COUNTDOWN TO USA

Countdown

Timeline

Below is a timeline that we have constructed from our experience before we left for the USA. Please realise that this is subjective. Use it as a guideline and adjust it to how your exchange university responds. Remember that all university response times are different so don't panic if you don't match up with the timeline or your friends have already received information from their university.

TIMELINE FOR USA PREPARATIONS
Date What to do

Oct-Nov Do lots of research so you can chose the right university for you. This is very important; the more you do the happier you'll feel!

Dec Hand in your choices

Jan Get selection back

Feb
Fill in the application for the university that has been selected and apply.
Remember that your application still has to go through the administration at your exchange university. However it is most likely a formality, you just have not been officially accepted yet.
Make sure you have included all that the university asks you for or they will not be able to give you your IAP-66 or I20, so you can get your visa.
Make sure you make at least 2 photocopies of all the documents you send and receive.

March
This is a time where you will have to wait to hear from the exchange university, don't expect anything till after Easter.
Whilst you're waiting phone up your LEA and find out your benefits (such as reimbursement for plane tickets and health insurance). You'll have to get your exchange supervisor to send a letter to show that this is a compulsory part of your course to your LEA and everytime you phone up they will ask you this. Stay in touch with your LEA and phone them if you have any queries

April Although you can't apply for your visa until you get a reply from your exchange university you can gather all the information that will be needed. You can send off for the visa application form from the American Embassy. You are most likely to need the following:
Passport photo.
Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date from the USA.
Get the necessary financial statements to show you can support yourself (the amount differs depending on your exchange university).
Get proof from your university that you will be returning for a 4th year.
When you receive your pack from the university send off your visa form. Make sure you have all they request, have filled everything in and get someone else to check it all for you. If you have missed something on your application the Embassy will just leave your form. It will probably take around 2 weeks to be returned.

May In your exchange university pack they will have sent you a medical form to be filled in, you should get this done straight away, as it takes a long time to get it all sorted (over 1 month). Here are some hopefully helpful hints:
Phone your doctor straight away to make an appointment.
Make sure you agree a price before you have the medical (£12 to £40). It will vary depending on your GP.
If you are using your GP at university make sure they have your immunization history.
If you wear glasses you will need to take them to the medical.
Your exchange university will most likely request a TB test, this means that your GP will need to send a referral letter to your local Chest Clinic. Here you will be tested for TB, if it comes up positive then your exchange university will most likely request a chest X-ray (if you had a TB injection in secondary school then it will come up positive). This process can most likely take over a month.
Book a plane ticket:
Get a student ticket as this will allow you to change the date that you want to return to the UK.
Keep your receipts you'll need it to claim from your LEA

June
You'll probably be receiving your accommodation information around now. Choose what you want and then send it off straight away, don't forget to enclose a deposit if they want one (currency in dollars). We recommend that you stay in the university accommodation over orientation.
If you are going with a friend and want to live off campus, then plan ahead. Contact the university to get websites to look at and arrive a few days in advance.
Book a hotel to stay in if necessary.

July-August
Sort out your insurance if you need any.
Have a relaxing holiday and spend time with your family and friends.
Get some money exchanged. We recommend that you get some cash, but have it mostly in travellers cheques.
When you are packing put a folder with the duplication of all your documents in your suitcase and keep the originals to use in your rucksack (you will need your I-20/IAP-66 at check-in and customs, so keep it with your passport).
Plan on getting to the airport with lots of time, so you don't feel rushed and you can say good-bye properly.

