Tips for Incoming Students
Things to do before leaving India
  • Learn driving. It helps to know driving even though you won't be buying a car right away. Rental cars are a good and cheap means of transport for quick trips.
  • Learn to cook. This'll at least keep your mom happy.
  • Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.
  • Have a complete medical checkup done.
  • Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/US brand name). Medicines are not sold here without valid prescriptions: possession of medicines without valid prescriptions in your name might be a violation on the law. I'm not sure, but you don't want to be the one to find out.
  • Get your eye-sight checked - get a new prescription from an ophthalmologist. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses, lenses.
  • Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR). Fill in the Health and Immunization record form that has been sent to you with the I-20 packet.
  • Book your tickets on time ; flights are usually packed to capacity at this time of the year.
  • Days before the flight, call the airline to confirm your reservation and to cross-check everything the travel agent may have told you.
  • Indicate your preferences : whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), non-smoking section, etc. This can be done at the time of booking the tickets with the travel agent.
  • Most airlines offer Frequent Flier programs (e.g. Delta, Air France, TWA, United Airlines) implying that after a certain number of miles of flying with that airline you get a free ticket. Enroll in such programs. Enrolment needs to be done before you fly: check out the website of your airline to register.
  • Baggage is usually safe with a single airline while a change of airline sometimes leads to misplaced luggage. Some airlines don't take care about baggage transfer. You may have to personally carry it (check this while booking).
  • Arrive at the airport atleast 1 hour before the check in time.
  • Drink lot of fluids on the flight. This will help you recover from jetlag very fast. (This tip has been handed down from list to list; I have not verified the authenticity or the lack of it. I just kept it in this list too.)
  • Many airlines are fussy about the weight of your cabin baggage. The usual weight limit is 8 Kgs. However, its better to check with your travel agent regarding this.
  • Always keep a photocopy of your passport, tickets, I-20, and contact info of your school in every piece of baggage including your cabin baggage.
  • Always keep original copies of your CA certificate, bank statements, sponsor's affidavit, passport, admission letters in your cabin baggage. Sometimes, the immigration officials may ask you to present them at the airport.
  • Ideally, a student can bring $500 in cash, $1000 in travelers checks and a personal draft of the amount equal to one semester's expenses. You may check your I-20 to determine this amount.

Things to Pack
  • Start your packing at least two days before departure date.
  • Put identification marks and labels both inside & outside the bags.
  • Usual box specifications are as follows:
    1. 2 pieces of checked-in baggage with total linear dimension (length+width+height) not exceeding 62".
      The weight of each bag should not exceed 32kg (70 lbs).
    2. 1 piece of carry-on baggage that is well under 18 kg.
  • Check with your airline; these are just guidelines.

Where to put stuff
  • All your original documents must be in your carry-on luggage.
  • Photocopies of all such original documents must be in each of your check-in bags.
  • Expecting the worst, you should have enough stuff in your carry-on luggage to survive for a day if both your checked-in bags get lost.

Clothing
  • Get winter clothing.
  • Usually clothes are machine-washed once every week, hence a week's supply of clothes is needed. (If you're one of the lazy types, get clothes to last you two weeks).
  • Since clothes are machine-dried, they inevitably shrink. (or you grow fat.) Eitherways, get all clothes a little loose.
  • 14-15 sets of undergarments, 6-8 pairs socks, handkerchiefs.
  • Good swimming trunk, a few shorts, T-shirts may be brought.
  • At least one tie, 1-2 belts.
  • Two ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking).
  • One bed sheet, night wear.
  • Woollen socks not recommended.
  • Don't bring along Indian files (binders) or punching machines; the filing system is different in the US.
  • Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US).

Utensils
  • Big pressure cooker (with spare handle, a couple of safety valves).
  • A pair of tongs, rolling pin, knife, kadai (optional).
  • 3-4 dishes, Spoons, 2 frying pans ( tava ), 1 chopping board, 2-3 storage vessels ( tapeli )
  • A cookery book will always be handy.
  • If you've already decided who your roommates are gonna be, try to share the vessels with them.

Things to be carried in cabin luggage
  • I-20, passport, ticket, financial documents (CA certificate, Bank Statements), admission letter, affidavit of sponsor, all college or school marksheets and related certificates.
  • First aid medicines. For example, tablets for headache, nausea, fever, stomach upsets.
  • A book for in-flight reading.
  • Address book/phone book (Indian & US)
  • Copies of your photo (passport size)

Things to be left at home
  • List of addresses/phone numbers at which info about you can be obtained. (You might want to have a contact point: who your parents can contact to ask about you. Typically this will be the household where you'll be staying temporarily.)
  • One copy of all your important documents.
  • A copy of all relevant parts of Medical History files.
  • If you stayed at a hostel, arrange to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
  • Arrange to apply/collect/mail your transcripts (about 10 in number preferable)
  • Your tailoring measurements.
  • Few blank authority letters - so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf.

