About ISSS

Who We Serve

International Students: non-immigrant visa holders, asylees, and refugees participating in an academic, language training, or educational exchange program at USF including:

  • Bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree students at USF’s Main Campus and additional campus locations
  • Participants in the Jesuit Educational Exchange Program (JEEP)
  • Non-credit, non-degree course participants
  • Foreign students currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States, but who are pursuing an internship in the U.S. that will fulfill their degree requirements at their home institution
  • Visiting scholars

ISSS provides document processing and advising services to prospective, current, and alumni international students and their representatives.

International Scholars: Foreign nationals who have been invited to USF to lecture, teach, observe, consult, train, conduct research and/or demonstrate special skills.  International scholars may be employed by the university, e.g. teaching a course, or they may be just visiting the campus with the status of Special Affiliates.

USF Community:  ISSS provides information and support services to other campus departments and stakeholders who are involved with recruiting, admitting, teaching, housing, counseling, and/or providing services to international students, scholars and visitors.

ISSS Services and Programs

  • Immigration document processing and advising
  • Advising on personal adjustment/cross-cultural matters
  • International Student Orientation (ISO) programs (Fall/Spring/Summer)
  • Advisor for the USF International Student Association (ISA)
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization for F-1 students
  • H-1B Visas & Green Cards
  • U.S. tax filing requirements for nonresidents
  • Job Success Series (co-sponsored with the Career Services Center)
  • International Education Week (IEW)
  • Referrals/advocacy efforts on behalf of international students and scholars to on- and off-campus services providers, including:
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • U.S. Department of State (DOS)
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
  • Social Security Administration (SSA)
  • Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Access to nonresident federal tax form preparation software