**TIMELINE FOR USA PREPARATIONS**
Date	What to do
Oct-Nov	Do lots of research so you can chose the right university for you. This is very important; the more you do the happier you'll feel!
Dec	Hand in your choices
Jan	Get selection back
Feb	Fill in the application for the university that has been selected and apply. Remember that your application still has to go through the administration at your exchange university. However it is most likely a formality, you just have not been officially accepted yet. Make sure you have included all that the university asks you for or they will not be able to give you your IAP-66 or I20, so you can get your visa. Make sure you make at least 2 photocopies of all the documents you send and receive.
March	This is a time where you will have to wait to hear from the exchange university, don't expect anything till after Easter. Whilst you're waiting phone up your LEA and find out your benefits (such as reimbursement for plane tickets and health insurance). You'll have to get your exchange supervisor to send a letter to show that this is a compulsory part of your course to your LEA and everytime you phone up they will ask you this. Stay in touch with your LEA and phone them if you have any queries
April	Although you can't apply for your visa until you get a reply from your exchange university you can gather all the information that will be needed. You can send off for the visa application form from the American Embassy. You are most likely to need the following: Passport photo. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months after your return date from the USA. Get the necessary financial statements to show you can support yourself (the amount differs depending on your exchange university). Get proof from your university that you will be returning for a 4th year. When you receive your pack from the university send off your visa form. Make sure you have all they request, have filled everything in and get someone else to check it all for you. If you have missed something on your application the Embassy will just leave your form. It will probably take around 2 weeks to be returned.
May	In your exchange university pack they will have sent you a medical form to be filled in, you should get this done straight away, as it takes a long time to get it all sorted (over 1 month). Here are some hopefully helpful hints: Phone your doctor straight away to make an appointment. Make sure you agree a price before you have the medical (£12 to £40). It will vary depending on your GP. If you are using your GP at university make sure they have your immunization history. If you wear glasses you will need to take them to the medical. Your exchange university will most likely request a TB test, this means that your GP will need to send a referral letter to your local Chest Clinic. Here you will be tested for TB, if it comes up positive then your exchange university will most likely request a chest X-ray (if you had a TB injection in secondary school then it will come up positive). This process can most likely take over a month. Book a plane ticket: Get a student ticket as this will allow you to change the date that you want to return to the UK. Keep your receipts you'll need it to claim from your LEA
June	You'll probably be receiving your accommodation information around now. Choose what you want and then send it off straight away, don't forget to enclose a deposit if they want one (currency in dollars). We recommend that you stay in the university accommodation over orientation. If you are going with a friend and want to live off campus, then plan ahead. Contact the university to get websites to look at and arrive a few days in advance. Book a hotel to stay in if necessary.
July-August	Sort out your insurance if you need any. Have a relaxing holiday and spend time with your family and friends. Get some money exchanged. We recommend that you get some cash, but have it mostly in travellers cheques. When you are packing put a folder with the duplication of all your documents in your suitcase and keep the originals to use in your rucksack (you will need your I-20/IAP-66 at check-in and customs, so keep it with your passport). Plan on getting to the airport with lots of time, so you don't feel rushed and you can say good-bye properly.

Generally helpful hints

Make use of the booklet you will most likely receive from your exchange supervisor called "A Few Things You Should Know Before You Go".
Make copies of everything and organise them into files. This will make life much easier.
When doing your research try and get as many perspectives as possible, because opinions are subjective and will therefore vary.
Give a parent/guardian a copy of your file to keep in the UK and go through it with them before you leave. If there are any problems while your away then it will be easier for them to sort out.
Have a parent/guardian fill in a 'third party mandate' on your bank accounts. This will enable them to change anything that is necessary with your accounts.
Set up internet banking, then you can access your accounts over the internet when you're in the USA.
Get a visa/mastercard, so you don't have to bother opening an account in USA.
Do things as they arrive. It is best to get everything sorted, even if you feel fed up with it all.
Use all aides that are available to you. This could be materials, supervisors in the UK or people in the International Office in you host university.
Don't feel a pain if you are constantly sending the International Office e-mails to ask questions. They are there to help and when you meet them when you arrive in the US they are really glad to put a face to the name and get to know you.
Keep your parents involved with all that you are doing. It may not help you, but it helps them to adjust to what is happening.

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