Pre-Departure Checklist - Tips & Guidelines
Pre-Departure Checklist - Tips & Guidelines
You have been enrolled at a university, your visa is ready, and your air-tickets have been booked. All that is left now is to pack all your essentials to start a new journey to the US. Packing might be a stressful task. You may forget some important items and we do not want that to happen. This section gives you a pre-departure checklist of the essential items you need to carry. Take into account whatever information is applicable for you and ignore the rest.
Typical time required: 1 to 4 weeks
Health Checkup
Medical issues might take a toll on your wallet when you go to the US. This is important, especially if you have been diagnosed with any prior medical conditions. Visit your dentist, eye doctor and your physician and perform a complete body check-up if possible. Remember to carry all your recent medical examination certificates and signed medical prescriptions when you fly. A file with all your medical documents should definitely be a part of your pre-departure checklist. Check online if your medications are allowed in the US, as they can be strict about the medicines approved in the country.
Shopping
Clothing
Shoes
Electrical
Utensils
Masala
Stationary
Toiletries
- Carry your medicines along with the doctor's prescriptions. This might be required during airport security checkup.
- Carry a few 1- or 2-Dollar coins to be used at the airport.
- As soon as you reach the US, it might be difficult searching for groceries or find the products you want. As part of your pre-departure checklist, pack a few ready-to-eat items like Maggi, instant soup packets and pulav powder which will be of great help during the initial days.
- Label all homemade masala powders. This will help with airport security checkup.
- No food items and water will be allowed in cabin baggage. Pack them in your check-in baggage. Some dry snacks are allowed in carry-on luggage in some airlines.
- Passport size photos are expensive in the US and finding a photo studio might be a task. Bring additional copies from India.
- Your living place might mostly have only yellow lights. If you prefer white light, you can bring 25W CFL bulbs.
- Take enough masala powders to support yourself for at least six months. Depending on your city, you may or may not have an Indian store nearby. Even if you do, imported masalas are expensive.
- If you have a medical condition, please pack the specific medicines for at least two months with you. Also, consult your physician about the alternative medicine you can purchase in USA.
- if you wear spectacles, bring an additional pair. An extra pair is a part of your pre-departure checklist that you should not miss since spectacles are expensive in the US.
Often, we end up buying a lot more than is required. Overspending on shopping is unnecessary as we might not use all the items when we are in America. Shop smart and save money and space for your essential items.
Travel Bags
There are three things you should keep in mind while looking for your travel bags:
- Good Quality: Seeing your bag break down during your journey is the last thing you want.
- Light-weight: You do not want to buy heavy bags and end up adjusting your items for compromising the weight limit.
- Dimensions: Make sure that the dimensions and the shape of the bag match with the description of the airlines.
The Final Packing - Take a final look at your Pre-departure checklist before you pack
- Pack and weigh all your bags to ensure that they do not exceed the weight limit. Leave an identity mark/luggage tag on each bag.
- Make sure that all your valuables, relevant documents, your passport, and your air-ticket are kept in cabin baggage.
- Get a haircut/grooming done before you leave. Salon services are expensive in the US.
- Leave a copy of all your original documents back home.
- As part of your pre-departure checklist, keep a copy of important phone numbers including your senior's/university phone number and directions to your accommodation.
- Inform your university's International Student's Office about your date and time of arrival a few days in advance. Ask for the availability of airport services.
