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STUFF TO GET:

Use the following information only as reference for the stuff you need to get. Other stuff about visa etc is 3 years old so wont hold true since things have changed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Utensils ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big pressure pan (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets) [note: big pressure cooker may not be needed as rice cooker can be bought in the US]. A big pressure cooker costs about $50. Get some stacking containers. You don't get them here and they are pretty handy when you're short of refrigerator space and also to cook for 2-3 meals at a time. Get one or two China plates(not the unbreakable kind). You'll be using microwave ovens all the time here to warm up food, and you can't use metal plates in them. Unbreakable plates too have a tendency to heat up and are unsuitable. Plates cost ~$2 upwards per piece here. Get a China bowl (It should be big enough to hold about 2 cups of water. Most people here have cereals (corn flakes and similar stuff) for breakfast(its the fastest thing you can make) and you'll need a bowl for that. Tongs Cutting board, Utensil holder (tongs), strainer. Small bowls Rolling pin Knife, 2 each of teaspoons, Tablespoons, forks. Katoris (or bowls) Cook book - e.g. "Cook & See" by Meenakshi Ammal Note: no other vessels needed. No tumblers needed and they cost a dollar each. A serving spoon costs $4. Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to your Univ. Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the US. and you can buy a full set. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 Clothes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Functionality seems to be the primary feature of clothes worn here. As such clothing patterns seem to vary drastically with the changing seasons. You'll be coming in fall when it'll be reasonably warm.It is suggested that you get a couple of jeans and some Tee shirts and cotton half-sleeved shirts. Jeans here cost $12 to $25(You can get Wrangler for ~ $17), which is not too different from Indian prices. Tee shirts can be got for $7 to $20. Cotton shirts cost $10 to $25. As prices are pretty much similar I guess you could decide how much to bring depending on how much space you have. Usually clothes are machine washed once a week (laundramat) - hence one week supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed. Get all clothes little loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash or may some times even tear & you will probably grow fatter. 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs, gloves. 5 sets of good shirts, pants - People generally don't wear terricot pants or shirts here. Suit : Opinion defers in this. Generally not required even for the occassional parties that one may be invited to in the initial weeks. But then if one plans for a job after an MS it may be required for a job interview. May be buying one out in India may save u some cash out there. It may cost about $80 to $130 in the US of A. A good swimming trunk + few shorts - Shorts(till the knee) are very popular(almost no one wears long jeans in summer. They cost approx $10 to $20 here. o a tie + 1-2 belts 3-6 ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking) A bedsheet - Bed Sheets can be got for $3 to $20 per pair(along with pillow covers etc) Blankets (called comforters here) cost around $30-$50 and are of very high quality. They are very soft and thick. You won't need any warm blankets as you'll always have heating in your house and you'll never feel cold even in the dead of winter. You can get a pillow here for $2.5 upwards. When you go to buy a pillow after you get here, be sure to look hard enough for the usual sized pillow. You'll find lots of very tiny colorful ones and might be led to belief that they are the only ones available. Lungies/dhotis/pajamas - You can good stuff here for ~$30. They resemble tracksuits. Thermal underwear (2-4) Extra woollen sweaters - Sweaters can be got very cheap at times even at $2 a piece. This is definately a thing to buy here especially as it won't be cold when you get here. 2 large size suitcases (do not go for the very costly ones), Rs. 1200-1400 OK. In fact you can replace one of these with a soft one which will be much cheaper. 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 laundary later) Heavy jackets are best bought out in the US of A costing about $40 to $60. Sleeveless woollen sweaters are enough for warm places Woollen socks not recommended if not going to a cold place - Good cotton socks are about a dollar a pair. They are thick and preventshoes from getting smelly. o second hand alarm clocks are cheap in 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 take raincoats Don't buy purse (wallet for carrying cards can be bought in US) Clothes hangers (you might get a couple for starters, but they are of a different size here) Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US). For some weather conditions Indian leather shoes may crack. A good pair of sports shoes is a must. Power joggers is a good choice. Things like laces, polish are also easily got out there in the US. On can buy a pair of hawaii chappals while in India. Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the stuff listed above - most of them are available pretty cheap in the US (made in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a month or two you will be in a position to get anything you want (unless you are not on aid) Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 6 Medicines ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Crocin tablets - 3 strips For fever, bodyaches, headache One tablet three times a day as necessary Erythrocin 500mg tablets - 2 strips One tablet twice 1 Things to do First ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1) Send acceptance letter by e-mail, air-mail/speed-post, fax, phone - as many modes as possible! 2) You may defer your enrollment to some univs - like stanfi - you may consider re-newing your app to some univ after a sem in some univ. 3) Pay your April mess bill 4)Collect "No Dues" form from Acad. Section and Dept. Get the form signed by the Authorities. 5) (i)Application for "Provisional Certificate" : Submit a copy of (4) and an application stating your request. (ii)Apply for the "complete" Transcript from Acad Office (Convo. may be in July). (iii) Inform all concerned of your permanent address : (Hostel office, department, Post Office, friends ...) 6) Close your Bank A/c Give written application to bank manager. 7) Return all borrowed material & take back all things thatyou lent out. 8) Bump any jobs you may have got. Prepare a good GPL letter and inform them atleast (for the good of the Guys next year). Top --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Travel Booking --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next thing to do is blocking tickets (this implies no financial commitment). You can do this as early as April. This can be done via travel agents. Make sure the Travel Agent is good. Block flights with many airlines/agencies. Put pressure on the agencies and get as much info as possible. Much before the flight call the airlines themselves and confirm your ticket. Indicate whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), non-smoking section, etc. Cross-check everything the travel agent says. Some airlines offer Frequent Flier programs (e.g. Air France, TWA) [i.e. after a certain # of miles of flying with that airline you get a free ticket]. Enroll in such programs. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is the best. 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 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) Do not trust an Indian Airlines connecting flight (in case you use IA allow atleast a day) Many airlines offer Student concessions, for example AI and BA. Check out for them. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 3 Visa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ 3.1 Visa Know-How...Read what the US Consulate has to say about it ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ GETTING A VISA The USA issues different types of visas to temporary visitors, including students. As a full-time student, you would receive an F-1 or M-1 visa. Your spouse and children would receive F-2 or M-2 visas. As an Exchange Visitor, you would receive a J-1 visa. Exchange Visitors come to the USA for consultation, specialized training, research, or teaching. After a college, university, or English language school has accepted you for admission to full-time study, the school will send you a document called an I-20 form, for an F-1 visa. If you will be an Exchange Visitor, the organization or US Government agency that is sponsoring you will send you an IAP-66 form for a J-1 visa. The M visa is for students at technical schools. If you enter the USA on an M visa and then decide to study at a college, university, or English school, you will not be able to change your M visa to an F visa.. However, you can enter the USA on an F visa and later change this visa to an M visa if you transfer to a technical school. If you will be studying English before entering college or university, your government and the US Embassy or Consulate may require you to have a "conditional acceptance" from the college or university you ultimately wish to attend after your English study. Your conditional acceptance letter will promise you admission at a later date, if you satisfactorily complete the English language course. You also will need an I-20 