Pre-Departure
Pre-Departure
Before
you leave for the USA:
You must take care of many things before you depart for the United States.
This section describes necessary documents, discusses financial needs
and money matters, and gives a general idea about what you should take
with you. The information is organized under the following headings:
• Necessary Documents
• Baggage Information
• To do or not to do
• Financial Matters
As a foreign national
entering the United States, you must have certain documents as evidence
of your legal status. These include a passport, the visa stamped inside
your passport by an officer of a U.S. embassy or consulate, and a "Certificate
of Eligibility" (Form I-20 A-B) for students and scholars. Other
immigration forms, including the I-94 "Arrival-Departure Record"
(also called "Permit to Stay") and the I-20 ID Copy (issued
only to M-1 and F-1 visa holders), will be stamped at your point of entry
into the U.S.
These documents define your legal status. They are necessary for your
entry and stay in the United States and also for any temporary departure
and re-entry into the country. It is extremely important that you keep
these official documents valid at all times. Failure to do so will cause
problems that could interfere with your education.
Please bring photocopies of all of your important documents such as pages
you’re your passport, I-20 etc. Keep them separately, maybe along
with your luggage. This will be really useful in the event of loss or
theft of the cabin baggage.
The student often ends up with excess shopping because of the anxiety and thrill of coming to the US. Before you go to shop, we strongly urge you to go through the following information, which is primarily for students coming to TAMIU. You are free to decide what to bring from your home country and what to buy in the U.S. according to your considerations. But make sure you get only as much as you can carry and can unpack and repack quickly.
Clothing
The dress code on campus is informal and a casual shirt worn with jeans
is almost a universal dress for both genders here. So, bring plenty of
them. Formal may be useful occasionally. You may, of course, want to bring
along some traditional clothes that reflect your home country’s
traditions.
Formals: One suit (Optional), Ties (1-2), Shirts and
Pants(trousers) (2-3), traditional dress(1-2). Casuals: Jeans (3-4), T-shirts
& sweatshirts (6+), cotton shirts (2+), shorts (for outdoor, indoor,
sports use) (2-3).
Footwear: One pair of each - casual shoes, athletic shoes, formal shoes
and bathroom slippers.
No matter where you stay, you'll have access to washing and drying facilities.
These machines have large capacities, so that it is possible to do 1-2
week's laundry at a time. So plan your wardrobe accordingly.
Kitchen
Food is not a problem for either vegetarians or non-vegetarians, although
if you are a non-vegetarian you have more choice. However, it would certainly
be cheaper and healthier to develop some culinary skills. If you plan
to stay in an apartment, come well armed with your favorite condiments
& some recipes.
Things you better buy in the US: Small dinner set (preferably microwaveable)
consisting of small & large plates, soup bowls, cups and knives.
Note: The US customs officers usually do not make a fuss about spices
if they are properly sealed, so pack everything in leak-proof containers.
DO NOT get any fresh fruits or meat as the US customs laws prohibit them.
Personal Items
Get the following for your first few days (or weeks if you want), but
just that much.
Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue-cleaners (if
using), soap, hairbrush, a complete shaving kit (for guys), shampoo and
moisturizer.
Medical: You will have to buy medical insurance here,
as medical bills are extremely high. Get some medicines that you have
used for minor ailments like fever, cold, cough etc., antiseptic cream
and any special ones that you need. If you have dental or eye problems,
definitely have them checked in your home country. If you wear eyeglasses
or contact lenses, get a spare pair and don't forget to get the eye prescription,
too! We also suggest that you get a complete medical checkup before getting
here, including a chest X-ray. Also not to be forgotten - carry with you,
your chest X-ray and other medical records unless you feel comfortable
about paying for getting one done here, in case the Student Health Services
needs.
Others: Needles & thread, buttons, sports equipment
if you play tennis, squash, soccer, family photos, an up-to-date address
book of all your acquaintances/ friends/ relatives in the USA - Canada
region, photos of deities (if religious-minded)
Books & Supplies
Textbooks are expensive here. Due to the diverse fields that you all are
in and since the professors here choose their own textbooks, it is impossible
for us to compile the list of textbooks that you might need. However,
you may want to bring those books that are considered standard references
for your area.
Stationery is not all that expensive, but do get the essential stuffs
that shall get you started at school. Some of them are your calculator,
micro tip pencils + refills (2), good pens (2), eraser, stapler &
staples, and most important a good backpack. Do not get the hole- punch,
as they do not use the two-hole puncher here.
Miscellaneous
Entertainment: Electronic gadgets like a music system,
Walkman, CD player are cheap and are the latest here. We recommend you
to buy them here, as the power system in various countries may be different
too. However, bring your stack of favorite CDs, cassettes.
top
Things to do or not to do
Learn cooking and
driving and get an International Driving Permit, if possible.
Things you should not get
Electrical appliances - The voltage and frequency used
here are different (110V/60Hz). And in any case, appliances like an iron,
toasters, etc. are very inexpensive and you can purchase them once you
are settled in. Some other things that you might be better off buying
here are blank notebooks & file folders.
top
Financial Matters
Since you are settling
in for the first time, the initial expenses are bound to be high. Below
is an estimate of how much money you might need for various purposes.
Costs
Being an international student, you have to be a full time student i.e.
you should be enrolled for 9 credit hours for graduate students and 12
credit hours for undergraduate students. With the graduate fellowship
provided for most of the international graduate students, the tuition
fees for first semester comes to $1200 out of which $500 is reimbursed.
You have to pay for your health insurance which may be anywhere between
170-300 dollars per semester. Living expenses off campus roughly come
to a minimum of $200- $300 per month (if you are sharing an apartment)
and on campus it comes to a minimum of $400.We STRONGLY advise you to
bring sufficient money with you.
Note: Carry your money in the form of Traveler’s Checks so that
you may cash them immediately. Demand Drafts (DD’s, also called
checks) take about eight business days to be credited to your account.
For current tution fees check the following link:
http://www.tamiu.edu/coba/ogss/expenses/index.htm
Health Insurance
All international students must have health insurance before registration. There is an insurance plan provided by the university under the guidance of the TAMUS policy. Students must be enrolled under this plan or must have a similar health plan from other insurance providers. Some international students get health insurace coverage from thier home countries, but it is advisable to get a health insurance in United States as it is fast and easier to claim. The insurance plan taken by the student must have all the features of the university health plan. The details of the health insurrance can be found at:
http://www.tamiu.edu/affairs/develop/healthinsurance.htm
http://www.hthstudents.com/
Note: A health insurance is different from travel insurance.
Travel insurance is recommended to insure your luggage while traveling.
It does not cover your health insurance.