International Center of the Upstate
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Information for Newcomers

WELCOME TO THE UPSTATE!

The ICU welcomes newcomes to Greenville and South Carolina's Upstate!The information below is provided to help newcomers, especially international residents, who have just moved to the Upstate area.

If you would like your business to be included here, please contact ICU executive director Whitney Walter about corporate membership in the ICU.

PLEASE NOTE: The ICU does not endorse any of the entries listed here and cannot be held responsible for problems resulting from private transactions. Individuals should use their own discretion in evaluating the merit of contacts listed here.

Please click on a topic:

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Time Differences
    www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/personal.html
     
  • For Quick Travel References
    www.kayak.com

  • Major Exchange Rates
    www.xe.com
     
  • Newspaper Translations
    www.Newstran.com
    If you want to read the news in other countries but you don't speak that language, this website may help. This site has free computer-generated translations of 10,000 newspapers, and it's easy to use. Select the category you want (e.g., Arabic news in English, English news in Chinese, etc.) and Newstran.com will give you a page with links to translations of newspapers. You can click on a link to read that newspaper. This is a great way to get other perspectives on major news stories, and to see what's happening on the local level around the world. (Please note that computerized translations are not linguistically accurate; they provide only a general sense of the meaning, but certainly are better than nothing!)

  • Help for Small Businesses
    www.score.org
     
  • Business in the US
    www.business.gov
     
  • Living Abroad
    www.transitionsabroad.com
     
  • Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce (Newcomer Information)
    24 Cleveland Street
    (864) 242-1050
    www.greenvillechamber.org
     
  • Greenville Visitors Center
    City Hall Office Building (1st floor)
    206 South Main Street
    (864) 233-0461 or Toll Free at 1-800-717-0023
    www.greatergreenville.com/visitors/cvb.asp
     
  • Discover Upcountry Carolina Association
    500 East North Street, Suite E
    (864) 233-2690 or Toll Free at 1-800-849-4766
    www.upcountry-sc.org

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CHILDREN
 

  • Things to Do with Kids in the Upstate: Download this guide to children's activities in the Greenville area.

  • Cultural Care Au Pair
    Anette Menke is the local childcare coordinator for Greenville, SC. She provides service and support to host families and their au pairs throughout the summer and full-year programs. Her contact info is anette.menke@lcc.culturalcare.com or
    (864) 517-0103

  • Upstate Parent
    Free monthly magazine, available throughout the Upstate with lots of information for parents about upcoming events.
    305 S. Main St., P.O. Box 1688, Greenville, SC 29602
    (864) 298-4162
    www.upstateparent.com
     
  • Roper Mountain Science Center (planetarium shows, educational programs, holiday lights, etc.)
    (864) 281-1188
    www.ropermountain.org

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ETHNIC ORGANIZATIONS

HOSPITALS & HEALTH CARE

  • Allan Bennett Memorial Hospital
    (864) 348-8200
     
  • Greenville Hospital System
    (864) 455-7000
    www.ghs.org
     
  • Greenville Memorial Hospital
    (864) 455-7000
     
  • Hillcrest Hospital
    (864) 967-6100
     
  • North Greenville Hospital
    (864) 834-5132
     
  • St. Francis Hospital
    (864) 255-1000
     
  • St. Francis Women’s & Family Hospital
    (864) 675-4000

  • Waterstone Denistry
    www.waterstonedentistry.com
    864-232-0440

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IMMIGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELOCATION

INTERNATIONAL GROCERY AND GIFT SHOPS

International Gift Shops

Regional Groceries

  • Super H Mart (Asian)
    2550 Pleasant Hill Rd
    Atlanta, GA 30349
    (678)417-0206

Upstate International Groceries

  • Leopard Forest Coffee - This fair-trade coffee roasting company features coffee beans grown in Zimbabwe, Africa, then roasted and ground in Travelers Rest, north of Greenville.

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LANGUAGE TRAINING

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  • Info to Come!

LIBRARY

  • Greenville County Main Library
    25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville
    (864) 242-5000
    The Greenville County Library System has eleven locations and a website offering information, entertainment, downloadable Audio Books and much more. Visit any branch and you will find a welcoming place offering free Internet access, books, DVDs, music, online resources, research assistance, genealogy help, programs for all ages, and much more. A bookmobile serves the rural parts of the county and homebound service is available to those who cannot visit a local library.
    www.greenvillelibrary.org

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NEWSPAPERS & MEDIA

  • The Greenville News
    The daily Greenville newspaper, with comprehensive local news, classifieds, sports, and other topics.
    (864) 298-4110
    www.greenvilleonline.com
     
  • The Greenville Journal
    Weekly newspaper with five locally written and edited sections that revolve around business, economic development, local events, the arts, and current issues relevant to Greenville.
    (864) 298-4110
    www.communityjournals.com
     
  • Charter Communications (Cable Television & Broadband Internet)
    www.charter.com
     
  • WYFF-TV Channel 4 (NBC)
    Includes school closings.
    www.thecarolinachannel.com
     
  • WHNS-TV Channel 21 (FOX)
    www.whns.com

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REAL ESTATE (BUYING AND SELLING A HOUSE)

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RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT

RELIGION

  • Interfaith Forum
    Interfaith Forum (IF) is a coalition of faith communities, individuals and organizations in the Upstate of South Carolina that advocates social justice, promotes charitable outreach, and fosters mutual support and interfaith dialogue.
    www.interfaithforum-sc.org


SCHOOLS AND ADULT EDUCATION

The state requires only two documents as a prerequisite to the enrollment of a child in a South Carolina public school. The Department of Health and Environmental Control immunization form is required of all children; however, DHEC allows a thirty-day waiver for students to present records or begin immunizations. A birth certificate, or other proof of age, as determined by the school district, is required for the first-time enrollment for children entering kindergarten or first grade. In addition, your district may require written proof of residency. A district may not deny a student enrollment due to the lack of proof of immigration status, and a district should not request that information of the parent. Specifically, Social Security Cards or numbers are not required, nor must parents be required to present South Carolina drivers' licenses for their proof of residency.

Greenville County School District
(864) 241-3100
www.greenville.k12.sc.us
This Web site profiles all schools in the district.
Newcomers register children at individual schools and must have a South Carolina Immunization Form completed at the Health Department.
Greenville Health Department
200 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29602
(864) 282-4326

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SHIPPING

  • Info coming soon!

TRANSPORTATION

 

County Administration Building
301 University Ridge, Suite 800
Greenville County Square
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone (864) 467-7040

  • Department of Motor Vehicles
    (driver's licenses, vehicle registration)

    Information, forms, and office locations are available at www.scdmvonline.com.

If you are a Non-U.S. Citizen, you must go to the following DMV offices ONLY for your Driver's License:

15 Saluda Dam Road
Greenville, SC 29611
(864) 241-1147
Open Saturday
Non-U.S. Citizen Licensing

1625 Southport Road
Spartanburg, SC 29306
(864) 594-4940
Non U.S. Citizen Licensing



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ICU · Greenville City Hall · 206 South Main Street · Greenville, South Carolina · Telephone: (864) 467-4579 · info@internationalupstate.org