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: India 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]. 
 

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.

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 issue 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.

VI. Getting your $$$$ dollars:

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 draft/check [for the source of Indian currency for buying the required dollars].
 

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 USA". ITS VERY EXPENSIVE IN THE USA]

• Get prescriptions and medicines

• Get your eyesight checked; get an extra pair of eyeglasses.

• Write to the ISA PRESIDENT, giving your COMPLETE ITINERARY incl. flight #, date and time of arrival, enclosing your most recent photograph [passport size] if you need assistance with pickup and temporary accommodation

• NOTE YOUR PARENTS' BANK ACCOUNT NO.

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. 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.

IX. Things to be kept in the boxes:
 

•  Copy of all certificates/documents [originals in cabin baggage].

•  Important application materials [SOP, Recos 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.

X. Clothes:

Usually clothes are machine washed once a week. 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/WILL "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 bed sheet and woolen blanket

• woolen sweaters

• a leather or thick woolen jacket [important]

• woolen socks/thermal underwear 

• 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 [sports shoes are cheap in the US]

Don't worry if you can't bring any of the stuff listed above -- most of them are available pretty cheap in the US [Made in China]. In a month's time you'll be able to buy most of the above.

XI. Food Stuff:

Below are some north/south Indian food stuff that may be taken as per your preferences:

• 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

Note: most of these items are available in the Indian stores in major cities like Dallas. The above may all seem very silly and worth mocking. But these will help you beat the "craving" during the initial few weeks. But, be realistic: if you think the list is exhaustive, prune and take the most important things only. 

XII. Vessels:

• A pressure pan [with spare handle, safety valves, weights, gaskets] [note: big pressure cooker is not needed as you can buy a rice cooker in the US]

• Dinner plates -- 2

• Bowls -- 2

• Table spoons -- 2

• Teaspoons -- 2

• Fork -- 2

• Dinner knives -- 2

• Kitchen knife -- 1

• Cooking tongs  --1

• Tea strainer --1

• Ladles for serving rice --1

• Ladles for serving dal -- 1

• Tumblers -- 2

• Rolling pin and board --1 [for making chapatis]

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/magazines for reading.

• Enough money [little cash and traveler's checks].

• 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 misplaced in transit.

• Keep inventory of all items that you have in a particular suitcase. 

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 checks  in case you misplace them.

• Remaining amount of cash. [a belt-bag would be a perfect place to keep it]

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.

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] 

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. [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.

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 $1-2 here] to carry bags. Try and find a free cart.

• 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 1 hr], make a call to 1. ISA president/contact number given, 2. International Students' Office. Tell them your exact location [e.g.: the terminal number in the airport]. Try to get help from an airport official. People in the US are usually very helpful.

• DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRPORT UNTIL SOMEONE COMES TO PICK YOU UP. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME. MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT GET PANICKY. 

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. 

• Erythrocin 500 mg tabs -- 2 strips. 

• Sporadix 500 mg caps -- 2 strips. 

• Actifed tabs -- 3 strips. For common cold and cough. 

• Avomin tabs -- 1 strip. For airsickness. 

• Digene tabs -- 30.

• Baralgam tabs -- 2 strips. For abdominal colic pain, backache etc.

• Electral powder -- 2 packets. For dehydration/stomach upsets.

• Isogel [Glaxo] -- 1 box. For constipation.

• Brufen 600 mg tabs -- 2 strips. For pains, swellings etc. 

• Avil tabs -- 1 strip. For allergy.

• Relaxyl ointment -- 1 tube. To be applied as pain balm.

• Antiseptic Burnol -- 1 tube.

Good Luck and Bon Voyage.