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Before coming to Illinois State

Packing Guidelines
  1. Start your packing at least two days before departure date.
  2. Put identification marks and labels both inside & outside the bags.
  3. Usual box specifications are as follows:
    • 2 pieces of checked-in baggage with total linear dimension (length+width+height) not exceeding 62″.
    • The weight of each bag should not exceed 23kg (50 lbs).
    • 1 piece of carry-on baggage that is under 8 kg. Check with your airline; these are just guidelines.

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Items to Pack


Utensils

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

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Clothing

  1. Get winter clothing.
  2. 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).
  3. Since clothes are machine-dried, they inevitably shrink. (or you grow fat.) Either ways, get all clothes a little loose.
  4. 14-15 sets of undergarments, 6-8 pairs socks, handkerchiefs.
  5. Good swimming trunk, a few shorts, T-shirts may be brought.
  6. At least one tie, 1-2 belts.
  7. One suit.
  8. Two ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking).
  9. One bed sheet, night wear.
  10. Woollen socks not recommended.
  11. Don’t bring along Indian files (binders) or punching machines; the filing system is different in the US.
  12. Wear your shoes to save space in the box. If needed buy only leather shoes (other types of shoes are cheap in US).

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Miscellaneous Items

  1. Copy of all certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage).
  2. Necessary books/notebooks.
  3. Copy of address book/telephone book/diary.
  4. Medical history file.
  5. You may want to inquire with the travel agent regarding valuable items on which custom duty may be levied.
  6. All Indian groceries, pickles and other food stuff must be sealed completely else they may be removed by the US Department of Agriculture.
  7. Also keep in mind that most items are readily available in the US.

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Documents 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.)
  1. One copy of all your important documents.
  2. A copy of all relevant parts of Medical History files.
  3. If you stayed at a hostel, arrange to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
  4. Arrange to apply/collect/mail your transcripts (about 10 in number preferable)
  5. Few blank authority letters – so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf.

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Things to do before leaving India

  1. 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.
  2. Learn to cook. This will at least keep your mom happy.
  3. Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.
  4. Have a complete medical checkup done.
  5. Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/US brand name).
  6. Medicines are not sold here without valid prescriptions: possession of medicines without valid prescriptions in your name might be a violation on the law.
  7. Get your eye-sight checked – get a new prescription from an ophthalmologist. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses, lenses.
  8. 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.
  9. Book your tickets on time; flights are usually packed to capacity at this time of the year.
  10. Days before the flight, call the airline to confirm your reservation and to cross-check everything the travel agent may have told you.
  11. Indicate your preferences: whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), etc. This can be done at the time of booking the tickets with the travel agent.
  12. 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. Enrollment needs to be done before you fly: check out the website of your airline to register.
  13. 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).
  14. Arrive at the airport at least 1 hour before the check in time.
  15. Drink lot of fluids on the flight. This will help you recover from jet lag 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).
  16. Many airlines are fussy about the weight of your cabin baggage. The usual weight limit is 8 Kgs. However, it’s better to check with your travel agent regarding this.
  17. 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.
  18. Always keep original copies of your CA certificate, bank statements, sponsor’s affidavit, passport, and admission letters in your cabin baggage. Sometimes, the immigration officials may ask you to present them at the airport.
  19. Ideally, a student can bring $500 in cash, $1000 in traveler’s checks 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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