Just a Month left for Fall Semester to Begin!
HTML clipboard It is hard to believe that it is already the fourth week of July, which means less than a month left for those students planning to come the United States for fall semester. I am sure you have already made your to do list and checked it twice.
No doubt, over preparation is better than less preparation when it comes to coming to the foreign land, thousands of miles away from home. Hopefully, you are staying ahead of the game to get important things done in time. I have prepared a checklist to give some last minute guidance to make sure important things are not missed.1. Student Visa
This is definitely the first item on the list. At this stage, your student visa should be all confirmed and ready for you to enter the USA. If you have not already received your student visa, you need to apply to get one as soon as possible. There is usually a waiting period for the visa interview around this time of the year. If you have already received a student visa, I suggest your spend sometime to familiarize yourself with student visa rules and regulations. I will also be writing about that in my next blog.
2. Travel Arrangements
After you receive your student visa, take advantage of lower prices by buying your ticket in advance. After booking your flight, share your itinerary information with the international counselor of your university as they might be able to pick your up from the airport. If you are arriving over the weekend (Sat or Sun), university staffs might not be able to pick you up from the airport. Thus, make careful arrangements for first few days after you land. It is a great idea to make a list of important numbers and being it with you in your carry-on luggage. Must have phone numbers when you land:
International counselor’s number including an alternative number, campus number, number of friends or family you have in the US.
3. Familiarization
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the culture and lifestyle of the Unites States. I am sure most students already have an idea of what to expect, but it does not hurt to do some more research on that matter. This will help you to acclimatize better to your surroundings and hopefully things will not be so much of a shock when you first arrive.
4. Bring some Cash With you
Bring some cash with you to cover first few days of expenses, food, travel, housing etc. It might take time for you to cash your traveler’s checks or open an account in a local bank. Suggested amount of cash to bring with you: About 200 Dollars. Rest of the money should be carried as traveler’s check as it is not safe to carry large sum of money with you while travelling.
5. Make copies of Important Documents
Always make two copies of all your important documents, keep one with your family back home and bring one copy with you along with the originals. Important documents include: Student Visa, Passport, University issued I-20, Acceptance Letter, Scholarship Letter, Medical Records with immunization records. All important documents should be carried in the carry-on luggage.
6. Calling home for the first time
Your family in Nepal will be desperately waiting to hear from you that you got the US safely. To call them as soon you get there will not be a big problem if you have the following:
You should have the access code for Nepal, country code, your city code and calling card to call home to let them know you arrived here safely.
Access Code to Call Nepal from US is 011
Country code for Nepal is 977
City Code for Kathmandu is 1
For example if your home phone number is XXX-XXXX and your family lives in Kathmandu. You should dial 011-977-1 and your home phone number.
If you have any other questions regarding your preparation or any other helpful tips/suggestions, please leave us a comment below. Please free to write an email if need any additional information!
Enjoy!
Smita.
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