS Personal is a software that can prepare your pre OPT/CPT tax documents for you. SprintaxTDS Personal can determine your residency for tax purposes, FICA exemption, tax treaty eligibility and generate the pre-employment tax forms that you need, such as the W-4, 8233, W8-BEN and more. Once your forms have been…
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Updated 04/29/2025 Quick Navigation Part 1: General OPT InformationPart 2: Requesting an OPT I-20 from OISPart 3: Filing the Form I-765Part 4: USCIS Application DecisionPart 5: Maintaining F-1 Status While on OPT Part 1: General OPT Information Overview of Post-Completion OPT Post-Completion OPT Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for OPT, a student: General Timeline of…
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When a J-1 Scholar (Research Scholar, Short-term Scholar, or Professor) is invited to USC, the department administrator submits a DS-2019 request on their behalf. All exchange visitors must have a DS-2019 document issued by OIS to receive a J-1 visa and status. The J-1 appointment is not a contract of employment. The sponsoring academic department may ask…