Onboarding

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS (J-1)

• Check-in is required with International Services (IS) for all new J-1 scholars and takes place via Microsoft Teams with an appointment set during your onboarding. If you have questions email j1visa@usf.edu. Scholars may check-in at any time without an appointment.
• After all immigration documents have been verified, scholars who will be paid by the university will receive a letter which they can take to the local Social Security Administration office to apply for a card (after the scholar has been in the U.S. for ten days). Once this is completed, the scholar will receive a receipt letter from the Social Security Administration which can then be taken, along with all required work authorization documents, to Human Resources for RightStart in order to complete new hire paperwork.
• Foreign National employees with another visa status (TN, H1-B) should have met all work authorization requirements prior to coming to RightStart. If an international employee comes to RightStart without a receipt letter from the Social Security Administration, and they do not have a Social Security card or their documents are not complete, they will be given a memo to return to IS until such time as they have all required documents.
• Once the employee has been entered into GEMS, they will receive a temporary ID number. This ID number will allow international students to apply for Student Health Insurance. Note: the State of Florida mandates that all international students must have health insurance by the fifth day of classes. For more information, contact the Student Health Services Insurance office.
• As soon as the employee receives his/her permanent Social Security card (which should take no more than three months) he/she should bring that card to University Payroll (SVC 0077) so that their temporary ID number can be updated in the system with the employee's permanent Social Security number.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (F-1/J-1)

• Check-in is required with International Services (IS) for all new international students and takes place via Microsoft Teams. After arrival in the US, the student attends this Virtual Check in at set times.  For process and times go to https://www.usf.edu/world/international-services/arrival-and-orientation/document-check.aspx. If you have questions email globalstart@usf.edu.  A schedule of check-in times is communicated prior to the start of every semester through iStart.
• Once the student has completed check-in and all immigration documents have been verified, the student will receive a letter which they can then take to the local Social Security Administration office to apply for a card after the student has been in the United States for ten (10) days. Once this is completed, the student will receive a receipt letter from the Social Security Administration which can then be taken, along with all required work authorization documents, to Human Resources for RightStart@USF.
• At RightStart, the student will complete their new hire paperwork. This is required to get processed in the GEMS system and on payroll.
• Please note that students holding a J-1 visa are also required to have a work authorization letter from International Services.

RightStart@USF is triggered by the issuance of an offer letter by the hiring department. In the offer letter, new employees are given specific instructions on what to bring, and when and where to report. An HR Representative will assist new employees in the completion of new hire paperwork and provide essential information regarding pay and benefits (if benefit eligible). This process takes up to an one hour to complete.

All new employees are required to attend RightStart on or before their first day of employment. 

In order to help you through this process, please be prepared to:

• Provide documentation that establishes your employment eligibility to work in the U.S. (in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986). View the I-9 form that will identify acceptable documents.
• Provide your passport, I-9 form, visa and appropriate immigration support documents based on visa class, if you are a foreign national.
• When you have completed all of your paperwork in HR, you should report as instructed in your offer letter.

An employee who left employment with USF for more than one year, is treated as a new hire and must complete new hire paperwork prior to starting work. If an employee has been separated from the university for less than one year, the department may appoint him/her by completing an Appointment Status Form and attaching the signed offer letter. Once the rehiring process is completed and updated in GEMS, the employee may access GEMS Self Service to update their personal information.