Checklist For International Students Going To The US
Excited that you’ve got your student visa to the United States of America? But before you go make sure that you have everything you need such as necessary documents, insurance, accommodation, etc. Below is a checklist for international students going to the US.
A group of students
You can use the
following checklist to make sure that you don’t forget all the major things
that you need to remember before beginning your journey to the USA. A few of
the things that you need to take care of once you reach the country is also
mentioned in this article
Checklist For International Students Going To The US- Travel
And Immigration Documents
The first step
before beginning your journey to the USA is to make sure that you have all your
travel and immigration documents in place.
An up-to-date passport with you
recent photographs
Your passport, visa and flight
tickets need to be easily accessible.
Make sure you keep it in your
handbag or your carry-on luggage.
Documents Needed At The College/University
Have you taken care of all the financial requirements for the semester/year/entire course at your University?
Do you have all the documents that support your admission to a college/University in the US? This includes:
College Enrolment letter and supporting documents
Receipt for payment of fees
The original documents that prove your qualification
Have you taken care of all the necessary paperwork?
Apply for a college identity card and student concession for transportation beforehand
Have you checked with the University regarding any additional applications that you need to fill in and submit?
Details of your day to day schedule in the college/University
Have you notified the International Studies Office regarding your date of arrival in the country?
Purchased all your course material including textbooks or have you made arrangements for the same?
Checklist For International Students Going To The US –
Accommodation And Housing
This is very
important should be a part of the checklist for international students going to
the USA. Most of the campuses appoint security personnel to watch over the accommodation
facilities that are within the campuses and for the ones that lie close to
the institutions.
This is to
ensure the safety of their students. They understand that students will refuse
to take an admission where there are issues of security.
You can save a lot of money if
they choose to stay within the college/University campus
Students can also choose to
live in a shared apartment or a homestay facility
Unless you’re a friend or
relative in the US with whom you’d be staying temporarily make sure you find
accommodation before moving into the US
You can find several apartments
and homestays quite near to the educational institutions that are secure enough
Keep in mind the distance
between your college and accommodation
Find out the ways by which you
can commute to and from college
Most of the colleges provide
free pick-up and drop to and from the institutions between 10 pm and 7 am to
ensure the safety of students.
If you are staying in a college
accommodation inform the authorities the date you’d be arriving there
If you’ve rented an apartment
or chosen a homestay to make sure you inform the owner/families regarding the
date of your arrival
Pay a month’s rent or an amount
in advance as required the owner of your accommodation to ensure it is
confirmed.
Make sure you have all the
correct addresses and phone numbers with you
Arrange for transportations to
get you to your place of stay from the airport
Checklist For International Students Going To The US –
Medical And Health Care
Make sure you’ve
taken care of the following before moving to the USA.
Vaccinations that are necessary
and a letter certified by your Doctor regarding all the vaccines you’ve taken.
If you are under specific
medications get it transferred to a pharmacy in the USA
An overall health check-up to
make sure you are fit to travel
General health care services
are provided by most of the University and college campuses in the USA.
The health care services
provided vary from basic first aid care and treatment of minor health issues to
giving complete health care by specialist doctors
On-campus health care services
are generally not too expensive.
You can also choose to get
treated at a private health care facility outside your college campus.
This is going to be quite
expensive.
Good medical
insurance with overall health care coverage is essential while living in the
USA.
Apply for appropriate health insurance that
you need while living there
Most of the Universities and
colleges in the US provide health and medical insurance for their students
These insurances are integrated
with the medical facilities within the campus
You could also consider
applying for private insurance specifically designed for international students
living in the US
Consider the following while choosing an insurance
policy
The hospitals and doctors
recognized by the plan
Does it cover both illnesses as
well as emergency cases like an accident?
Does the cost incurred outside
the hospital setting get covered under the plan?
The limitations and exclusions
Checklist For International Students Going To The US –
Mobile Phone Connection
A mobile phone
connection with a budget-friendly package is necessary when you move to the
USA.
Carry a smartphone with you if you have it
This allows you to make urgent calls using your mobile apps like WhatsApp or Viber on arriving there (Wi-Fi can be accessed in all the major public places)
Apply for a cell phone connection in the USA
AT&T, Verizon, Mint Mobile, and T-Mobile are some of the major mobile providers
Offers good international calling packages to India.
Checklist For International Students Going To The US –
Social Security Number
An international
student living in the USA requires a Social Security Number for a number of
reasons.
To work in the USA
To file for a tax return
For Social Security benefits (only US citizens are eligible)
Approach the nearest Social
Security Administration Office in the US
Duly fill in Form SS-5 which is
the Application For A Social Security Card
Provide original/attested
supporting documents that prove your residential and visa status in the USA
along with your Passport
A receipt will be provided
The Social Security Card along
with the number will be sent to you by mail in 2-3 weeks
How To Open A Bank Account
Opening a bank
account in the US is necessary for international students since it wouldn’t be
safe to carry huge amounts of money.
Things to
consider while opening a bank account in the USA.
Most of the University and
college campuses in the USA have Credit Union Banks
They are your best choice as
soon as you arrive in the country
You can also approach a bank
that has a partnership with your educational institution
Look for an account with no fee
and that which provides online services
Most of the banks have student
accounts that address the specific requirements of students
Understand the money transfer
cost in each bank
Packing Your Bags – Things To Remember
Understand the weather in an
around the area where your college campus is situated
Choose the appropriate clothes
comfortable for that weather
Since there wouldn’t be a large
amount of storage space make sure you pack your bags smartly
Make sure that you’ve packed
everything according to the air travel codes
Check at least twice so that
you won’t forget to pack some of your
important belongings
Carry enough money with you so
that you can buy things that you forget to take or do not have with you
Some Of The General Things To Remember
Do online research to find out
more about your residential area and college campus in the USA
Find out where the closest supermarkets,
clothing stores, and public transportation facilities are
To track expenses between
friends you could use apps like Split Wise
Scan all your important
documents and save it on your email address
Or save your documents in a
drop box or your Google drive
Make sure that you have a list
of all the contact information you need
Write down the mailing
addresses and telephone numbers in a separate note pad
You need to make sure that you’ve got everything done correctly to
head out with no worries. Follow this checklist to avoid forgetting important
things like your visa, travel documents, details of college admission,
accommodation in the US, medical and health insurance, bank account, and
personal belongings that are necessary.
Don’t forget to take care of the rest of the things like your Social Security Number, Health Insurance and starting a bank account once you get there.