This is for a person wanting to go fairly well equipped from India. If you have some sort of support in the place of your destination [e.g.: relatives, friends etc.], you can definitely prune this list. Almost everything listed below, and more, is available there [often better quality and cheaper and more appropriate for local use]; but you'll take a while to discover where to buy them; and you may also take a while to save up for them. Sooner or later, you'll  replace many things you take from India, with their local equivalents. This list assumes that you'll cook yourself, which otherwise may not be the case, if you are going to stay in a dorm [hostel]. The estimated budget for the items listed below, could range from Rs. 20,000 to 40,000. In addition, you are likely to spend approximately Rs. 50,000 [which will vary from one airline to other] on an ECONOMY ONE-WAY air-ticket and Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 [$1000, apprx.] for your RBI approved dollars. You'll need part of these dollars for your deposit and rent on your housing. It is recommended that you take at least $1000 as it may take a month's time for you to collect and encash your first scholarship cheque. Apply for all local scholarships/loan fellowships to assist with travel [if required]. THIS LIST MAY BE BIASED TOWARDS A MALE SINGLE STUDENT ON SCHOLARSHIP; MAKE APPROPRIATE CHANGES IF YOU ARE NOT.

But before all that, here are a few ["flimsy as they may look"] but quite important and useful tips:

I. Things to do after getting aid and offer letters:

• Apply for "complete" transcripts from the Univ. that you last attended.
• Return all borrowed material and take back all the things that you lent out to friends and the like.
• Get in touch with the USEFI [United States Educational Foundation in India], if that's possible and get the latest info about documents needed for applying for a F-1 visa.

• Form I-20 or IAP-66 [obtained directly from the University you will attend]
• Visa application form [available at the consulate]
• Two passport size photographs [posses around 10; won't do any harm]
• Valid Passport
• Evidence of financial support
• Visa fee [as applicable]

You may apply for the visa within 90 days prior to the reporting date mentioned on the I-20. ||Top||||Bottom||

II. Things to be taken with you when you go for the visa:
 

• Signed I-20 form. DETACH THE STUDENT COPY OF THE I-20 AS SOON AS YOU SIGN BOTH OF THEM. KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL ONE, SAFELY WITH YOU IN A FOLDER.
• Filled visa app form.
• Two passport size photos [TAKE GLUE WITH YOU, JUST IN CASE...]
• Aid and admission letters
• TOEFL and GRE scores [ Original + Xerox copy]
• Xerox copy of grade cards.

Send your acceptance letter to the Univ. by three modes: - Fax, phone and airmail.  ||Top||||Bottom||

III Travel booking and tips:

The next thing to do is blocking tickets [this implies no financial commitment]. This can be done via travel agents. Make sure that the agent/agency is good.

As far as possible, avoid change of airline [which in most case is not possible]. A direct flight is the best. [E.g.: Lufthansa: New Delhi to Frankfurt and from Frankfurt to DFW]. If change of airline can't be avoided, leave at least 4-6 hrs gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting flight. Baggage is usually safe with a single airline. change of airlines sometimes leads to misplaced baggage. Some airlines don't take care of baggage transfer – you may have to personally carry it [check this while booking]. DO NOT TRUST AN INDIAN AIRLINES CONNECTING FLIGHT. [In case you use IA allow at least one day].
||Top|| ||Bottom||
 

IV. Getting the Visa:

When you go for visa, dress decently. "AVOID ANY AMERICANISMS". Speak slowly and clearly LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF THE CONSULAR OFFICER --  EVEN IF HE/SHE IS NOT LOOKING AT YOU.  ||Top||||Bottom||

V. Emigration clearance:

Get this after visa. This is usually not required: ECNR [Emigration Clearance Not Required]. But the emigration officers at the airport of departure may create some hullabaloo about this. So don't take any chances. For this you'll need the following:

• Passport and Visa [of course].
• ECNR application form [available from the pass port office]
• Original and Xerox copies of the provisional degree certificate. [If you've the original, then it's well and good].
• Required fee. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

Nowadays this is pretty easy -- from Thomas Cook or American Express. Even a Nationalized bank would do this job for you. But Thomas Cook, I've found, is by and large the most preferred. For this you'll need to take the following things along:

Passport + copy; air-ticket; I-20 [student copy]; grade cards + copies; Provisional Certificate +copy; 12^th standard mark/pass sheet + copy; aid and admission letters + copies; bank statement [for the source of Indian currency for buying the required dollars].
||Top|| ||Bottom||

