When to Arrive

• H-1B or Treaty National (TN) Temporary Worker
  You are eligible to enter the U.S. up to 10 days prior to the start date of employment.
• BridgeUSA (J-1 Exchange Visitor Program) Participant
  You may arrive up to 30 days prior to the program start date on Form DS-2019. Please contact ISSS for deails. 

What to Bring

Please travel with the following documentation in your carry-on bag:

• Visa-qualifying document (Form I-797, Form DS 2019.) 
• Passport
• Offer/appointment letter from the University of South Carolina. 

What to Do

• Upon arrival in the U.S., please retrieve your I-94 admission record online.
• Check your passport to ensure entry stamp notes the appropriate status and duration.
• Contact the Human Resources Office of International Services (HR-OIS) for employee onboarding or affiliate appointment procedures.
• If you move to a new residence, please contact HR-OIS immediately for guidance on requirements for reporting the change of address to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Where to Go

• Visit with your host/hiring department.
• Get involved in faculty and staff events across the USC community.
• Explore Columbia, South Carolina’s capital city with vibrant neighborhoods and local events. 

Our City

Located in the heart of the state, Columbia boasts a population of over 700,000. Its diverse residents and neighborhoods have earned it the designation of being one of “America’s 30 most Livable Communities.”

Within the city limits, you can visit EdVenture Children's Museum for a family-friendly outing, attend a concert at the Colonial Life Arena, paddle the Saluda River, shop and dine in the vibrant Vista district or watch your Carolina Gamecocks compete in a number of sporting events. In a city with so much to offer, there is something for everyone.

Traveling further afield, Columbia is just a few short hours from the Carolina coast, the Appalachian mountains, and the cosmopolitan centers of Charlotte and Atlanta.