from your English language school. Where to Go After you have received your I-20 form or IAP-66 form, take the form along with your passport to a US Embassy or Consular official in charge of non-immigrant visas. You will also need to show that you have financial support for the entire time you plan to study in the USA Get an "Affidavit of Support" form from the US Embassy or Consulate. Complete this form with information about your sources of financing, and submit the form along with your other documents. The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will expect you to study at the school that is named on your I-20 form. If you decide to go to a different school, you will need a new I-20 from the school which you will be attending, and you should see the US visa officer before you leave home. Once you arrive in the USA, you may transfer to a different school with permission from INS. You will also need an I-20 form from your new school if you transfer. After You Finish If you have an F or M visa, after you finish your studies, either you must leave the USA, get permission for practical training or apply for a different type of visa. If you have an F visa, you may apply to stay in the USA up to one year for practical training directly related to your field of study after you finish your studies if you have been an F-1 student for nine months. A student in an ESL program is not eligible for practical training, although the time spent as an F-1 student studying English can count toward the nine month requirement if the student later switches to a full-time course of academic study at another school. The INS may authorize students with M-1 visas to stay for up to one month or practical training for every four months of study, not to exceed six months. Your school would recommend you for this training if you could not get the same experience at home. If you are an Exchange Visitor and you must be trained to complete your program, if that training is not available in your home country, you may be permitted to stay in the USA for this training for up to 18 months after you finish your studies. Your sponsor must approve this training. If your Exchange Visitor Program is financed by a US government agency or by your country's government, or if you have acquired skills that are listed as needed in your home country, such as graduate medical education or training, you will be required to return to your country for at least two years after you finish the Exchange Visitor program. For more information about getting a visa, please visit the United States Department of State, Visa Services home page. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- TIPS FOR U.S. VISAS: Foreign Students ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies. BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS IMPORTANT INFORMATION Changes in U.S. immigration law, effective November 30, 1996, require that no alien may be issued an F-1 visa to attend a U.S. public elementary or middle school (K-8). Any alien who wishes to attend public high school (grades 9-12) in the United States in student visa (F-1) status must submit evidence that the local school district has been reimbursed in advance for the unsubsidized per capita cost of the education. Also, attendance at U.S. public high schools cannot exceed a total of 12 months. Please note that these changes do not affect other visa categories such as the J-1 exchange visitor program or the qualified school-age child of an alien who holds another type of nonimmigrant visa (i.e., A, E, H, I, L, etc.). No alien may be issued an F-1 visa in order to attend a publicly-funded adult education program. Scholastic Preparation The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. The student, unless coming to participate exclusively in an English language training program, must either be sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school must have made special arrangements for English language courses or teach the course in the student's native language. Financial Resources Applicants must also prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from an identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, applicants must prove they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. The M-1 student visa applicants must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of intended stay. Acceptance Form An applicant coming to the United States to study must be accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The institution must send to the applicant a Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students. The nonacademic or vocational institution must send to the student a Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status For Vocational Students. Educational institutions obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N from the INS. VISA INELIGIBILITY / WAIVER The nonimmigrant visa application Form OF-156 lists classes of persons who are ineligible under U.S. law to receive visas. In some instances an applicant who is ineligible, but who is otherwise properly classifiable as a student, may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and be issued a visa if the waiver is approved. APPLYING FOR A STUDENT VISA Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. Required Documentation Each applicant for a student visa must pay a nonrefundable US$45 application fee and submit: 1) An application Form OF-156, completed and signed. Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices; 2) A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application; 3) One photograph 1 and 1/2 inches square (37x37mm) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background; and 4) For the "F" applicant, a Form I-20A-B. For the "M" applicant, a Form I-20M-N. 5) Evidence of sufficient funds. Other Documentation Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly. U.S. PORT OF ENTRY Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The INS has authority to deny admission. Also, the period for which the bearer of a student visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the INS, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, an INS official validates Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Employment An F-1 student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study; however, the INS may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year. F-1 students may accept on-campus employment from the school without INS permission. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 student may not accept employment. Family Members A spouse and unmarried, minor children may also be classified for a nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the student. Family members must meet all visa eligibility requirements, including evidence that they will have sufficient funds for their support, and that they will depart the U.S. when the student's program ends. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time. FURTHER INQUIRIES Questions on how to obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N should be made to the educational institution. If the institution does not have the forms, it needs to contact the local INS office. Questions on visa application procedures at the American consular offices abroad should be addressed to that consular office by the applicant. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Services February 1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.2 Thing to take to Consul Office --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following materials must be presented to the Consular office by you at the time you apply for VISA 1. Form I-20 or IAP-66 (obtained directly from the University you will attend). Do not forget to sign the I-20 and also write your name and date. Also take your copy of the admission letter. 2. VISA application form (available at the consulate) 3. One passport size photographs (Stick to their specifications) 4. A valid passport 5. Evidence of financial support - If you have aid from the university, just keep a proof of amount which you will need to fly and initial settlements. For this, a bank statement stating that the person who is financing you has got around Rs. 60-70 thousand in the account will do. 6. GRE and TOEFL score originals, degree certificates, all gradecards and other academic records from your undergraduate education as well as state board examination certificates. DO NOT CARRY ANY BAG OTHER THAN THE FILE OR FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS. UNLESS SOMEONE TAKES CARE OF THE BAG, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE CONSULATE. 7. If the token system is going on, make sure that you have a token of a sufficiently advance date. You will have to go many days in advance to get the token if it is a peak season. 8. Make sure you carry the VISA fee amount in Demand Drafts only. Presently you need to have two DDs worth Rs. 2025 and Rs 3375. 9. Photocopy of documents is actually not necessary, but in any case take one for your records. 