International Students: Permanent Residents And Usc

At USC, an international student is defined as an individual who will enter or has already entered the United States with a visa. This includes students already in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas, but not students who hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Therefore, permanent residents are not considered international students at USC. International students are eligible for scholarships but are not offered need-based financial aid, unlike U.S. citizens and permanent residents living abroad.

International student visa requirements

International students at USC are defined as individuals who enter the United States with an F1 visa or non-immigrant visas such as the E2, H2, or L2. Most international students at USC are on an F-1 visa, while a smaller number are on a J-1 visa.

• English Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a USC-approved English proficiency examination. USC's approved exams and recommended minimums are: TOEFL (minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section), IELTS (score of 7), PTE (score of 68), 650 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section, or the Duolingo English Test (minimum score of 130).
• Financial Support: International students must provide proof of the ability to pay tuition and living expenses. This includes a signed Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support form, proof of sufficient funds, and a copy of the current passport.
• Visa Conversion: International students must comply with the Bureau of Immigration requirements, including Student Visa Conversion from a tourist visa to a student visa.
• Visa Extension: Students must also comply with requirements for Student Visa Extension or Special Student Permit (SSP).
• Additional Documentation: Depending on their country of origin, international students may need to submit additional authenticated documents, such as a transcript of records, diploma, or certificate of graduation.
• Compliance with Regulations: International students must adhere to U.S. government regulations regarding employment authorization. Student visa holders are required to be full-time students, and job opportunities are extremely limited.

English proficiency exams

At the University of Southern California (USC), international applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a USC-approved English proficiency examination to be considered for admission. USC does not grant waivers or exceptions to this policy under any circumstances. USC-approved English proficiency exams include the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT Special Home Edition with a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Indicator with a minimum score of 7, the PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) with a minimum score of 68, and the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section with a minimum score of 650.

The average TOEFL iBT score for admitted students is above 111, with a score of 25 or higher in each section. Applicants with scores below the minimum requirements may still be admitted, but at reduced rates of admission. USC also accepts the Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 130, but students admitted with only this test are required to take the International Student Exam (ISE) offered through USC's American Language Institute upon matriculation. The ISE exam may also be required for students with marginal scores on the TOEFL or IELTS exams.

USC does not set university-wide score minimums for graduate admission, and the scores listed are typically used for placement purposes only. USC does not waive the English-proficiency requirement based on any other considerations such as work experience, ESL enrollment, or time spent in the U.S. Additionally, USC does not offer need-based financial aid for international applicants, and all international applicants must provide financial documentation affirming their ability to finance USC's full cost of attendance at the time of application.

Scholarships and financial aid

At USC, scholarships and financial aid are available for permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and undocumented students who meet California Dream Act requirements or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status. International students who are permanent residents or meet other specific criteria may also be eligible for tax credits with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

While international students are not eligible for federal or USC need-based financial aid, they may receive merit-based scholarships, departmental awards, and private loans with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen. USC Merit Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and talent, and they range from a few thousand dollars to full tuition. These include the full-tuition Trustee Scholarship, the half-tuition Presidential Scholarship, and the one-quarter tuition Deans Scholarship.

International students can also explore on-campus work opportunities (not including Federal Work-Study) and off-campus work with permission from the Office of International Services. However, employment options are limited due to U.S. government regulations, and students cannot cover their full educational expenses by working while in the U.S.

It is important to note that USC scholarships are also administered by organizations outside the Office of Admission, which may have separate application processes, varying deadlines, eligibility requirements, and interview requirements. Additionally, students must apply for financial aid every year, and their estimated contribution will be adjusted based on changes in their family's financial situation.

Tax obligations

International students at USC have certain tax obligations they must fulfil. The majority of international students are not eligible to claim education expense tax credits on their federal tax forms as they are not US citizens, permanent residents, married to a US citizen or permanent resident, or allowed to be claimed as a dependent by a US citizen or permanent resident. Additionally, they have not been in the US long enough to file taxes as a resident for federal tax purposes. However, permanent residents among international students are eligible to claim education tax credits. Other international students who may be eligible are those who are married to a US citizen or permanent resident, those who may be claimed as a dependent by a US citizen or permanent resident, and those who have been in the US long enough to file federal income tax returns as a resident.

