Mandatory thing
You should always carry
your Passport, flight ticket, I20, admission letter, funding documents
etc of the university on which u got VISA along with u…don't keep
them in any big boxes…u must always have them in your hand as u will
be asked to display them before check -in, before flight departure,
before getting into another connecting flight, port of entry etc at
regular intervals of time
NOTE - The
below list is a detailed list. It is up to you to decide what to bring.
- Your clothes list:
4. Wind sheeter or Thermal
5. Under garments …u
need them a lot here
8. Some traditional dresses
u wear during festivals…..if u r interested….
18. Wallet with more pockets
for credit cards
22. Shoe polish and brush
- Your Personal accessories
list:
9. Tooth brush and tongue
cleaner as many as u feel that r required
21. Pass port and stamp
size snaps
22. Photos of your family(if
u r sentimental)
23. CDs of songs (if u
addicted to music)
24. Medicines + first aid
kit
25. Digital diary (ur wish)
26. Books (Notebooks 10
and any other text books if u feel imp)
29. Pencil Torch and Alarm
clock.
- Your Utensils list:
2. Cookers Containers (with
their lids)
9. Peeler(vegetable skin
remover)
10. Serving spoons (for
dal, curry and rice)
13. Steel containers to
heat food (with lid)
14. Rolling Pin to make
rotes
17. Vegetable Cutting board
18. Coffee spoon for salt,sugar
etc etc
19. Small size plastic
spoons for masala
- Food items list:
Most Indian foodstuffs are
available even in small cities. Don't come loaded with foodstuffs as
you may have problem with customs. Try to get "instant" stuff,
as people don't have much time for cooking in the US.
6. Garam Masala home made
(Bring approx. 1-month supply of masalas.)
11. Popula Box with sufficient
ingredients(Dasam Chekka etc)
12. Kandi Pappu mainly
and all other dals u need
13. Pickle bottles (if
you have enthu, but preferably get sealed ones)
Music:
Get all the cassettes recorded
which you might like to take with you. Though you get most of them in
US, why spend money for luxurious things. If you are leaving your beloved,
don't forget to take those kishore Kumar blues.
- Your Stationary
list:
- Luggage:
Luggage is the essential thing
one has to buy. This has to be done after proper planning as luggage
is an expensive item and is to be retained for years, now that you will
be doing lot of traveling in flight.
Bags: 2 large size suitcases,
one small suitcase and one cabin back bag
- Packing:
• Start
your packing well in advance
• Buy
two good boxes - they should be able to withstand a lot of mishandling.
They should be as large as possible within the size limitations (however
most airlines are not very strict about baggage size).
• Put
identification marks and labels on both the inside & outside the
boxes) apart from this, the airlines will also provide you with adhesive
labels).
• Boxes
with independent top & bottom are preferable.
• Box
specification: As an example of Air India economy class baggage specifications
to the USA are given below. Note the specs. may be different for other
countries/airlines.
• 2
pieces of baggage with total liner dimension (L+B+H) not exceeding 270cms
(106"). Moreover the total linear dimension of each piece should
not be over 158cms (62"). The weight of each bag should not be
exceeding 32kg (70lb) [note: Sometimes they are not particular about
this] Carry on baggage: In addition you can carry a bag with linear
dimension not exceeding 115cms (45") on board fits beneath the
seat.
Things to be kept in the boxes:
• Copy
of all the certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage)
• Important
application materials (SOP, Reco, etc.)(Soft copy)
• Necessary
book/notebooks (some suggested books are - Clarks Tables, a good dictionary/thesaurus,
a booklet for units conversion) [note: there should be no legal hassles
taking Xerox copies of books - but don't flaunt them to Americans/profs]
• Copy
of address book/telephone book/diary
• Some
stationary and related items suggested (not absolutely necessary) -
just for the first few weeks are: common items + rubber stamp with house
address + air mail covers + few Indian razor blades for cutting work
+ screw driver
• Gifts
(suggested: roll able pictures, handicrafts, etc.)
• Non-technical
books (fiction/religious). [Note: second-hand storybooks are cheap in
the US]
• Don't
take Indian files (empty) or punching machines - filing system is different
in the US (3holes, A4)
• Don't
buy purse (wallet for carrying cards can be bought in the US) Carry
an organizer
• Wear
your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes
(other types of shoes are cheap in the US). For some weather conditions,
Indian leather shoes may crack.
Don't worry yourself if you
can't bring any of the stuff listed above - most of the items are available
pretty cheap in the US (Made in China). Exceptions are leather goods,
formal wear. In a month or two you will be able to get anything you
want.