10. Take some glue or a stapler to stick the photo. If Financial assistance has been awarded by the University, please enclose letter from the University to that effect. If your sponsor is in India you will need the following documents: a) RBI Clearance b) Sponsor's bank account statement showing funds for the 1st year of study covering expenses shown on the I20 c) Affidavit of support on stamped paper and notorized from your sponsor for the entire duration of stay in the US d) Verification of financial resources by Certified Chartered Accountant If the sponsor is in the US the following documents must be provided: a) I-134 (available at INS offices in the US) b) Bank account statement of your sponsor c) Salary statement If the sponsor is outside India & US the following documents have to be submitted: a) Affidavit of support of your sponsor b) Bank account statement of your sponsor showing funds for the entire period of study c) Salary statement You may apply for the visa within 90 days prior to the reporting date mentioned on the I-20. Thus if the reporting date shown on the form I-20 is September 5, you may apply for your visa between June 5 and Spetember 5. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.3 Getting the Visa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out which days F1 visa is not issued. For example in Calcutta during my time (2000) F1 was not issued on Wednesdays. Also check out for the days on which the consulate is closed. For students with full financial aid this is no problem at all. Even then these tips will make it all the more peaceful. When you go for the visa dress decently. Avoid any Americanisms. A touch of Indianism helps a lot (e.g. a streak of "Vibuthi" on the forehead). Speak slowly and clearly. Don't appear tense and don't look desperate. Showing self-confidence helps. Go along with a friend having a vehicle (just in case you have to go & get something) They should never feel that you will have any sort of difficulty - language, finance, racial, religious, etc. You should be able to convince them that you will come back to India. If they ask you, points in favor are : a) only child, b) immovable property in India (can take a proof document), c) orthodox family, d) brought up in rural atmosphere, e) lots of relatives in India; none abroad, f) mom, dad won't come to USA, g) field of interest not available in India, h) change of field not possible in India, i) interest in teaching - get PhD fast. Actually all this won't be required - just in case they decide to have an interview with you these tips will come in handy. o Suggested ideal timings for getting the visa : Bombay: to apply - 9:45 to 10:00 A.M. to collect - 4:45 to 5:00 P.M. Calcutta: to apply - 5:30 to 11:00 A.M to collect - 4:00 to 4:50 P.M. Do not go at 5:00 A.M. in the morning & wait (applicable for Bombay only) Go sometime before and get the visa form available in places like Thomas Cook, etc(you can take the filled form). Do not worry if you cant get hold of one. You can get one at the Consulate itself and peacefully fill it there itself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 3.4 Visa questions: What you _CAN_NOT_ say.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Normally IITians are not asked questions (really?), just in case.... the questions are: what is the purpose of your visit, what univ are you admitted, why specifically you choose this uni. what are your toefl / gre scores, how you will fund yourself, what does your parents do, (this directly affects your funding scenario, your future after your graduate studies..) what do you wish to do after getting your degree in U.S. You may not say I love my country ( even if you do, they don't :-) You may not say India has ample opportunities after open economy, so I will come back and take a job ( too common) You may not say I will stay in US and take up a job (too bad!) You may not say I will become a Prof in US ( dogs are not allowed!!) You may not say i will come back and make robots ( they know robots dont sell in india!) You may not say I will spin-off a start-up in India ( you need money for that.. to get that money, you will work in US, too bad.. ) You may not say I am the ONLY son of my parents.. They might ask what your siblings do.. You can say I want to become a Prof in an Indian Uni.. Even if your parents may not be in the same business.. I do not find an easy solution to that.. Anyway, that should not be the biggest problem, just be *NORMAL* and answer what they ask.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 3.5 Emigration Clearance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Get this after the visa You can get this from a venue other than the place of issue of the passport - by showing that your place of residence falls in the jurisdiction of that passport office (It might take some time, and pain) Anything to do with the Passport Office can & usually will involve a LOT of time & pain Take the following things with you - a)Passport b) ECNR (Emigration Clearance Not Required) form - get it from your travel agent, avoid queue at passport office c) Original of the Provisional Certificate (PC) - to show d) Xerox copy of the PC. e) Take the copy of Degree in case u have it and also copies of last three year grade cards. Procedure in brief : At one counter show the filled form & get a slip; go inside and show your documents at the checking counter; pay Rs.20(check the right amount in your time) at the cash counter; collect passport next day with ECNR stamp. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Utensils ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big pressure pan (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets) [note: big pressure cooker may not be needed as rice cooker can be bought in the US]. A big pressure cooker costs about $50. Get some stacking containers. You don't get them here and they are pretty handy when you're short of refrigerator space and also to cook for 2-3 meals at a time. Get one or two China plates(not the unbreakable kind). You'll be using microwave ovens all the time here to warm up food, and you can't use metal plates in them. Unbreakable plates too have a tendency to heat up and are unsuitable. Plates cost ~$2 upwards per piece here. Get a China bowl (It should be big enough to hold about 2 cups of water. Most people here have cereals (corn flakes and similar stuff) for breakfast(its the fastest thing you can make) and you'll need a bowl for that. Tongs Cutting board, Utensil holder (tongs), strainer. Small bowls Rolling pin Knife, 2 each of teaspoons, Tablespoons, forks. Katoris (or bowls) Cook book - e.g. "Cook & See" by Meenakshi Ammal Note: no other vessels needed. No tumblers needed and they cost a dollar each. A serving spoon costs $4. Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to your Univ. Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the US. and you can buy a full set. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 Clothes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Functionality seems to be the primary feature of clothes worn here. As such clothing patterns seem to vary drastically with the changing seasons. You'll be coming in fall when it'll be reasonably warm.It is suggested that you get a couple of jeans and some Tee shirts and cotton half-sleeved shirts. Jeans here cost $12 to $25(You can get Wrangler for ~ $17), which is not too different from Indian prices. Tee shirts can be got for $7 to $20. Cotton shirts cost $10 to $25. As prices are pretty much similar I guess you could decide how much to bring depending on how much space you have. Usually clothes are machine washed once a week (laundramat) - hence one week supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed. Get all clothes little loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash or may some times even tear & you will probably grow fatter. 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs, gloves. 5 sets of good shirts, pants - People generally don't wear terricot pants or shirts here. Suit : Opinion defers in this. Generally not required even for the occassional parties that one may be invited to in the initial weeks. But then if one plans for a job after an MS it may be required for a job interview. May be buying one out in India may save u some cash out there. It may cost about $80 to $130 in the US of A. A good swimming trunk + few shorts - Shorts(till the knee) are very popular(almost no one wears long jeans in summer. They cost approx $10 to $20 here. o a tie + 1-2 belts 3-6 ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking) A bedsheet - Bed Sheets can be got for $3 to $20 per pair(along with pillow covers etc) Blankets (called comforters here) cost around $30-$50 and are of very high quality. They are very soft and thick. You won't need any warm blankets as you'll always have heating in your house and you'll never feel cold even in the dead of winter. You can get a pillow here for $2.5 upwards. When you go to buy a pillow after you get here, be sure to look hard enough for the usual sized pillow. You'll find lots of very tiny colorful ones and might be led to belief that they are the only ones available. Lungies/dhotis/pajamas - You can good stuff here for ~$30. They resemble tracksuits. Thermal underwear (2-4) Extra woollen sweaters - Sweaters can be got very cheap at times even at $2 a piece. This is definately a thing to buy here especially as it won't be cold when you get here. 2 large size suitcases (do not go for the very costly ones), Rs. 1200-1400 OK. In fact you can replace one of these with a soft one which will be much cheaper. 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 laundary later) Heavy jackets are best bought out in the US of A costing about $40 to $60. Sleeveless woollen sweaters are enough for warm places Woollen socks not recommended if not going to a cold place - Good cotton socks are about a dollar a pair. They are thick and preventshoes from getting smelly. o second hand alarm clocks are cheap in 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 take raincoats Don't buy purse (wallet for carrying cards can be bought in US) Clothes hangers (you might get a couple for starters, but they are of a different size here) Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US). For some weather conditions Indian leather shoes may crack. A good pair of sports shoes is a must. Power joggers is a good choice. Things like laces, polish are also easily got out there in the US. On can buy a pair of hawaii chappals while in India. Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the stuff listed above - most of them are available pretty cheap in the US (made in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a month or two you will be in a position to get anything you want (unless you are not on aid) Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 6 Medicines ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Crocin tablets - 3 strips For fever, bodyaches, headache One tablet three times a day as necessary Erythrocin 500mg tablets - 2 strips One tablet twice 1 Things to do First ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1) Send acceptance letter by e-mail, air-mail/speed-post, fax, phone - as many modes as possible! 2) You may defer your enrollment to some univs - like stanfi - you may consider re-newing your app to some univ after a sem in some univ. 3) Pay your April mess bill 4)Collect "No Dues" form from Acad. Section and Dept. Get the form signed by the Authorities. 5) (i)Application for "Provisional Certificate" : Submit a copy of (4) and an application stating your request. (ii)Apply for the "complete" Transcript from Acad Office (Convo. may be in July). (iii) Inform all concerned of your permanent address : (Hostel office, department, Post Office, friends ...) 6) Close your Bank A/c Give written application to bank manager. 7) Return all borrowed material & take back all things thatyou lent out. 8) Bump any jobs you may have got. Prepare a good GPL letter and inform them atleast (for the good of the Guys next year). Top --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Travel Booking --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next thing to do is blocking tickets (this implies no financial commitment). You can do this as early as April. This can be done via travel agents. Make sure the Travel Agent is good. Block flights with many airlines/agencies. Put pressure on the agencies and get as much info as possible. Much before the flight call the airlines themselves and confirm your ticket. Indicate whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), non-smoking section, etc. Cross-check everything the travel agent says. Some airlines offer Frequent Flier programs (e.g. Air France, TWA) [i.e. after a certain # of miles of flying with that airline you get a free ticket]. Enroll in such programs. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is the best. 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 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) Do not trust an Indian Airlines connecting flight (in case you use IA allow atleast a day) Many airlines offer Student concessions, for example AI and BA. Check out for them. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 3 Visa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ 3.1 Visa Know-How...Read what the US Consulate has to say about it ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ GETTING A VISA The USA issues different types of visas to temporary visitors, including students. As a full-time student, you would receive an F-1 or M-1 visa. Your spouse and children would receive F-2 or M-2 visas. As an Exchange Visitor, you would receive a J-1 visa. Exchange Visitors come to the USA for consultation, specialized training, research, or teaching. After a college, university, or English language school has accepted you for admission to full-time study, the school will send you a document called an I-20 form, for an F-1 visa. If you will be an Exchange Visitor, the organization or US Government agency that is sponsoring you will send you an IAP-66 form for a J-1 visa. The M visa is for students at technical schools. If you enter the USA on an M visa and then decide to study at a college, university, or English school, you will not be able to change your M visa to an F visa.. However, you can enter the USA on an F visa and later change this visa to an M visa if you transfer to a technical school. If you will be studying English before entering college or university, your government and the US Embassy or Consulate may require you to have a "conditional acceptance" from the college or university you ultimately wish to attend after your English study. Your conditional acceptance letter will promise you admission at a later date, if you satisfactorily complete the English language course. You also will need an I-20 from your English language school. Where to Go After you have received your I-20 form or IAP-66 form, take the form along with your passport to a US Embassy or Consular official in charge of non-immigrant visas. You will also need to show that you have financial support for the entire time you plan to study in the USA Get an "Affidavit of Support" form from the US Embassy or Consulate. Complete this form with information about your sources of financing, and submit the form along with your other documents. The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will expect you to study at the school that is named on your I-20 form. If you decide to go to a different school, you will need a new I-20 from the school which you will be attending, and you should see the US visa officer before you leave home. Once you arrive in the USA, you may transfer to a different school with permission from INS. You will also need an I-20 form from your new school if you transfer. After You Finish If you have an F or M visa, after you finish your studies, either you must leave the USA, get permission for practical training or apply for a different type of visa. If you have an F visa, you may apply to stay in the USA up to one year for practical training directly related to your field of study after you finish your studies if you have been an F-1 student for nine months. A student in an ESL program is not eligible for practical training, although the time spent as an F-1 student studying English can count toward the nine month requirement if the student later switches to a full-time course of academic study at another school. The INS may authorize students with M-1 visas to stay for up to one month or practical training for every four months of study, not to exceed six months. Your school would recommend you for this training if you could not get the same experience at home. If you are an Exchange Visitor and you must be trained to complete your program, if that training is not available in your home country, you may be permitted to stay in the USA for this training for up to 18 months after you finish your studies. Your sponsor must approve this training. If your Exchange Visitor Program is financed by a US government agency or by your country's government, or if you have acquired skills that are listed as needed in your home country, such as graduate medical education or training, you will be required to return to your country for at least two years after you finish the Exchange Visitor program. For more information about getting a visa, please visit the United States Department of State, Visa Services home page. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- TIPS FOR U.S. VISAS: Foreign Students ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies. BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS IMPORTANT INFORMATION Changes in U.S. immigration law, effective November 30, 1996, require that no alien may be issued an F-1 visa to attend a U.S. public elementary or middle school (K-8). Any alien who wishes to attend public high school (grades 9-12) in the United States in student visa (F-1) status must submit evidence that the local school district has been reimbursed in advance for the unsubsidized per capita cost of the education. Also, attendance at U.S. public high schools cannot exceed a total of 12 months. Please note that these changes do not affect other visa categories such as the J-1 exchange visitor program or the qualified school-age child of an alien who holds another type of nonimmigrant visa (i.e., A, E, H, I, L, etc.). No alien may be issued an F-1 visa in order to attend a publicly-funded adult education program. Scholastic Preparation The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. The student, unless coming to participate exclusively in an English language training program, must either be sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school must have made special arrangements for English language courses or teach the course in the student's native language. Financial Resources Applicants must also prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from an identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, applicants must prove they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. The M-1 student visa applicants must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of intended stay. Acceptance Form An applicant coming to the United States to study must be accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The institution must send to the applicant a Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students. The nonacademic or vocational institution must send to the student a Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status For Vocational Students. Educational institutions obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N from the INS. VISA INELIGIBILITY / WAIVER The nonimmigrant visa application Form OF-156 lists classes of persons who are ineligible under U.S. law to receive visas. In some instances an applicant who is ineligible, but who is otherwise properly classifiable as a student, may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and be issued a visa if the waiver is approved. APPLYING FOR A STUDENT VISA Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. Required Documentation Each applicant for a student visa must pay a nonrefundable US$45 application fee and submit: 1) An application Form OF-156, completed and signed. Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices; 2) A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application; 3) One photograph 1 and 1/2 inches square (37x37mm) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background; and 4) For the "F" applicant, a Form I-20A-B. For the "M" applicant, a Form I-20M-N. 5) Evidence of sufficient funds. Other Documentation Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly. U.S. PORT OF ENTRY Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The INS has authority to deny admission. Also, the period for which the bearer of a student visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the INS, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, an INS official validates Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Employment An F-1 student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study; however, the INS may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year. F-1 students may accept on-campus employment from the school without INS permission. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 student may not accept employment. Family Members A spouse and unmarried, minor children may also be classified for a nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the student. Family members must meet all visa eligibility requirements, including evidence that they will have sufficient funds for their support, and that they will depart the U.S. when the student's program ends. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time. FURTHER INQUIRIES Questions on how to obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N should be made to the educational institution. If the institution does not have the forms, it needs to contact the local INS office. Questions on visa application procedures at the American consular offices abroad should be addressed to that consular office by the applicant. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Services February 1998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.2 Thing to take to Consul Office --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following materials must be presented to the Consular office by you at the time you apply for VISA 1. Form I-20 or IAP-66 (obtained directly from the University you will attend). Do not forget to sign the I-20 and also write your name and date. Also take your copy of the admission letter. 2. VISA application form (available at the consulate) 3. One passport size photographs (Stick to their specifications) 4. A valid passport 5. Evidence of financial support - If you have aid from the university, just keep a proof of amount which you will need to fly and initial settlements. For this, a bank statement stating that the person who is financing you has got around Rs. 60-70 thousand in the account will do. 6. GRE and TOEFL score originals, degree certificates, all gradecards and other academic records from your undergraduate education as well as state board examination certificates. DO NOT CARRY ANY BAG OTHER THAN THE FILE OR FOLDER OF DOCUMENTS. UNLESS SOMEONE TAKES CARE OF THE BAG, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE CONSULATE. 7. If the token system is going on, make sure that you have a token of a sufficiently advance date. You will have to go many days in advance to get the token if it is a peak season. 8. Make sure you carry the VISA fee amount in Demand Drafts only. Presently you need to have two DDs worth Rs. 2025 and Rs 3375. 9. Photocopy of documents is actually not necessary, but in any case take one for your records. 10. Take some glue or a stapler to stick the photo. If Financial assistance has been awarded by the University, please enclose letter from the University to that effect. If your sponsor is in India you will need the following documents: a) RBI Clearance b) Sponsor's bank account statement showing funds for the 1st year of study covering expenses shown on the I20 c) Affidavit of support on stamped paper and notorized from your sponsor for the entire duration of stay in the US d) Verification of financial resources by Certified Chartered Accountant If the sponsor is in the US the following documents must be provided: a) I-134 (available at INS offices in the US) b) Bank account statement of your sponsor c) Salary statement If the sponsor is outside India & US the following documents have to be submitted: a) Affidavit of support of your sponsor b) Bank account statement of your sponsor showing funds for the entire period of study c) Salary statement You may apply for the visa within 90 days prior to the reporting date mentioned on the I-20. Thus if the reporting date shown on the form I-20 is September 5, you may apply for your visa between June 5 and Spetember 5. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.3 Getting the Visa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out which days F1 visa is not issued. For example in Calcutta during my time (2000) F1 was not issued on Wednesdays. Also check out for the days on which the consulate is closed. For students with full financial aid this is no problem at all. Even then these tips will make it all the more peaceful. When you go for the visa dress decently. Avoid any Americanisms. A touch of Indianism helps a lot (e.g. a streak of "Vibuthi" on the forehead). Speak slowly and clearly. Don't appear tense and don't look desperate. Showing self-confidence helps. Go along with a friend having a vehicle (just in case you have to go & get something) They should never feel that you will have any sort of difficulty - language, finance, racial, religious, etc. You should be able to convince them that you will come back to India. If they ask you, points in favor are : a) only child, b) immovable property in India (can take a proof document), c) orthodox family, d) brought up in rural atmosphere, e) lots of relatives in India; none abroad, f) mom, dad won't come to USA, g) field of interest not available in India, h) change of field not possible in India, i) interest in teaching - get PhD fast. Actually all this won't be required - just in case they decide to have an interview with you these tips will come in handy. o Suggested ideal timings for getting the visa : Bombay: to apply - 9:45 to 10:00 A.M. to collect - 4:45 to 5:00 P.M. Calcutta: to apply - 5:30 to 11:00 A.M to collect - 4:00 to 4:50 P.M. Do not go at 5:00 A.M. in the morning & wait (applicable for Bombay only) Go sometime before and get the visa form available in places like Thomas Cook, etc(you can take the filled form). Do not worry if you cant get hold of one. You can get one at the Consulate itself and peacefully fill it there itself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 3.4 Visa questions: What you _CAN_NOT_ say.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Normally IITians are not asked questions (really?), just in case.... the questions are: what is the purpose of your visit, what univ are you admitted, why specifically you choose this uni. what are your toefl / gre scores, how you will fund yourself, what does your parents do, (this directly affects your funding scenario, your future after your graduate studies..) what do you wish to do after getting your degree in U.S. You may not say I love my country ( even if you do, they don't :-) You may not say India has ample opportunities after open economy, so I will come back and take a job ( too common) You may not say I will stay in US and take up a job (too bad!) You may not say I will become a Prof in US ( dogs are not allowed!!) You may not say i will come back and make robots ( they know robots dont sell in india!) You may not say I will spin-off a start-up in India ( you need money for that.. to get that money, you will work in US, too bad.. ) You may not say I am the ONLY son of my parents.. They might ask what your siblings do.. You can say I want to become a Prof in an Indian Uni.. Even if your parents may not be in the same business.. I do not find an easy solution to that.. Anyway, that should not be the biggest problem, just be *NORMAL* and answer what they ask.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 3.5 Emigration Clearance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Get this after the visa You can get this from a venue other than the place of issue of the passport - by showing that your place of residence falls in the jurisdiction of that passport office (It might take some time, and pain) Anything to do with the Passport Office can & usually will involve a LOT of time & pain Take the following things with you - a)Passport b) ECNR (Emigration Clearance Not Required) form - get it from your travel agent, avoid queue at passport office c) Original of the Provisional Certificate (PC) - to show d) Xerox copy of the PC. e) Take the copy of Degree in case u have it and also copies of last three year grade cards. Procedure in brief : At one counter show the filled form & get a slip; go inside and show your documents at the checking counter; pay Rs.20(check the right amount in your time) at the cash counter; collect passport next day with ECNR stamp. