What to do First

Check-In with ISSSO

If you are a an F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2 visa holder (research scholar, visiting scientist, professor, short-term scholar, student) you are required by law to check-in with the International Student & Scholar Services Office (ISSSO) as soon as possible. J-1’s must be validated in the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Failure to comply with this responsibility is a violation of your legal status. All F-1’s and F-2’s also need to be registered in SEVIS. At this check-in you will receive information about various orientation programs that are suited for your visa category. Failure to comply with this responsibility is a violation of your legal status.

Researchers or visiting professors who are here under the H-1B visa classification are not required to report to ISSSO.

 

Check-In with your Academic Department

If you are a visiting scholar (e.g. researcher, visiting professor, etc.) you also need to report at your earliest convenience to your college or department that has invited you to the U.S. UH academic departments have a key contact person through whom you will receive other arrival information. If you do not know who this person is, ISSSO can supply the information.

Students also need to report to their academic college or department to which they have been admitted.

 

Check-In with Human Resources

If you will be an employee of UH, you will also need to report to Human Resources (HR) located in 347 McElhinney Building (number 588 on the campus map). HR will provide you with an employee orientation. You can also visit the HR website at: http://www.uh.edu/admin/hr/

Questions about your UH paycheck can be answered during your employee orientation. Information about tax deductions for UH employees can be answered by contacting Linda Morrow, UH Foreign National Tax Specialist (Tax Treaties) at 713-743-8987. The gross amount of your paycheck is usually not the amount that you will receive for “take home pay” or the net amount. Some taxes may be refunded at the time that annual income taxes are due (i.e. April 15). The amount of taxes withheld vary with each country and is based upon tax treaties between your home country and the U.S.