Emigration Clearance
  • Some people believe that every person leaving India should have ECNR stamped on one of the rear pages of your passport. For detailed information, it is advisable to contact your travel agent.
  • For questions on whether one needs Income Tax clearance certificate or sometimes, a Police Clearance certificate, it is advisable to contact your travel agent.

The Day of the Flight
  • As it is going to be a long flight, wear something comfortable - preferably cotton - a full-shirt and trousers. Wear your shoes.
  • Be at the airport at least one hour before check-in time.
  • Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible.
  • For vegetarians, watch out before you eat - for you may get non-vegetarian food even if you had asked for vegetarian. Vegetarian food is generally bland (I call it ghaas-phoos) - fruits/juice are good choices.
  • [At Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, my veggie friend asked the McDonald's guy for something vegetarian. He offered her a chicken salad. When she asked for "no chicken", he came up with an egg salad. Oh well.]
  • Never hesitate to ask questions. People are friendly and helpful.
  • Trust No One. Be wary of strangers who appear to be extra friendly.
  • Drink lot of fluids to get over with the jet lag as soon as possible upon arrival.

Port of Entry Procedures
  • 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.
  • On the Customs form, you could indicate that you have nothing to declare & that the total value of all goods you carry is $0.00.
  • On the Form I-94, the Port of Embarkation is where you had your stopover. [Remember this!
  • After seeing your documents, the immigration officer will indicate length of stay, university, etc. This will be attached to your passport. You must retain this I-94 form, else you will face trouble in leaving USA later. The I-94 stays with you all throughout your stay in the US. It's taken back when you leave.
  • 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.
  • Once you are out of the plane, go straight to the immigration counter. Rush there to beat the queue. It might take from 30 minutes to an hour to get done.
  • Keep your I-20, passport, admission & aid letters ready. They might ask few questions like
    • is this your first time in the US ?
    • Are you a student on F-1 visa ?
    • Which University are you joining ?
  • The immigration officer will attach an I-94 card on one of the pages of your passport usually against the visa page.
  • Be very relaxed and answer all the questions that the officer will ask. Sometimes the officer may ask you to present financial documents or letters from your sponsors. Thus, it is advisable to carry these along with you in your cabin baggage.
  • Then go to the conveyor belts to fetch your luggage. Pick up a (free) cart to carry the bags.
  • Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked, tell the officer that you are a student on an F-1 visa, school, department and coming to USA for the first time. Be confident that you packed everything yourself and that you carry no agricultural produce.
  • If asked to open the baggage, do so. In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply waved through.
  • Go to the Baggage Claim area

  • Getting out or around the Terminal
    Most of the international flights land at Terminal 5, which is the International Terminal. After the baggage claim you just walk out of the door and you reach the terminal 5 lounge. Go to the information desk and enquire about the Peoria Charter Coach for Illinois State University. They will tell you the exact spot from where the bus leaves which is right outside the terminal gate.
    In case your airline does not land at terminal 5 then first ascertain which terminal you are on. All terminals have an information desk. Ask them whether terminal 1 or terminal 5 is near. Go to whichever of the above two terminal is near. You can catch the bus from Terminal 1 or Terminal 5.

  • How to Change Terminals?
    All the terminals on O?Hare are connected by internal rail transit. Take the Elevator to the upper level of the airport and take the rail to get on to terminal 1 or terminal 5. In case you are confused at any stage do not hesitate to ask at the information desk. They will be more than co-operative. Just be polite and friendly and you will receive the same.

  • For most cases you are going to catch the Peoria Charter Bus. Terminal #5 is the international terminal you can catch the bus at  Terminal #5 - lower level, outside door 5E at center curb. or at Bus/Shuttle Center

Miscellaneous Items
  • Copy of all certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage).
  • Necessary books/notebooks.
  • Photocopies of books is piracy. Get them at your own risk.
  • Copy of address book/telephone book/diary.
  • Medical history file.
  • You may want to bring audio cassettes, CDs of your favorite music.
  • You may want to enquire with the travel agent regarding valuable items on which custom duty may be levied.
  • All Indian groceries, pickles and other food stuff MUST be sealed completely else they may be removed by the US Department of Agriculture.
  • Also keep in mind that most such items are readily available in the US. Check out the links section for Indian Groceries)