Various cultural events are celebrated by ICC such as Daawat, Independence Day, Swaagat & holi.
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Answers several queries regarding Visa, Travelling and provides travelling guide to new Students.
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ICC plans and conducts several Activites each academic year. There are 4 major Events that are part of ICC, starting with Daawat in Fall. Students from all communities are invited to be a part of these events.
Independence Day
Garba
Daawat
Republic Day
Holi
Swaagat
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Before coming to US for masters we have a lot of queries regarding various things which are not answered by any brochure or our best friend Google. Find the FAQ's below.
Travel Tips
Travel Tips
After getting the visa the next thing to do is booking tickets.
Days before the flight, call the airline to confirm your reservation and to cross-check everything the travel agent may have told you.
Indicate whether you want Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVM), etc. This can be done at the time of booking the tickets with the travel agent.
Some airlines offer Frequent Flier programs (e.g. 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.
Avoid transit of airline at airports A direct flight is the best. If change of airline can't be avoided, make sure that there is at least 4-6 hours gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting flight.
Baggage is usually safe with a single airline while 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)
Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before the check-in time.
Drink lot of fluids on the flight. This will help you recover the jetlag very fast.
Many airlines are fussy about the weight of your cabin baggage. It is always better to check with your travel agent regarding this.
Always keep a photocopy of your passport, tickets, I-20, contact info of your school in every baggage including your cabin baggage.
Always keep original copies of your CA certificate, bank statements, sponsor's affidavit, passport, admission letters in your cabin baggage. Sometimes, the immigration officials may ask you to present them at the airport.
Ideally, a student can bring $ 500/- in cash, $ 1000/- in travelers cheques and a personal draft of the amount equal to one semester's expenses. You may check your I-20 to determine this amount.
Things to be done in advance
Learn typing.
Learn driving.
Learn to cook.
Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20
All other changes are best made in the U.S.
Make outstation purchases (sweater, thermal underwear, cassettes.)
Have a complete medical checkup done.
Get prescriptions and medicines for all common ailments
Get your eye-sight checked - get a new prescription. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses, lenses.
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.
Packing
Packing
Start your packing at least two days before departure date.
Buy two strong boxes - they should be able to withstand a lot of mishandling. They should be as large as possible within the size limitations (however most airlines are not very strict about baggage size).
Put identification marks and labels both inside & outside the boxes (apart from this, the airlines will also provide you with adhesive labels). Boxes with independent top & bottom are preferable.
Box specifications, As an example the Air India economy class baggage specifications to the USA are given below. Note the specs. may be different for other countries/airlines.
2 pieces of baggage with total linear dimension (l+b+h) not exceeding 270cm (106). Moreover the total linear dimension of each piece should not be over 158cm (62).
The weight of each bag should not exceed 32kg (70lb).
Carry on baggage : In addition you can carry a bag with linear dimension not
exceeding 115cm (45) onboard (fits on overhead compartments).
For most other airlines the baggage specifications are similar. If you are taking a break
outside USA/Canada contact your travel agent or airline for details.
Boxes Content
Things to be kept in the boxesThings to be kept in the boxes
Copy of all certificates/documents (originals in hand baggage).
Necessary books/notebooks (some suggested books are - Clark's Tables, a good dictionary/thesaurus, a booklet for units conversion) [note: there should be no legal hassles taking photocopies of books - but don't flaunt them to around campus.
Copy of address book/telephone book/diary.
Some stationery and related items suggested (not absolutely necessary - just for the first few weeks) are : Rubber stamp with house address, airmail covers, few Indian razor blades for cutting work, screw driver, Indian postal stamps for sending letters through someone coming to India
Medical history file.
At least one pair leather chappals, two hawai chappals (extra straps).
Soap (bath), toothbrushes (slightly costly in the US).
You may want to bring audio cassettes, CDs of your favorite music.
You may want to enquire with the travel agent regarding valuable items on which custom duty may be levied.
All Indian groceries, pickles and other food stuff MUST be sealed completely else they may be removed by the US customs.
Clothes
Clothes
Usually clothes are machine washed once every two weeks hence two weeks supply of clothes is needed. Get all clothes little loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash or you might probably grow SAT.
14-15 sets of undergarments, 6-8 pairs socks, handkerchiefs.
Good swimming trunk, few shorts, T-shirts may be brought.
At least one tie, 1-2 belts.
Two ordinary towels (Turkish ones start stinking).
One bed sheet, lungi/dhotis/pajamas, thermal underwear (2-4), extra woolen sweater.
Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the items listed above most of them are available pretty cheap in the US (made in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear.
Vessels
Vessels
Big pressure cooker (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets).
Dosai turner, charani (server with holes), rice server & other servers
Cooking book will always be handy. Note: Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to IIT. Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the US and you can buy a full set.
Things to be kept in Hand Baggage
I-20, passport, ticket, financial documents (CA certificate, Bank Statements), admission letter, affidavit of sponsor, all college or school marksheets and related certificates.
First aid medicines. For example, tablets for headache, nausea, fever, loose motion.