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Utensils ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big pressure pan (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets) [note: big pressure cooker may not be needed as rice cooker can be bought in the US]. A big pressure cooker costs about $50. Get some stacking containers. You don't get them here and they are pretty handy when you're short of refrigerator space and also to cook for 2-3 meals at a time. Get one or two China plates(not the unbreakable kind). You'll be using microwave ovens all the time here to warm up food, and you can't use metal plates in them. Unbreakable plates too have a tendency to heat up and are unsuitable. Plates cost ~$2 upwards per piece here. Get a China bowl (It should be big enough to hold about 2 cups of water. Most people here have cereals (corn flakes and similar stuff) for breakfast(its the fastest thing you can make) and you'll need a bowl for that. Tongs Cutting board, Utensil holder (tongs), strainer. Small bowls Rolling pin Knife, 2 each of teaspoons, Tablespoons, forks. Katoris (or bowls) Cook book - e.g. "Cook & See" by Meenakshi Ammal Note: no other vessels needed. No tumblers needed and they cost a dollar each. A serving spoon costs $4. Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to your Univ. Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the US. and you can buy a full set. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 Clothes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Functionality seems to be the primary feature of clothes worn here. As such clothing patterns seem to vary drastically with the changing seasons. You'll be coming in fall when it'll be reasonably warm.It is suggested that you get a couple of jeans and some Tee shirts and cotton half-sleeved shirts. Jeans here cost $12 to $25(You can get Wrangler for ~ $17), which is not too different from Indian prices. Tee shirts can be got for $7 to $20. Cotton shirts cost $10 to $25. As prices are pretty much similar I guess you could decide how much to bring depending on how much space you have. Usually clothes are machine washed once a week (laundramat) - hence one week supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed. Get all clothes little loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash or may some times even tear & you will probably grow fatter. 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs, gloves. 5 sets of good shirts, pants - People generally don't wear terricot pants or shirts here. Suit : Opinion defers in this. Generally not required even for the occassional parties that one may be invited to in the initial weeks. But then if one plans for a job after an MS it may be required for a job interview. May be buying one out in India may save u some cash out there. It may cost about $80 to $130 in the US of A. A good swimming trunk + few shorts - Shorts(till the knee) are very popular(almost no one wears long jeans in summer. They cost approx $10 to $20 here. o a tie + 1-2 belts 3-6 ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking) A bedsheet - Bed Sheets can be got for $3 to $20 per pair(along with pillow covers etc) Blankets (called comforters here) cost around $30-$50 and are of very high quality. They are very soft and thick. You won't need any warm blankets as you'll always have heating in your house and you'll never feel cold even in the dead of winter. You can get a pillow here for $2.5 upwards. When you go to buy a pillow after you get here, be sure to look hard enough for the usual sized pillow. You'll find lots of very tiny colorful ones and might be led to belief that they are the only ones available. Lungies/dhotis/pajamas - You can good stuff here for ~$30. They resemble tracksuits. Thermal underwear (2-4) Extra woollen sweaters - Sweaters can be got very cheap at times even at $2 a piece. This is definately a thing to buy here especially as it won't be cold when you get here. 2 large size suitcases (do not go for the very costly ones), Rs. 1200-1400 OK. In fact you can replace one of these with a soft one which will be much cheaper. 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 laundary later) Heavy jackets are best bought out in the US of A costing about $40 to $60. Sleeveless woollen sweaters are enough for warm places Woollen socks not recommended if not going to a cold place - Good cotton socks are about a dollar a pair. They are thick and preventshoes from getting smelly. o second hand alarm clocks are cheap in 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 take raincoats Don't buy purse (wallet for carrying cards can be bought in US) Clothes hangers (you might get a couple for starters, but they are of a different size here) Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US). For some weather conditions Indian leather shoes may crack. A good pair of sports shoes is a must. Power joggers is a good choice. Things like laces, polish are also easily got out there in the US. On can buy a pair of hawaii chappals while in India. Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the stuff listed above - most of them are available pretty cheap in the US (made in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a month or two you will be in a position to get anything you want (unless you are not on aid) Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 6 Medicines ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Crocin tablets - 3 strips For fever, bodyaches, headache One tablet three times a day as necessary Erythrocin 500mg tablets - 2 strips One tablet twice a day when necessary, as advised Sporadix 500mg capsules - 2 strips One capsule twice a day when necessary, as advised Actified tablets - 3 strips Cosovil tablets - 2 strips For common cold & cough. One tablet three times a day. Avomin tablets - 1 strip For air sickness. One tablet as necessary. Lomotil tablets - 20 Digene tablets - 30 For diarrhoea & stomach discomfort. One tablet of each three times a day. Baralgam tablets - 2 strips For abdominal colic pain, backache, etc One tablet every six hours as necessary. Dorstal (?) tablets - 10 For nausea & vomiting. One tablet three times a day. Electral powder - 2 packets One teaspoonful mixed with drinks to make up loss of electrolytes after vomiting or diarrhoea. Novalgin tablets - 2 strips For headache & bodyaches. One tablet as necessary. Stomatil tablets - 1 strip For vertigo (giddiness) One tablet three times a day as necessary till relieved. Isogel (Glaxo) - 1 box For constipation. One teaspoonful in a little of water at bedtime. Brufen 600mg tablets - 2 strips For arthritic joint pains. One tablet three times a day after food. Avil tablets - 1 strip For allergy. One tablet as necessary. Sepmax tablets - 1 strip For sore-throat. One tablet twice a day after food, till relieved. NOT TO BE TAKEN WHEN ONE IS ALLERGIC TO SULFA DRUGS. Relaxyl ointment - 1 tube To be applied as a pain balm. Band Aids assorted - 12 Soframycin skin ointment - 1 tube The above list seems to have been made out for a guy who is a proper hypochondriac ! True that medicines are relatively very expensive in the US, but you will also tend to fall ill less frequently (clean drinking water, etc). Get all the medicines prescribed above if you must, but atleast get them in much smaller quantities. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 7 Things to be done in advance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Certain things have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as you get your aid - much before the flight. Learn typing o Learn driving - Get your International Driver's Permit. About the international driving licence: Get one. In New York you'll be allowed to drive with an Indian driver's license(!). Even car rental agencies do not object to a Indian license. However, in other states, you'll need an international licence to go with it. Try to learn driving well. Taking classes Costs a lot here: around $40 per hour. Many people learn driving just before coming to the US at a driving school and are terrible drivers here. o Learn to cook o apply for bank loan (if necessary) o make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20 MAKE SURE YOUR PASSPORT IS VALID FOR 6 MONTHS ATLEAST. All other changes are best made in the U.S. Make outstation purchases (sweater, thermal underwear, cassettes, etc. - available/cheap in Bangalore, Delhi, Bombay ...) Get medical checkup done a) dental b) fresh checkup, especially if you have a major ailment Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/US brand name). c) get your eye-sight checked - get a new prescription. Buy atleast one extra pair of glasses. d) get tested for TB if possible (chest X-ray) - else they will do it at the Univ e) get requisite immunization done (especially MMR) o get cassettes recorded which you may like to take with you o get a nice hair cut. Write to the India club/OIPS giving your flight #, time & date of arrival; they may pick you up & give temporary accomodation if necessary o if you are very interested in any Indian magazine (Gult, Tamil, etc.) subscribe to them - you can subscribe to them after going to the US also. Note your/parent's bank A/c # Ensure that your passport has the ECNR stamp on it. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 8 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 both inside & outside the boxes (apart from this the airlines will also provide you with adhesive labels). Boxes with independent top & bottom are preferable. Box specifications As an example the 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 linear dimension (l+b+h) not exceeding 270cm (106"). Moreover the total linear dimension of each piece should not be over 158cm (62"). The weight of each bag should not exceed 32kg (70lb) [note: they are not particular about this] Carry on baggage : In addition you can carry a bag with linear dimension not exceeding 115cm (45") onboard (fits beneath the seat). For most other airlines the baggage spec.s are similar (confirm) If you are taking a break outside USA/Canada contact your travel agent or airlines for details. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.1 Things to be kept in the boxes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copy of all certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage) Important apping materials (SOP, reco etc) Necessary books/notebooks (some suggested books are - Clark's 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 stationery and related items suggested (not absolutely necessary - just for the first few weeks) are : common items + rubber stamp with house address + airmail covers + few Indian razor blades for cutting work + screw driver Indian postal stamps - for sending letters through someone coming to India o Medical history files Gifts (suggested: rollable pictures, handicrafts, sweets, etc) Non-technical books (fiction/religious). [note: second-hand story books are cheap in the US] 1 pair leather chappals, 2 hawai chappals (+ extra straps) Soap (bath), toothbrushes (slightly costly in the US - 1 or 2 bucks) etc Toothpaste, tongue-cleaners (if reqd),a complete shaving kit, shampoo, talcum powder, any cosmetics, comb/brush, hairoil, nailcutter, couple of hangers. Get what you require from day 1. Cassettes Toolkit (small screwdriver, spanner, scissors) Its a good idea to mark your baggage as "Student" on all sides so that The custom guys do not bother too much about it. Also secure your baggage properly so that it can withstand the rough handling at various places. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 8.2 Things to be kept in Hand Baggage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Some medicines (including for air-sickness) Novel/mags/books for inflight reading o sweater Original important documents (I-20, visa, tickets ...) Enough money (little cash, travellers' checks) Carry sufficient cash for the airport tax in your country (ask your travel agent). Address book/phone book (Indian & US) Copies of your photo (passport size). Lots of them. ($13-14 per pair here!). Enlisted steps to be followed in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc) Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (two sets of clothes, valuables like calci, addresses etc) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 8.3 Things to be kept on person ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Shorter extract of contact addresses - especially of people coming to pick you up. Receipt got along with travellers' checks - in case you lose the TC's ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 8.4 Things to be left at home ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - List of addresses/phone numbers 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 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 few blank signed papers - so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 9 Things to be done in the last week before the flight ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. Call up & find if there is any delay or change of schedule of the plane (inform the people coming to pick you up of any such change) Rest well - ready to face the long journey/jet lag Bid bye to all concerned. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 10 On the day of the flight + in-flight + later ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Since it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable (cotton dress + full hand shirt). Wear your shoes - inflight you can remove them (some airlines give inflight shoes - else relax in socks) If you are getting a camera have it endorsed on your passport. Be at the airport 3-4 hours before flight departure o collect $20 at the airport (part of it in $1) Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible Carry a few quarters (25c coins), in case you have to call anyone from the airport. 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/juice are good choices. (Before ordering anything on board check if you have to pay for it separately for it). 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. Don't hesitate to talk to people to ask questions - usually they will answer all your queries properly - very different from India. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 11 Port of Entry Procedures ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Sometime before landing the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms & immigration forms as mentioned below. Fill these out on the plane (you will submit them to the appropriate authorities when you land). Do not hesitate to take the flight attendant's help. You can indicate that you have nothing to declare & total value of all your things is less than $100 on the customs form Form I-94 - fill in the plane. After seeing your documents immigration officer will indicate length of stay, Univ, etc. This will be attached to your passport. Important: note the expiry date and D/S (duration of status). Form I-20 ID copy - all transactions regarding your non- immigrant status will be recorded in this form. This should be retained at all times (not surrendered when you temporarily leave the US). Your admission number will be given - memorize it & note it elsewhere. Just before you land the correct local time will be announced - set your watch [dual time watch will come in handy here] 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. You are now in the USA ! Then go to the baggage are 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). If you don't get your baggage inform the enquiry section - you may have to wait 0.5-1 hour here. Cart your baggage to 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 the baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place. If asked about the "podi"s tell them that they are "dried Indian spices" to make traditional Indian food like curry. Rarely they might ask you to go to the agris. dept. nearby - that is a pain. If asked about "vibuthi" tell them that it is holy Hindu powder used for prayer. Note : In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & 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 the public phone dial a '0', get the operator & ask for a collect call). Else call i) your Prof ii) dept. iii)International Students' Office iv) admissions office v) any Indian guy in the directory Go & 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] Once you reach your friend's house (or other destination) call home & inform them of reaching safely. Keep a readymade card - add a few lines - go to the nearest post office, get stamps & mail the card immediately. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 12 A few things of importance in after(arrival)life ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Your first work is to meet the Foreign Students' Advisor in the International Student Office (ISO). They keep a record of you (passport, visa details etc). When you leave the US (temporarily or permanently) you have to go there again. - get your Univ ID card - get your Driver's Licence - tax forms, etc some paperwork in the dept. - meet the HOD/grad. student advisor/advisor - register for classes 1) The very first thing you need to do is to get a social security number. This should preferably be done on day 1 or 2. There will be several social security offices in a big city and at least one in a small one. You should inquire about it and go there with your passport. You might have to pay a small fee(in the range of 10-20 dollars) and you'll be given a reciept with your number on it (I think). Your actual social security card will be mailed to you in a few days. You can use the reciept in place of your card, meanwhile (I think). You need your social sec. # for several things. 2) Check in with the office of international students' affairs. You'll need to take several things there: Passport, I20, Final year grades from IIT, Degree certificate from IIT. Make sure that you have everything. The purpose of checking in with this office is to notify the IRS (Internal tax revenue) people that you are a valid resident. You should definitely check in within the first couple weeks to avoid problems with the US govt. 3) Open a bank account. You'll need your soc. sec # for this. You could also take along your passport. Take your travellers' checks as well. There will be several banks in your neighbourhood. Find out from others' about which would be a good bank to join. The criteria you should use are as follows: a) it should have ATM s close to your home/office. It should have lots of ATMs in the city. Remember that even if the ATMs near your house may not belong to your bank, you can always withdraw money from there, but it'll cost you about 1-2 dollars every time you use it. b) It should have a phone access line. This enables you to use a touch- tone phone to acess your account by phone You can transfer money, check your account etc. by phone. c) Select a bank that does not charge maintanence fee. Some banks charge some money every month as service or maintenece charge if your balance falls below some minimum limit. Make sure that these limits are quite low: less than $200-400 is ok. You should open a checking and savings acount. There will often be