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Welcome to the Upstate!

Make Yourself at Home

Upstate International is excited to welcome you to the Upstate community! Moving to a new country or state is one of the most exhilarating – and challenging – adventres you’ll ever embark on. At Upstate International, we aim to build your confidence in navigating the Upstate community so that you can thrive and find your place. UI provides resources related to essential aspects of daily living to help with your adjustment. Feel free to make yourself at home!

Navigating New Beginnings

The information below is to help international expatriates & residents who have recently moved to the Upstate Region of South Carolina

Click a category below to expand and view more information about the agencies, organizations, and institutions to facilitate your transition into life in Upstate South Carolina.

Essential Living

AuPairCare by Intrax
Contact: Elizabeth Botzis
Business in the US
City of Greer
Discover Upcountry Carolina Association

Or Call Toll Free at 1-800-849-4766

For Quick Travel References
Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Greenville Visitors Center

Or Call Toll Free at 1-800-717-0023

Help for Small Businesses
Living Abroad
Major Exchange Rates
Au Pair Care

Kristin Lancaster-Weiss is the Area Director Greenvillle-Spartanburg, SCAuPairCare Greenville, dedicated to matching families in the United States with international au pairs who provide live-in childcare and bring the world into your home. Contact Kristin here [email protected], or call 864-534-2347. Learn more here: http://refer.aupaircare.com/share/klancaster-weiss

Contact: Kristin Lancaster-Weiss
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 [email protected] or (864) 517-0103.

Contact: Annettee Menke
Education

The state requires two documents as a prerequisite to enroll 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. Social Security Cards or numbers are not required, nor must parents be required to present South Carolina driver’s licenses for their proof of residency.

Kidding Around Greenville
Roper Mountain Science Scenter

Planetarium shows, educational programs, holiday lights, living history farm, etc.

Upstate Parent

Free monthly magazine, available throughout the Upstate with lots of information for parents about upcoming events.

Bon Secours - Milena Lombardi
Language(s) Spoken: English, Italian, Spanish
Contact: Milena Lombardi
Speciality: Family Medicine
Offices: Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown, Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside
Greenville Hospitals & Health Systems
Shriner Children's Hospital Greenville - Sabrina Cugno
Language(s) Spoken: English, French
Contact: Sabrina Cugno
Speciality: Plastic Surgery
Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown
Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside
Bon Secours - Joanna Grabska
Language(s) Spoken: English, French, Polish
Contact: Joanna Grabska
Speciality: Oncology
Offices: Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown, Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside
Carolina Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Associates - Dr. Ian Gao
Language(s) Spoken: English, Mandarin, Spanish
Contact: Dr. Ian Gao
Speciality: Orthopedic Surgery
Offices: Greenville Orthopedic Clinic
Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital
Bon Secours - Justin Moody
Language(s) Spoken: English, French, Spanish
Contact: Justin Moody
Speciality: Family Medicine
Offices: Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown, Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside
Carolina Translation Co
More Info:

Carolina Translation Co. provides a wide range of language translation options. They offer translation and interpreting services in a variety of languages including Spanish, Haitian Creole (Kreyol), Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese, etc …

Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Baha'i Center of Greenville
Bao An Buddhist Center

Services offered in Vietnamese

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir:
Berea First Baptist Church:

In the chapel behind Berea first’s main sanctuary, La Roca Baptist Church meets for a worship service in Spanish at 10:15 AM on Sundays.

Carolina Buddhist Vihira

Offers Children’s Dhamma Class, Sutta study classes, Poya celebrations, Women’s Meditation Program / Services offered in English and Pali

Chad Jewish Center of Greenville and the Upstate
Congregational Beth Israel

Kabbalat Shabbat – Fridays at 6:00 PM / Shabbat Morning – Saturdays at 10:00 PM

Emmanuel Upstate

Spanish worship service at 11:00 AM on Sundays

Greenville County Main Library

Seewww.greenvillelibrary.orgfor more information and all regional branches.

Community Journals

Weekly newspaper with five locally written and edited sections that revolve around business, economic development, local events, arts, and current issues relevant to Greenville

Livin' Upstate Lifestyle and Newcomers Information
The Greenville News

The daily Greenville newspaper, with comprehensive local news, classifieds, sports, and other topics

WHNS-TV Channel 21 (FOX)
WSPA-TV Channel 7 (CBS)

Includes Weather & school closings

WYCW-TV Channel 62 (CW)
WYFF-TV Channel 4 (NBC)

Includes Weather & school closings

Monika Scurti

Speaks English and German.

Facebook l Instagram l LinkedIn

Talia Gila

Speaks English, Spanish, and Hebrew

Facebook l Instagram l LinkedIn

City of Greenville

Includes a good list of things to do and see in Greenville

City of Greenville Special Events
City of Greer

Downtown Greer events, dining, & shopping

City of Spartanburg
Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Greer Parks & Rec
Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau

Global Connections

American Red Cross Restoring Family Links Program

Caseworkers at local chapters around the U.S. help to locate missing relatives by working with partners.

Carolina Immigration Alliance
Lutheran Refugee Services - Greenville
Contact: Amberly Chirolla
Ogletree Deakins
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
UI Relocation Services
Upstate SC World Relief
US Visa Travel info

For a comprehensive look at U.S. Visa Travel information: https://www.insuremytrip.com/research/us-travel-visa-information/

0 - UI Language Classes
1 - UI Conversation Clubs
Furman University - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Greenville Literacy Association
Greenville Tech - English as a Second Language
Lifelong Learning
African-Jamaican-Caribbean Foods Fish & Meat Market
Asian Pacific Supermarket
Asian Supermarket
El Horno Bakery
European Market #4
Holy Land International Grocery and Halal Meat
Korean Market
Krishna Grocery
La Esperanza
La Unica Supermarket
Trade Route Import Furniture & Accessories

PLEASE NOTE: Upstate International does not endorse any of the entities 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. If you would like your business to be included below, please contact Upstate International’s Executive Director.

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