Novel/magazines/books for in-flight reading, sweater. If you are coming in Fall, the weather will be hot enough, thus you would NOT need to wear any warm clothing then. Else you MUST be prepared to face extremely cold temperatures if you are arriving in Spring.
Address book/phone book (Indian & US)
Copies of your photo (passport size)
Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (two sets of clothes, valuables like addresses etc)
Things to be left at home
Things to be left at home
List of addresses/phone numbers at which info about you can be obtained.
One copy of all your important documents.
A copy of all relevant parts of Medical History files.
Arrange to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
Arrange to apply/collect/mail your transcripts (about 10 in number preferable)
Your tailoring measurements.
Few blank signed papers - so that your parents can be authorized to look after anything on your behalf.
Prior To boarding Flight
To do in the last week before the flight
Call up & find if there is any delay or change of schedule of the plane (inform the people coming to pick you up of any such change).
Rest well - ready to face the long journey / jet lag and bid bye to all concerned.
On the day of the flight, in-flight and later
As it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable preferably cotton full hand shirt and trousers. Wear your shoes
Be at the airport at least one hour before check in time.
Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible.
For vegetarians, watch out before you eat for you may get non-vegetarian food even if you had asked for vegetarian. Veg. food is generally bland - fruits/juice are good choices.
Never hesitate to ask questions.
Once out of India be very careful (from sheer experience of seniors). Don't trust anyone. Don't hire a taxi (unless emergency) till you reach your destination. If required don't hesitate to spend money.
Don't hesitate to talk to people to ask questions. Usually people will answer all your queries satisfactorily.
Port of entry procedures
Port of entry procedures
Sometime before landing the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms & immigration forms as mentioned below. Fill these out on the plane (you will submit them to the appropriate authorities when you land). Do not hesitate to take the flight attendant's help.
You can indicate that you have nothing to declare & total value of all goods you carry is less than $100 on the customs form.
Fill form I-94 in the plane. After seeing your documents, immigration officer will indicate length of stay, university, etc. This will be attached to your passport. You must retain this I-94 form, else you will face trouble in leaving USA later.
Form I-20 ID copy - all transactions regarding your non-immigrant status will be recorded in this form. This should be retained at all times (not surrendered when you temporarily leave the US). Your admission number will be given - memorize it & note it elsewhere.
Just before you land the correct local time will be announced set your watch [dual time watch will come in handy here] Chicago is 10:30 hours behind India from 31st April to 31st October and 11:30 hours behind India for other times.
Once you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration counter rush for them to beat the queue. It might take half to one hour here.
Keep your I-20, passport, admission & aid letters ready. They might ask few questions like - is this your first time in the US? -Are you a student on F1 visa? -Which University are you joining?
The immigration officer will attach an I-94 card on one of the pages of your passport usually against the visa page
Be very relaxed and answer all the questions that the officer will ask. Sometimes the officer may ask you to present financial documents or letters from your sponsors. Thus it is advisable to carry these along with you in your cabin baggage.
Then go to the conveyor belts to fetch your luggage. Pick up a cart to carry the bags. Then pick up your bags as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eye-catching labels help here). If you don't get your baggage inform the enquiry section.
Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked, tell the officer that you are a student on F-1 visa, school, department and coming to USA for the first time. If asked to open the baggage do so slowly but do not mess up the place. Note : In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply waved through.
Never leave your baggage unattended. Don't go out of the airport until somebody comes to receive you. If you have doubt the person who has come to receive you, don't hesitate to ask for his/her identification paper.
Once you reach your house (or other destination) call home & inform them of reaching safely.
VISA documentation
VISA documentation
Consulate Documents
Copy of Web appointment (VFS).
Form DS-156.
Form DS-157 (for all males in the age group of 16 to 45 years)
Form DS-158 (for applicants seeking visas in F category)
Two Demand Drafts as mentioned below :
Non-immigrant visa application fee (non-refundable) RS. 8000(approx) Courier fee Rs. 400(check the website for updates)
One Photo on form DS-156. (Photo guidelines are given. Kindly follow them as described.)
Passport - Each applicant must possess an individual passport valid for travel to the U.S. with a validity date at least six months beyond the intended period of stay.
Important: Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each draft
US University Documents:
An I-20 Form, Please be sure to submit both pages of the I-20 form, signed by you and by a school official.
HSC certificates or provisional certificates, mark sheets, and transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
Scores from U.S. standardized tests such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT .
Financial evidence showing you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. You must demonstrate that funds are immediately available to cover the first year's costs, and show evidence that funds will be available for all subsequent years.
Proof of Funds Documents:
Proof of ability to finance the education
Scholarship letters,
Bank letters,
Salary slips of parents and other sponsors if any,
IT returns for last 2-3 years etc of parents and other sponsors if any.
Rental receipts of own shops or buildings if any with revenue stamps.
Sponsors Business P/L Account duly certified by a CA if sponsor is a businessman.
Pension Papers - if sponsor is retired.
6 months of Bank records - i.e. Bank statements or Bank Passbooks of sponsors.
Affidavit of supports by sponsors and student separately.
Loan approval letters (if you want to show loans.)