Things to be kept in hand baggage:
• Some
medicines (including for air-sickness)
• Novel/mags/books
for in flight reading
• Original
important documents (I-20, visa, tickets.)
• Enough
money (little cash, traveller's' checks)
• Address
book/phone book (Indian & US)
• Copies
of your photos (passport size)
• Enlisted
steps to be followed in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc.)
Things to be kept in person:
• Shorter
extract of contact addresses - especially of people coming to pick you
up.
• Receipt
got along with traveller's' checks - in case you lose the TC's.
• 1
handbag to carry in flight stuff with you (buy a good quality, spacious
one 'cause you might have to use it for carrying clothes to the laundry
later).
• 1
backpack (get a good one, you will use it almost all the time in US).
- Money to be taken
with you:
Other than you fee requirements
you may have to take $1000-$2000 depending upon where you are going
(you can get this info from your seniors over there). This you can get
from Thomas Cook/American Express and of course any Foreign Exchange
bank like SBI, SBH IOB etc. Do this after you buy your ticket. And remember!
Take major part of the money in DD or TC's. The typical combination
is. DD for the entire fee you have to pay, $1000-$2000 in TCs, and $100
in cash...a combination of notes and coins....
The following documents have
to taken along to get the permit: Passport + copy, air ticket, I-20
Student Copy + copy, grade cards + copies, p.c. + copy, xii standard
pass/mark sheet + copy, aid & admission letters + copies, bank advance/any
other form of payment. You may take part of the $750/- in the currency
notes up to $50 is okay (legally up to $100 allowed). Money you may
need to pay after going there: Other than your fee, you may have to
pay the security deposit for the house, rent for the first month, groceries
for the first month...basic utilities like toaster, rice cooker etc.
which may come around to $500 approx....
- Documentation:
Carry all documentation safely,
and have photocopies to back you up - letter from Univ., mark sheets,
etc. (the visa stuff basically). Things to get photocopied: Make three
sets of the following copies, keep one set at home and take the remaining
two sets with you.
• Xth,
Inter (10+2), Degree marks sheets, Convocation Certificate of Under
graduation.
• I-20
and acceptance letter from the university.
• Take
all the I-20's with you if you have more than one.
• Take
some appropriate number of Bank statements, Recommendation Letters,
Transcripts and all other applying stuff (you need them if u plan to
take a transfer to another university to which u haven't applied, the
immediate next semester)
Important things to do before
you leave:
• Give
power of attorney (authorization letters) to your father or brother
or to someone on whom you rely
• Put
your signature on a 10 plane papers, write you name below it, keep these
at home, they may need it for any purpose like authorization to collect
marks sheets, Provisional certificate, Transfer certificate, Bonafide
certificate, Degree certificate, Migration certificate from the university,
applying for the refund from the college etc.
• Make
all bank accounts joint
Things to be left at home:
• List
of addresses/phone numbers at which info about you can be obtained.
• 2-3
copy of all your important documents.
• A
copy of all relevant parts of medical history files.
• Arrange
to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
• Arrange
to apply/collect/mail your transcripts (about 20 in number preferable)
• Your
tailoring measurements.
A Review & Miscellaneous:
• Get
a driving license and a IDP (international Driving Permit)
• Get
at least $750 if you get paid within one month of arriving and at least
$1500 if you get paid after a month and a half of arrival. If you have
a very good friend well settled at the place where you are going to,
you may take some less cash with you as you can borrow from him and
repay later. You'll have several deposits to pay for the first month
of stay like gas, telephone, and electricity. You'll have to pay a months
rent as deposit and a months rent advance (around $250 per person/month).
• Get
your application material if you wish to reactivate your applications
at a better place for the next quarter/year.
• Get
a set of transcripts in case you apply all over again for a PhD.
• B.Tech.
Degree certificate (laminate it in thin plastic is possible).
• Get
2-3 passport size photographs.
• Get
an address/phone number diary.
• Have
a set of copies of visa, passport, I-20 in each piece of luggage.
• Depending
upon the weather in your area get a folding umbrella.
• Carry
Rs.300 - Rs.500/- for airport tax and Rs.600/- for the $20 you'll get
inside the airport.
• If
you are having a camera then get it endorsed on your passport.
• Have
a RBI permit ready for the dollars you are carrying with you.
• Take
all your songs cassettes.
• Get
a good leather purse that has several sections of "visiting cards"
size, you'll need those for the bunch of credit cards/key cards/ID's,
etc. you'll accumulate in no time in US.
• Carry
medical prescription for all your medicines you bring.
• If
you have glasses, get a through eye-check-up before and get 2 extra
pairs of glasses.
• Keep
passport, visa, I-20, and other admission documents in the handbag you'll
carry on your shoulders all the time.