VII. Things to be done in advance: [as much as possible]

• Learn typing
• Learn driving
• Learn to cook
• Apply for bank loan [if necessary]
• Make passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.
• Make outstation purchases [sweater, thermal underwear, cassettes etc.]
• Get medical check-up done: dental; fresh check-up, if you have a major ailment [DO NOT BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT "I' LL GET THESE TESTS DONE WHEN I LAND IN THE US". BELEIVE IT OR NOT - YOU'LL GO BROKE DOING SO, UNLESS OTHERWISE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL INDURANCE].
• Get prescriptions and medicines
• Get your eyesight checked; get an extra pair of eyeglasses.
• Write to the ISA, giving your flight #, date and time of arrival, enclosing your most recent photograph [passport size].
• NOTE YOUR PARENTS' BANK ACCOUNT NO. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

VIII. Packing:

Start your packing well in advance. Buy two good boxes [suitcases] -- 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 both inside and outside the boxes [apart from these, the airline itself will provide sticker labels and baggage tags].  Also write down what your suitcases look like -- just in case the luggage gets lost in transit. Boxes with independent top and bottom are preferable.

Box Specifications:

As an example the Air India economy class baggage specifications to the USA are given below. This usually is similar to other airlines as well [contact the respective airline office for details]: 2 pieces of baggage with total linear dimension [l + b + h] not exceeding 270 cm [106"]. Moreover the total linear dimension of each baggage should not exceed 158 cm [62"]. The weight of each bag should not exceed 32 kg [note: they are not very particular about this -- but be realistic]. Cabin baggage: in addition, you can carry a bag with linear dimension not exceeding 115 cm [45"] onboard. ||Top||||Bottom||

IX. Things to be kept in the boxes: 

•  Copy of all certificates/documents [originals in cabin baggage].
•  Important apping materials [SOP, Reco etc.]
•  Necessary books/notebooks [note: there should be no hassles taking Xerox copies of books -- but don't flaunt them to others]
•  Copy of important addresses
•  Indian postal stamps -- for sending letters through someone coming to India
•  Medical history files
•  Non-technical books [fiction/religious] [ note: second-hand story books/novels are pretty cheap in the US]
•  1 pair of leather chappals and hawai chappals [with extra straps] etc. ||Top||||Bottom||

X. Clothes:

Usually clothes are machine washed once a week [Laundromat]. Hence one week supply of clothes [+ one week back up] is needed. Get all clothes a little loose -- clothes may shrink in the drier and you may "GAIN WEIGHT".

• 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs
• 5 sets of good shirts, pants [bring a lot of T-shirts, which are cheap in India]
• a good swimming trunk + few shorts
• 1-2 ties and 2 belts
• 3-6 ordinary towels [a couple of them may be Turkish. But they usually start stinking]
• a bed sheet and woolen blanket
• woolen sweaters
• a leather or thick woolen jacket [important]
• woolen socks/thermal underwear not recommended if going to a warmer place [like Arizona or Texas]
• do not take Indian files/folders or punching machines [filing system in the US is different :3 holes; A4]
• buy a good leather wallet
• Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes [other type of shoes are cheap in the US]

XI. Food Stuff:

Below are some north/south Indian food stuff that may be taken:

• Masalas etc. [usually OK with US customs, if sealed in original packing with label]
• Tea/Coffee powder -- 0.2 kg [it may take some time to get used to the US stuff]
• Dhania-jeera powder -- 0.25 kg
• Red chilli powder -- 0.25 kg
• Turmeric powder -- 0.25 kg
• Small quantities of each of the following: cloves, cinnamon, elaichi [cardamom – white and black], cumin seeds [jeera], mustard seeds, asafoetida powder, pickles, papad [appalam]
• Different dhals in small quantities for initial phase
• Sambar powder -- 1 kg
• Rasam podi -- 0.5 kg
• Paruppu podi --1 packet and tamarind paste
• Cook book -- e.g.: "Cook and see" by Meenakshi Ammal

XII. Vessels:

• A pressure pan [with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plates, 3 gaskets] [note: big pressure cooker is not needed as you can buy a rice cooker in the US]
• SS dinner plates -- 2
• SS bowls -- 2
• Table spoons -- 2
• Teaspoons -- 2
• Fork -- 2
• Dinner knives -- 2
• Kitchen knife -- 1
• Cooking tongs for SS vessels --1
• Tea strainer --1
• Ladles for serving rice --1
• Ladles for serving dal -- 1
• Tumblers -- 2
• Rolling pin and board --1 [for making chapatis] ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XIII. Things to be kept in the cabin baggage:

• Some medicines [including those for air-sickness].
• Sweater.
• Original important documents [I-20, visa, tickets].
• Novels/books/mags for inflight reading.
• Enough money [little cash and traveller's cheques].
• Address and phone book [Indian and US].
• Copies of your photo [passport size].
• Keep some clean clothes, and the most essential basic items required for sustaining yourself for a couple of days, in case your luggage gets midplaced in transit.
• Keep inventory of all items that you have in a particular suitcase. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XIV. Things to be kept on person:

