Travelling for the first time out of the country for a long period although seems to be a daunting task, here are some tips which can help to make you plan and make your travelling experience better.
First and Foremost
There are certain things that have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as get you your visa - much before the flight.
Immunization
Find out the necessary immunization info and get everything done. Generally there are some vaccines like Hepatitis B, which require 3 doses once each month so do it early. These vaccines are very costly in US and you certainly do not want to start spending money the moment you land in US. Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR). Also there will be HEALTH FORMS which you will need to get signed by a Doctor while you are here. You need to carry this form while you fly and also to clear registration holds. Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments.
Tickets
Try and book a direct flight to your place, even if you have to take a local airline it is better and safer than greyhound(local bus service in USA), which usually has its stops in the shadiest area of towns. Buy a single ticket all the way through – add on are very expensive. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is the best.
Health Checkups
Get a medical check-up done and carry the report with you while you travel to US.
Dental check up
Fresh check-up, especially if you have a major ailment
Is Dental Care necessary?
After extensive survey and upon seeking the opinion of senior’s abroad a conclusion on the need for dental treatment while in India has been made mandatory.
Eye Check Up:
Get your eyesight checked and get a new prescription. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses or a pair of contact lens.
SHOPPING TIME BUDDY!!
There are not many things one needs to carry these days since most of the stuff is readily available at almost at the same prices as in India. However, it is best to carry some of the regularly used things in order to minimize initial expenses. If you have a friend who is going to the same university, for the same semester, it is better to share few things. This saves space as well as money. In this section, we have listed the most common things that your seniors have carried and suggest you to do.
Let's get started with clothes....
Clothes:
FOOTWEAR:
Shoes
Chappals
Personal accessories:
Utensils:
Depends on whether you guys plan to cook alone or with your housemates, since most people living alone prefer to cook food for more number of days at a go, so keep this in mind when you buy vessels and other kitchen accessories.
Typical stuff you may want is:
Food Items:
Some of the common food items that students carry are:
Most Indian foodstuffs are available at India Bazaar. Don't come loaded with foodstuffs as you may have problem with customs. Rice is a banned item in the US Customs and Border Protection list of food items.
Stationery list:
1) Pencil
2) Eraser
3) Stapler
4) Stapler pins
5) A packet of ball pens
6) Glue stick
7) Ruler
8)Calculator
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.
Packing:
Things to be kept in the check-in bags:
Things to be kept in hand baggage:
Things to be kept in person:
Money to be taken with you:
Documentation:
Important things to do before you leave:
IN THE LAST WEEK:
ON THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT AND ON – BOARD:
ONCE OFF THE PLANE AT THE PORT OF ENTRY:
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:
Apart from this information, your further source of information will be the current students in UF. During the first few days of your stay with your host, you will also learn a lot more things about UF and about life in Gainesville. IGSA will be happy to answer your questions and make your transition in to UF as easy as possible.
First and Foremost
There are certain things that have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as get you your visa - much before the flight.
- Learn driving and get an Indian driving license.
- Learn to cook.
- Apply for a bank loan (if necessary)
- Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.
- Find place to stay in Gainesville. It is crucial you know when will your apartment lease start so that you arrive accordingly.
Immunization
Find out the necessary immunization info and get everything done. Generally there are some vaccines like Hepatitis B, which require 3 doses once each month so do it early. These vaccines are very costly in US and you certainly do not want to start spending money the moment you land in US. Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR). Also there will be HEALTH FORMS which you will need to get signed by a Doctor while you are here. You need to carry this form while you fly and also to clear registration holds. Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments.
Tickets
Try and book a direct flight to your place, even if you have to take a local airline it is better and safer than greyhound(local bus service in USA), which usually has its stops in the shadiest area of towns. Buy a single ticket all the way through – add on are very expensive. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is the best.
- If change of airline can't be avoided' leave at least 3-5 hours 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 airline sometimes leads to misplaced luggage. Some airlines don't take care of baggage transfer - you may have to personally carry it (check this while booking) and cross check everything you are promised by the Travel agent with the original air lines even if you have confirmed ticket in your hand.
- And remember to ask for student concessions. Generally all the airlines will come up with one or the other discount offer for students so check all this out before you pay the money.
Health Checkups
Get a medical check-up done and carry the report with you while you travel to US.
Dental check up
Fresh check-up, especially if you have a major ailment
Is Dental Care necessary?
After extensive survey and upon seeking the opinion of senior’s abroad a conclusion on the need for dental treatment while in India has been made mandatory.
- Mouth is the mirror of human health. Taking care of oral cavity is a prelude to keeping overall health fit.
- The rationale behind taking dental checkup and treatment while in India is:
- To avoid possible dental treatment abroad as it is a well-known fact that dentist in U.S charge exorbitantly high amounts.
- Even students are required to bear the huge expenditure, as dental care is not covered under health insurance in the U.S.
Eye Check Up:
Get your eyesight checked and get a new prescription. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses or a pair of contact lens.
SHOPPING TIME BUDDY!!