To determine their status as a non-resident alien (NRA) or resident for tax purposes, international students should refer to IRS Publications 515 and 519. NRA status applies to those who are non-residents for tax purposes but have authorised work, such as CPT, OPT, or AT. F-1 and J-1 student visa holders are typically exempt from paying FICA taxes for their first five years in the US, and these taxes should not be deducted from their paychecks. However, J-2 visa holders with work authorisation are not exempt from FICA taxes. If a student's employer has mistakenly withheld FICA taxes, they must work with their employer directly to request a reimbursement. If the employer does not assist, the student must file IRS Form 843 and IRS Form 8316 to request reimbursement.

All NRA students and scholars in F or J visa status and their dependents must file Federal Form 8843 and a Statement of Non-Residence every tax season, even if no income was earned. Some countries are eligible for varying amounts of income exemption from taxation under tax treaties between their home government and the United States. IRS Publication 901 lists the current US tax treaties. If an international student needs to set up a tax treaty withholding exemption with an employer other than USC, they would use IRS Form 8233. It is important to note that tax treaties only apply to federal and not state or local taxes.

There are several ways to file US taxes, including using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, hiring a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or tax preparation vendor, or hiring a private tax specialist. When submitting tax forms to the US government, international students are making a legal and recorded statement of status and eligibility, and false filings can impact future immigration eligibility and status. Therefore, it is recommended to seek assistance from a CPA, tax attorney, or licensed tax firm to make corrections as soon as possible if incorrect tax forms have been filed.

Application process

International applicants to USC follow the same application steps as other first-year or transfer applicants. USC accepts a range of international qualifications, and applicants will be considered within the context of their educational environment.

• Financial documentation: All international applicants must provide financial documentation affirming their ability and intent to finance USC's full cost of attendance. This includes a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support, which should be uploaded via the USC Applicant Portal within two weeks of the application deadline. This requirement also applies to international students currently living in the United States.
• English proficiency: International applicants whose native language is not English will be required to demonstrate their English proficiency. This can be done through the submission of TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores. Alternatively, international applicants can use the SAT or ACT to demonstrate their English-language proficiency, in which case their scores will be assessed for both proficiency and general admission review.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts must be sent to USC, with any university seals or security features intact. Copies of university-issued transcripts (issued on official letterhead) should also be uploaded to the online application to speed up the application review.
• Supplemental materials: Most USC graduate programs require supplemental materials for admission review, including statements of intent, recommendations, writing samples, and creative portfolios.
• Application fee: The application fee for graduate programs is $90, except for the Marshall School of Business ($155) and the International Academy's Pre-Master's program ($175). This fee can be waived, but only after starting (not submitting) the online application.
• Deadlines: Application deadlines vary by program, so it is important to confirm the deadline for your intended program and apply on time.
• Tests: If your program of interest requires the GRE or GMAT exam, schedule it with enough time to ensure your scores are valid (earned within five years to the month of your intended first term at USC).
• Visa requirements: Once admitted to graduate studies at USC, international students can learn about the steps to receive their I-20 or DS-2019 forms, which are necessary for applying for US F-1 or J-1 visas.
• Enrollment: Once accepted by the Department Chair, the enrollment process will commence. This may include additional tests and redirection to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions for re-endorsement of the application.
• Additional requirements for international students: International students may also need to submit the following: Police Clearance (No Criminal Record), Certificate of Good Moral Character, a valid passport with at least two-year validity, and a notarized Affidavit of Support with proof of adequate financial support.

Please note that permanent residents of the United States, naturalized US citizens, and US citizens residing abroad are not considered international students and are eligible for both need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships.

Frequently asked questions