• Confirm
your ticket a couple of days prior to the flight directly through the
airlines you are flying no matter how reputed your travel agent is.
• Let
me repeat this, get a driver's license and an IDP.
• Get
lots of Indian stamps and inland letters and postcards. You'll need
them to write letters, which you can send with anyone who is going to
India.
IN THE LAST WEEK:
• Call
up and find if there is any change of the schedule of the plane (inform
the people coming to pick you up of any such change).
• Get
ready to face the long journey.
• Bid
adieu to all concerned.
• Find
out the name of the person who is coming to pick you up at the airport.
Remind those people of the flight timings, airline no, your name. inform
all these to your people at home.
• Relax
the day before journey, and check all the documents you are taking with
you once again.
• Arrange
for the conveyance if you don't have a car. You can book with any private
transport facility like City cabs.
ON THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT AND
ON - BOARD:
• Since
it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable (cotton dress
+ full hand shirt). Wear your shoes - in flight you can remove them
(some airlines give in flight shoes - else relax in socks).
• Check
all the documents once again and keep them at appropriate places.
• Be
at the airport 3-4 hours before the departure.
• Collect
$20 at the airport (part of it in $1).
• Relax
during flight, sleep as much as possible.
• For
vegetarians - watch out before you eat - you may get non-veg even if
you had asked for veg. Veg food is generally bland - fruits/juices are
good choices. (Before ordering anything on board check if, you have
to pay for it separately). Don't hesitate to ask questions.
• Once
out of India be very careful (from sheer experience of seniors). Don't
trust anyone. Don't hire a taxi (unless emergency) till you reach your
destination. If required don't hesitate to spend money.
ONCE OFF THE PLANE:
You are now in the USA! Once
you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration counter - rush
for them to beat the queue. It might take 0.5 - 1 hour here. Keep your
I-20, passport, admission & aid letters ready. They might ask a
few questions like
• Is
this your first time in the US? Student? F-1 Visa? Which Univ.? They
will attach an I-64 card to your visa.
• Then
go to the baggage counter to fetch your luggage. Pick up a cart (you
get this at a machine for $1) to carry the bags. Then pick up your bags
as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eye-catching labels help
here) we suggest you tie your baggage with rope of a bright color that
is visible from a distance. All this is to make your baggage appear
distinct. If you don't get your baggage, inform the inquiry section
- you may have to wait 0.5 - 1 hour here.
• Cart
your baggage to the nearby customs. If asked tell them that you are
a student, F-1 visa, school, dept., coming to US for the first time
if asked to open your baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place.
If asked about the "masala powder (podi"'s) tell them that
they are "dried Indian spices" to make traditional Indian
food like curry. Rarely they might ask you to go the agris dept nearby
- its a pain. If asked about "vibhuti" tell them that it is
a holy Hindu powder.
Note: In most cases, you will
not be asked to open your boxes at all & you will be simply waved
through.
• Now
go & wait at the nearest exit for the guys who are supposed to pick
you up. If nobody turns up after some time (say 0.5 hour) make a collect
call (at public phone dial a "0", get the operator & ask
for a collect call) else call
o International
Students' Office
o Any
Indian guy in the directory
Go and ask for an announcement
to be made over the PA system. Get a card, write your name & hold
it up.
• Never
leave your baggage unattended. Don't go out of the airport until somebody
comes & picks you up. If you have doubts about the guy who comes
to pick you up, don't hesitate to ask for his ID. (All this is of course
being a little extra cautious). Make sure you are pleasing while you
identify his identity. Lest you offend the person who has come to help
you.
• Once
you reach your friend's house (or your intended destination) call home
& inform them of your reaching safely. If you get your hand on Internet,
do type few words of your experience and email it.
FIRST FEW THINGS THAT YOU
NEED TO DO IN AMERICA:
There are certain primary things
to be done on reaching US. They are discussed in this section
• Your
first task is to meet the foreign students or the advisors in the International
students' office (ISO) or Grad Advisor or administrative secretary.
Keep a record of your details (passport, visa details etc). When you
leave the US (temporarily or permanently), you have to go there again.
• Meet
your prof if you have got an RA or a TA.
• Open
a bank account immediately. Ask seniors for a good bank.
• Find
an apartment and/or roommates.
• Complete
all the official procedures at the school like
o Attending
the orientation
o Getting
your student ID
o Getting
your Social Security Number.
o Registering
for the classes etc..
Generally your seniors or your
dept through all these will guide you. So don't worry about that.
A new chapter of your life
unfolds here! Work hard to make your dreams come true! I wish you success
in all your future endeavors!
ALL THE BEST!!!