There are not many things one needs to carry these days since most of the stuff is readily available at almost at the same prices as in India. However, it is best to carry some of the regularly used things in order to minimize initial expenses. If you have a friend who is going to the same university, for the same semester, it is better to share few things. This saves space as well as money. In this section, we have listed the most common things that your seniors have carried and suggest you to do.
Let's get started with clothes....
Clothes:
- Jeans
- Shorts: Florida weather is hot and humid most of the year.
- T-shirts
- Cotton shirts
- Night clothes
- Formal suit & Ties: 1-2 pairs. You rarely need them. May be once in a year or so on occasions like Career Fairs, business events and interviews.
- Undergarments: A lot of them. May be 10-15 pairs
- Socks: 4-5 pairs. You may bring even more because you would be wearing shoes most of the time. Do not take nylon socks. Cotton ones are better.
- Sweaters: A couple - full sleeved advisable
- Get a muffler, monkey cap and woolen gloves and windcheater.
- Handkerchiefs: 1 dozen
- 2-3 belts one formal leather belt and others as you please.
- Kurta-pyjamas: These would be good during Cultural meets, celebration of Indian festivals etc.
- Umbrella and/or raincoat
FOOTWEAR:
Shoes
- SPORTS SHOES: 2 pairs . Sports shoes are real cheap in US. Get some moderately priced and good ones so that you need not buy them immediately after coming to US.
- LEATHER SHOES: Get good and strong leather shoes.
Chappals
- You can buy leather footwear, but we advise Sandals.
- Slippers -2 pairs.
Personal accessories:
- Wallet - One that has space for cards. You normally don't carry much cash with you.
- Shaving kit & Blades and Brush & toothpaste.
- Soap (get a couple of bars of bathing soap till you go for the first groceries in US).
- Combs & hair oil
- Small mirror
- Nail cutter
- Small scissors, Safety pin bunch. Mini-sewing kit with some buttons.
- Screw driver set
Utensils:
Depends on whether you guys plan to cook alone or with your housemates, since most people living alone prefer to cook food for more number of days at a go, so keep this in mind when you buy vessels and other kitchen accessories.
Typical stuff you may want is:
- Plates
- Glasses
- Cups and bowls
- Forks
- Serving spoons
- Couple of cooking vessels
- Pressure cooker, Cooker containers and spares (rings and valves)
- Tongs and knives
- Cutting board for vegetables
Food Items:
Some of the common food items that students carry are:
- Spices, Tea powder, Masalas, Haldi, red chilly powder, Instant masalas etc
- Indian instant coffee + Indian tea (It takes time to get used to the American stuff)
Most Indian foodstuffs are available at India Bazaar. Don't come loaded with foodstuffs as you may have problem with customs. Rice is a banned item in the US Customs and Border Protection list of food items.
Stationery list:
1) Pencil
2) Eraser
3) Stapler
4) Stapler pins
5) A packet of ball pens
6) Glue stick
7) Ruler
8)Calculator
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.
Packing:
- Start your packing well in advance
- Buy good suitcases (with wheels preferred) which will be able to withstand a lot of mishandling. They should be as large as possible within the size limitations.
- Put identification marks and labels on both the inside & outside the bags. Apart from this, the airlines will also provide you with adhesive labels.
Things to be kept in the check-in bags:
- Copy of all the certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage
- Necessary books/notebooks
- Copy of address book/telephone book/diary
- Some stationary and related items suggested (not absolutely necessary) - just for the first few weeks are: r
- 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 (3 holes, A4)
- Don't take paper
- 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. 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
- Medical history files
- Novel/Magazines/books for in flight reading
- Sweater
- Original important documents (I-20, visa, tickets.)
- Enough money (some cash, traveler'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 traveler's checks - in case you lose the TC's.
- 1 backpack (get a good one; you will use it almost all the time in US).
Money to be taken with you:
- Other than your fee requirements you may have to take $1000-$2000 for the initial days. Take major part of the money in DD or TC's or in international debit cards like Vishwa Yatra card from SBI.
- 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 and basic utilities like toaster, rice cooker etc.
Documentation:
- Carry all documentation safely, and have photocopies to back you up - letter from University, 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.
- Visa
- Xth, XIIth (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.
Important things to do before you leave:
- 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
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).
- 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.
ON THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT AND ON – BOARD:
- Since it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable. 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.
- Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible.
- For vegetarians - watch out before you eat. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
ONCE OFF THE PLANE AT THE PORT OF ENTRY:
- 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.? And for the customs form.
- 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 and if asked to open your baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place.
- Note: In most cases, you will not be asked to open your bags at all & you will be simply waved through.
- 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.
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 get a Gator 1 card which is your student id. With the Gator 1 card you can ride the local buses for free.
- Check in with your international student advisor at the Hub
- Check in with your department
- Open a bank account immediately.
- Take possession of your new apartment.
- For a detailed step by step guide to carry along with you, click here
Apart from this information, your further source of information will be the current students in UF. During the first few days of your stay with your host, you will also learn a lot more things about UF and about life in Gainesville. IGSA will be happy to answer your questions and make your transition in to UF as easy as possible.