several options for each with different terms. Choose the one that satisfies c) above. Your savings will earn some interest unlike the checking. You can shift money between these accounts by phone. You should always maintain a sufficient balance in your checking so that no check bounces. A bounced check can spoil your credit history. This is a record on whose basis companies give you credit if needed or allow you to join certain programs. Make sure that you get an ATM card (this will probably be mailed to you). You will get a monthly statement of your balance by mail. You don't have to maintain a passbook. Keep your balance above the minimum limit and avoid using ATMs that do not belong to the bank to avoid excess charges. You should also order checks for yourself. You will get a set 5-8 checks as soon as you join. The other checks will arrive after a couple of weeks by mail. Order these checks only after you have found your house and have an address. Your name and address will be printed on your checks. You will be charged around 10-15dollars for every set of 200 checks or so. This will be taken from your account. You can withdraw money, deposit checks and do a few other things at an ATM. 4) If you are staying with new students, you will have to get a phone line. The phone line in the city will be run by some company. You have to find out their number and ring them up from somewhere and ask for a new line. They will get a lot of info from you and set it up. They may then ask you to present yourself to the office so they can verify your identity. Sometimes they don't(if you have a state Id (more about state id s later). The charges for a new line can be quite heavy ($30 to $100). See if your state/city has a plan for low-income people. Next you will have to choose a long distance company. The local phone company only does the local wiring. It does not have the resources to provide country-wide or world-wide coverage. For long distance companies, you have several options but the most common ones that you should consider are AT&T, MCI and Sprint in decreasing order of preference. These companies have a keen competition between them and will often give you cheap deals if you join at a certain time etc. You should ring them up and find out their rates-especially to India. Rates (in the nights and weekends) are around 10 cents/min to any place in the US and about $1 per minute to India. India is the costliest place in the world to call. You will get a monthly bill in the mail and you will pay by check by mail. Try to make do with only one line for the house. You will generally have a phone per person (costs $10 upwards) with extension lines leading to each room from one source. A phone in the US is an absolute necessity. There are a lot of services which you can access by phone. Most companies have computerized phone answering machines which dispense info via a touch-tone phone. You should also have one phone answering machine at home. This is a tape- recorder which allows people to leave messages when you are not around. Costs $25 upwards. 5) You should get in touch with your grad secy in the dept. She'll generally be a woman (motherly type) to whom you can take all your problems and questions. She'll tell you what you need to do about registeration etc. You should meet her as soon as possible (day 3-4). 6) State Id card: This is a card which allows you to pay bills with checks at markets. You have to show this card to verify your identity before your check is accepted. To get an Id you have to go to the department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They issue both driver licences and State Id cards. You'll have to take your passport and soc. sec. #. Different states take different amounts of time in making Id cards. 7) Go for groceries. You'll be buying all your food at supermarkets and storing them in a common refrigerator. You will generally be cookin your own food. I often take a bus to the grocery store and take a cab back. I spend about $30 every week. The supermarkets are generally single floor halls which are huge. It will be divided into aisles. Different stores will generally cater to food and other things (clothes etc). In the grocery stores there willbe an open section for vegetables.You will find just about every kind of vegetable here(eg. potatoes, onions, lettuce,carrots, coriander, bringal, okra, Cauliflower, Beets, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, ginger and a whole lot of strange things). There are a lot of fruits available too such as apples, oranges, plums, grapes, pears, apricots, mangoes($1 each and lousy). There will be a seperate section for meat(Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Pork). You can get them either packaged (fresh) or from a deli. A deli is a counter where unpackaged meat is sold. This is a lot costlier than the packaged kind but is more fresh and you have more options. Other things you should pick up include milk (in 1 gallon plastic containers or in smaller cardboard cartons), eggs, tortillas(chapati substitute- sold in plastic packs of 10-12), Rice (in bags or sacks). At least for the first few days, you could also pick up some canned food. Canned tuna is recommended. There are several other canned foods such as beef, peas, fruits, chicken which are worth trying. They are cheap. Get some cereal. This is something like corn flakes-only there are a whole lot more varieties. It is eaten with milk (cold or warmed in a microwave) and will generally form breakfast. Incidentally, the tortillas are already cooked and just need to be heated briefly either directly over a gas fire or over a pan. Do not microwave. There will be a frozen section(behind glass doors) where you can pick up various pre-cooked dished (eg pizzas) You will generally not get spices in a supermarket (other than pepper and salt. You'll have to go to Indian grocery stores. Even a small place seems to have 1 or two of them. You can get ALL indian spices here. You can also get pickles, canned sweets and various other grocery items. You will be shopping with a grocery cart which you will have picked up near the entrance. After you're done you'll have to pass through one of the many check-out lanes. There will be a conveyor belt here on which you should load your stuff. The attendent will read in all the prices using a bar-code scanner and the price will apear on a LED display. You will be asked to specify if you want paper or plastic bags (generally chose plastic). You might be asked if you want to pay by cash or charge. The latter means paying using a credit card- which you won't have initially. Pay by cash (carry ~$100). Then you can cart your stuff out and call a cab (from a pay- phone) or walk out to a bus-stop. You do not have to tip the check out attendent. You should tip the cab driver ~10-15% though. (incidentally, the barber and waiter are perhaps the only other people whom you need to tip). There will generally be ATM machines at the supermatket. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 12.1 Housing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Almost all apartments are furnished, campus and off campus. Some give you the option of gettingyour own furnishings if you like. Even if you get an unfurnished apt., you can rent furnishings from an outside agency for around $30 a month (which is about 10% of what your rent will be). Generally off-campus housing is much cheaper than on-campus (by $100 -200 per month) and might even be closer to your dept.! Contact your seniors for actuall details. Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- 13 AMERICAN IDIOMS AND SOUTHERN EXPRESSIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Beat up : worn out, shabby (said of a thing) Been had : to have been taken advantage of Big deal : anything important, exciting Break the ice : make a beginning Buck : dollar bill Bombed : see "high" Bummer : a term to designate that something undesirable has happened Cash : paying someone with currency rather than a check Check out : look over a situation Cool or neat : slang term denoting approval for something or someone Cop : slang for policeman Cut it out : stop it Crack up : to lose emotional control in laughter Down : to feel depressed, sad Down to earth : practical, straightforward, (person) Drop : to withdraw from a course on or before the set date Drive one up the wall : drive one nuts; to make one very nervous, or upset Fall for : take a strong liking for Go to pot : to deteriorate Gripe : to complain Hang in there : keep trying; do not be discouraged Have a lot on the ball : to be capable, talented, or efficient Hit the sack : go to bed Hung up : to be in conflict over a problem Jock : an athlete Keep your shirt on : be clam, be patient Know the ropes : be familiar with the details of an undertaking Lemon : bad buy or purchase Loaded : to get intoxicated Make ends meet : budget within one's income Make up : (1) to apologize after a fight or disagreement (2) to do an assignment after it was due Top ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Some More Important Info ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ECNR stamp is no longer reqd for US. Every person going abroad needs an I-T clearance from the local tax office. the travel agent will NOT give you a ticket without the copy. It is possible you may have to go to the state capitl. Also you cannot take it more than 30 days in advance. But try not to cut it fine. They have no income and so are automatically considered defaulters! If you are going to the north of US take only few warm clothes. Top

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