Admit in hand, What Next?
This article walks one through the tasks that must be done pre-departure to your dream destination. As an international student attending Texas A&M University, College Station, all details presented here are with respect to pursuing an MS/PhD in the US. Feel free to reach out for specific information about relocation related to other countries.
Make sure to read the entire article in one go to get an overall picture of everything that needs to be done (there is no specific order😅).
Many students tend to book their tickets once their visa interview is confirmed. For the best deals, I recommend booking by the start of May (for Fall admits) and September (for Spring admits). Skyscanner and Google Flights are some of the best places to check the prices. It is advised you book the tickets through the airline’s official website. Ensure a minimum of 2 hours of layover at your connections. Take into the refund policy and rescheduling options while booking a ticket. Make sure to travel at least two weeks before your classes start, as it will help you settle in.
Note: Qatar and Emirates provide student discounts with some perks. Links to check out:
Check out the penultimate section of my previous article Route to Masters’, for more insights on I-20 and F-1 visa preparation.
After you receive your admit letter, you will be given access to your Student Portal, where you can view pre-registration dates. Keep track of the dates so you can register for the classes you want to take on time. LinkedIn and Rate My Professors are excellent places to know more about the courses you are interested in.
Some registration holds will be placed that need to be cleared before you can register. Check the holds out by the start of March to complete all pre-registration requirements on time. The most common are Transcripts, which must be mailed by your latest university, TB test report, and vaccination report (depending on the uni).
Apartment leasing options for the Fall semester open around October (e.g., October 2023 for Fall 2024). Your I-20 and F-1 Visa copy are required to sign a lease. Look for apartments in and around campus (a 2-mile radius, with good campus bus services and/or biking paths). The Student Portal would have listings of both on-campus and off-campus housing. While most options are covered, Apartments.com can help you look at independent housing communities which you might find more suitable.
Renter’s Insurance — It’s compulsory in the US. Your lease will outline the details and the coverage required. Lemonade offers one of the best prices.
Yocket.com has communities dedicated to each university where you can track the admit details of others who have applied. It is also where you can find friends and links to WhatsApp groups of people planning to attend the university. These WhatsApp groups will serve as an excellent source of information. Use your network to find and join such groups as soon as possible.
Note: Students planning to attend TAMU, contact me for the link.
Put your Facebook account into use. If you don’t have one, create one. Go through your university org directory to find the organisations that can support you in the initial days of your stay in the US (e.g., Indian Graduate Student Association (every uni has one), International Student Association). Find those orgs on Facebook and join the pages. Join their WhatsApp groups for information. FB Marketplace is a godsend for students relocating to the US. You can find almost everything you need to set up your pod for decent prices in excellent condition. Facebook communities also post sublease availabilities for lower rents than the resident community offers. Keep an eye out for that.
For packing — get a cabin suitcase, a good laptop bag and two big suitcases — that come with a TSA lock. Below are the links to the generic lists I used to pack the needed stuff. Research the place, jot down your wants and needs and prepare a checklist of everything you need. Complete packing at least two weeks before your departure, as it will help you refine your packing. Leave your queries related to packing(or anything) in the comments, and I shall respond as soon as possible.
(Credits to the original creator of the files linked below).
Note:
- Prescriptions and bills are required for all medicines you carry. Keep the original in your cabin luggage (with other necessary documents) and copies in all the check-in bags.
- There are restrictions when it comes to carrying electronic goods. Any device that houses a lithium-ion battery (laptops, game consoles, phones) and your regular AA or AAA batteries cannot be kept in check-in luggage and has to go into the cabin luggage. Make sure to check the TSA requirements for anything you take.
- Some airlines are very strict with bag measurements and weights. Check out your ticket for the specifics and get a weighing scale to be on the safer side.
Get two folders — keep your admit letter, I-20, and financial documents in one folder and place it in your cabin luggage in a way that is easily accessible. In addition to your passport, these documents will be asked at the immigration counters. Keep the rest of the papers in another folder and inside the cabin luggage, as we never know what the immigration officer will ask for. Keep a copy of all the documents in both check-in bags.
For payment of fees — Flywire. If you are taking a loan, your bank officials will guide you regarding the process. Otherwise, WSFx will help with all your needs at nominal service charges.
For your expenses — Load money into a Forex Card. You can use the card for initial transactions. After setting up a bank account in the US (covered later), you can transfer the money from your Forex to your local account. You will hardly use any cash, but carrying around 250 USD (with a mixed denomination) will be handy.
Zolve is a platform that helps students set up bank accounts from India. However, the conversion charges may not be nominal. They also provide students with a free Mint SIM card preloaded with a basic pack, which can be activated from India, making the initial communication needs hassle-free.
Transiting from the Airport to your stay location — Hitch has door-to-door services in Texas and Florida. Many university towns/cities have shuttle services between major airports and a common drop-point. These will prove to be cost-effective options if booked in advance. Other popular options are Uber, Lyft and Greyhound.
Note: Hitch Referral
Temporary Accommodation — It is most likely for you to arrive before the actual lease start date. While booking a hotel room seems a direct solution, it will be expensive. Finding a group in the community and booking an Airbnb in advance will be cost-effective and give you a group of people to hang out with. At the same time, you adjust to the new environment. Book as early as you can.
I have covered everything that needs to be taken care of. Any suggestions or comments would be highly appreciated.
Stay tuned for the article on stuff to be done on arrival.
Onwards and Upwards 🙌
