International Student and Scholar Services
New Student Information
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Apartment and City Information
- Hattiesburg, MS
To find out more information about Hattiesburg, MS, please click here.
To find apartments in Hattiesburg, MS, please click here or visit ApartmentList.com.Realty Companies you can work with to help you find apartments near campus:
McMahan RealtyLondon and Stetelman
Southgate Realty - Long Beach, MS
To find out more information about Long Beach, MS, please click here.
To find apartments in Long Beach, MS, please click here or visit ApartmentList.com.
Q: Who do I contact if I have a question about my scholarship?
A: ScholarsFREEMississippi%C2%A0
Q: Who do I contact if I have a question if I have a question about my housing and meal plan?
A: ReslifeFREEMississippi for housing and https://usm.campusdish.com/ContactUs to contact Eagle Dining.
Q: How do I enroll in the Payment Plan and know my final costs?
A: Invoices will be issued in whenever charges are posted to your account. For new
students, we advise waiting until after arrival to campus to complete payment since
charges may be posted to your account at different times. This will be especially
important if you enroll in the Payment Plan. For more information about wire transfers,
payment plans, and other polices please review the Business Services page. In their first term of study at USM, as an exception, international students are permitted to pay
one month later than the official payment deadline, to allow them time to set up a
U.S. bank account. As an example: Regular deadline is August 10, new international student deadline is September 10.
Q: Does ISSS provide pick up service from the airport?
A: ISSS provides airport service only on the specific day indicated in the "Arrive
to USM" handout provided to admitted students.
Q: I want to register for classes and/or remove the hold on my SOAR account, what should I do?
A: International students must complete the ISSS check in (reserve an appointment here) in order to remove the International hold. Undergraduates will be contacted by
their advisor to complete the course registration process, after receiving an F-1
visa. Graduate students must wait until after completing the ISSS check in process,
before registering for classes.
Q: What immunizations are required for international students? Do I have to do them at home? How can I
clear the immunization and tuberculosis holds on my SOAR account?
A: Students must show evidence of two doses of MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella). If
you cannot complete both in advance, we recommend having at least one completed one
month in advance of your arrival so you can take the second one upon arrival. To
clear the TB (tuberculosis) screening hold, you must arrive in person and complete
both an in person chest x-ray and QuantiFERON lab test.
Q: How can I request a Social Security Number (SSN)?
A: International students cannot obtain an SSN unless they are employed.. This process
can only be completed after you have arrived here and have obtained a job offer from
an on-campus employer. Details about how and where to apply for SSN will be described
fully during International Orientation.
Q: When can I find employment?
A: Once enrolled in classes, international students are permitted to work up to 20
hours per week in an on-campus job. On-campus employment and work hours cannot be
guaranteed. Most on-campus jobs pay minimum wage of $7.25/hour. International students
are not eligible for jobs classified as "federal work-study" positions. On-campus
employment provides and opportunity to earn some extra spending money to supplement
your personal spending. Since on-campus employment cannot be guaranteed, it should
not be considered a means to fully or even partially fund your studies.
Many offices across campus employ student employees, however, the widest availability of on-campus employment positions are found in housing and dining services, the library, the recreation center and the student union. While the Handshake portal is one way to seek on campus employment, keep in mind that not all offices list their positions list their open positions on the Handshake portal.
The Pre-Departure Orientation for Fall 2025 will occur on June 19, 2025 at 9 a.m. CST. Recordings of the materials can be found at the International Orientation Folder. You may need to login to Microsoft365 using your USM credentials (ID number and password).
Topics include: (Spring 2025 Recordings linked below.)
- Welcome & Transition Planning (ifriends/finding an apartment, arrival shuttle, vaccination requirements, payment plan, etc.)
- On Campus Housing
- Off Campus Housing (see above, Welcome and Transition - ifriends section)
- Undergraduate Student Advising
- Graduate Student Advising and Registration
- Family (F-2 Dependents) Orientation
- In-Person Check In: August 8 or August 11, 2025
- Orientation: August 12 & August 13, 2025