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Travel Tips
- After getting the visa the next thing to do is booking tickets.
- Days before the flight, call the airline to confirm your reservation
and to cross-check everything the travel agent may have told
you.
- Indicate whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), etc.
This can be done at the time of booking the tickets with the
travel agent.
- Some airlines offer Frequent Flier programs (e.g. 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.
- Avoid transit of airline at airports A direct flight is the
best. If change of airline can't be avoided, make sure that
there is at least 4-6 hours gap between the scheduled arrival
of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting
flight.
- Baggage is usually safe with a single airline while 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 at least 2 hours before the check-in
time.
- Drink lot of fluids on the flight. This will help you recover
the jetlag very fast.
- Many airlines are fussy about the weight of your cabin baggage.
It is always better to check with your travel agent regarding
this.
- Always keep a photocopy of your passport, tickets, I-20, contact
info of your school in every 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 cheques and a personal draft of the amount equal to
one semester's expenses. You may check your I-20 to determine
this amount.
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Things to be done
in advance
- Learn typing.
- Learn driving.
- Learn to cook.
- Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay
indicated in your I-20
- All other changes are best made in the U.S.
- Make outstation purchases (sweater, thermal underwear, cassettes.)
- Have a complete medical checkup done.
- Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments
- Get your eye-sight checked - get a new prescription. 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.
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Packing
- Start your packing at least two days before departure date.
- Buy two strong 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 Nepal Airlines 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).
- Carry on baggage : In addition you can carry a bag with linear
dimension not exceeding 115cm (45) onboard (fits on overhead
compartments).
- For most other airlines the baggage specifications are similar.
If you are taking a break outside USA/Canada contact your travel
agent or airline for details.
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Things to be kept
in the boxes
- Copy of all certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage).
- 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 photocopies of
books - but don't flaunt them to around campus.
- Copy of address book/telephone book/diary.
- Some stationery and related items suggested (not absolutely
necessary - just for the first few weeks) are : Rubber stamp
with house address, airmail covers, few Nepalese razor blades
for cutting work, screw driver, Nepalese postal stamps for sending
letters through someone coming to Nepal
- Medical history file.
- At least one pair leather chappals, two hawai chappals (extra
straps).
- Soap (bath), toothbrushes (slightly costly in the US).
- 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 Nepalese groceries, pickles and other food stuff MUST
be sealed completely else they may be removed by the US customs.
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Clothes
- Usually clothes are machine washed once every two weeks hence
two weeks supply of clothes is needed. Get all clothes little
loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash or you might probably
grow fat.
- 14-15 sets of undergarments, 6-8 pairs socks, handkerchiefs.
- Good swimming trunk, few shorts, T-shirts may be brought.
- At least one tie, 1-2 belts.
- Two ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking).
- One bed sheet, lungi/dhotis/pajamas, thermal underwear (2-4),
extra woolen sweater.
- Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the items listed
above most of them are available pretty cheap in the US (made
in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear.
Vessels
- Big pressure cooker (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2
weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets).
- Dosai turner, charani (server with holes), rice server & other
servers
- Pair of tongs, small bowls (kinnum), rolling pin ( Belan),
knife, kadaie (optional). 3-4 dishes, Spoons, 2 frying pans
( tava ), 1 chopping board, 2-3 storage vessels ( tapeli )
- Cooking book will always be handy. Note: Try to share & bring
the vessels with others coming to IIT. Non-stick kitchenware
is cheap in the US and you can buy a full set.
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Things to be kept
in Hand Baggage
- 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, loose motion.
- Novel/magazines/books for in-flight reading, sweater. If you
are coming in Fall, the weather will be hot enough, thus you
would NOT need to wear any warm clothing then. Else you MUST
be prepared to face extremely cold temperatures if you are arriving
in Spring.
- Address book/phone book (Nepalese & US)
- Copies of your photo (passport size)
- Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced
(two sets of clothes, valuables like addresses etc)
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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 10 in
number preferable)
- Your tailoring measurements.
- Few blank signed papers - so that your parents can be authorized
to look after anything on your behalf.
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To do in the last
week before the flight
- 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 and bid
bye to all concerned.
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On the day of the
flight, in-flight and later
- As it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable
preferably cotton full hand 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. Veg.
food is generally bland - fruits/juice are good choices.
- Never hesitate to ask questions.
- Once out of Nepal 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
people will answer all your queries satisfactorily.
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 goods you carry is less than $100 on the customs
form.
- Fill form I-94 in the plane. After seeing your documents,
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.
- 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] Chicago
is 10:30 hours behind Nepal from 31st April to 31st October
and 11:30 hours behind Nepal for other times.
- Once you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration
counter rush for them to beat the queue. It might take half
to one hour here.
- 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 F1 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 cart 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.
- Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked, tell the officer
that you are a student on F-1 visa, school, department and coming
to USA for the first time. If asked to open the baggage do so
slowly but do not mess up the place. Note : In most cases you
will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply
waved through.
- Never leave your baggage unattended. Don't go out of the airport
until somebody comes to receive you. If you have doubt the person
who has come to receive you, don't hesitate to ask for his/her
identification paper.
- Once you reach your house (or other destination) call home
& inform them of reaching safely.
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