• Shorter extract of contact address -- especially of people coming to pick you up.
• Receipt got along with traveler's cheques  in case you lose TCs.
• Remaining amount of cash.[a belt-bag would be a perfect place to keep it] ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XV. Things to be kept at home:

• List of addresses /phone nos. at which info about you can be obtained.
• One copy of all your important documents.
• A copy of all relevant parts of medical history files.
• A few signed blank papers  so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf.
• Your tailoring measurements. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XVI. Things to be done in the last week before the flight:

• Call up and find if there's any change of schedule of the flight [INFORM THE PEOPLE COMING TO PICK YOU UP OF ANY SUCH CHANGE] ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XVII. On the day of flight + in-flight + later:

• Be at the airport 3-4 hrs before flight departure
• Relax during flight; sleep as much as possible
• For vegetarians: watch out before you eat – you may get NV even if you had asked for veggie. Veg. Food is generally bland -- fruits/juices would be good choice. [before ordering anything onboard, check if you have to pay for it separately]
• Don't hesitate to ask questions. If required don't hesitate to spend money.
• NOTE: as far as possible ask an official only: airhostesses, airport authority, cops etc. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XVIII. Port of entry procedures:

• Sometime before landing the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms and immigration forms [I-94] as mentioned below. Fill these out on the plane [you'll submit them to the appropriate authorities when you land].
• Do not hesitate to take flight attendant's help
• You can indicate that you have nothing to declare and total value of all your things is less than $100 on the form
• Form I-94 -- fill in the plane. After seeing your documents the immigration officer will indicate length of stay, Univ., etc. This'll be attached to your passport.
• Form I-20 [student copy] -- all transactions regarding your non-immigrant status will be recorded in this form. This should be retained at all times [not to be surrendered when you temporarily leave the US]. Your admission number will be given -- memorize and note it down somewhere.
• Just before you land the correct local time will be announced -- set your watch [dual time watch will come handy here]
• Once you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration counter. Keep your I-20, passport, aid and admission letters ready. They might asks a few questions like: Is this your first time in the US? Student? F-1 visa? Which Univ.? they will attach an I-94 [arrival/departure record card]
• Then go the baggage claim to fetch your luggage [Eye-catching labels help here]. Pick up a cart [you may have to use $1 here] to carry bags.
• Cart your baggage to the nearby customs. If asked tell them you are a student, F-1 visa etc. If asked to open the baggage do so slowly -- don't mess up the place. [Note: in most cases you won't be asked to open the baggage at all and will simply be waved through].
• Now go and wait at the nearest exit for the guys who would come to pick you up.
• If they do not show up [within 0.5-1 hr], make a collect call to 1. ISA office bearers, 2. Your Prof. or 3. International Students' Office. Tell them your exact location [e.g.: the terminal number in the airport]. Try to get help from an airport official - make arrangement for a Public Announcement. People in the US are usually very helpful.
• DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRPORT UNTIL SOMONE COMES TO PICK YOU UP. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME. MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT GET PANICKY. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

XIX. List of medicines recommended by a doc:

Note: all the medicines should be accompanied by a valid prescription from a certified doc.

• Crocin tabs -- 3 strips. For fever, body aches etc. One tablet thrice a day as necessary.
• Erythrocin 500 mg tabs -- 2 strips. One tablet twice a day when necessary, or as advised.
• Sporadix 500 mg caps -- 2 strips. One capsule twice a day or as advised.
• Actifed tabs -- 3 strips. For common cold and cough. One tablet three times a day.
• Avomin tabs -- 1 strip. For airsickness. One tablet as necessary.
• Digene tabs -- 30.
• Baralgam tabs -- 2 strips. For abdominal colic pain, backache etc. One tablet every 6 hrs as necessary.
• Electral powder -- 2 packets. For dehydration/stomach upsets.
• Isogel [Glaxo] -- 1 box. For constipation. One teaspoonful in little water at bedtime.
• Brufen 600 mg tabs -- 2 strips. For pains, swellings etc. One tab three times a day after food.
• Avil tabs -- 1 strip. For allergy.
• Relaxyl ointment -- 1 tube. To be applied as pain balm.
• Antiseptic Burnol -- 1 tube. ||Top|| ||Bottom||

This page is maintained by Tana. Last updated 13th March 2003, 1440hrs [CST].

ISA Home Page||Go to Top||Return to my Home Page||||Return to Dept. of Chemistry's Home Page||