The day before checklist and in flight tips

The day before Checklist for Students Traveling to USA

• Airline tickets, Passport, I-20 (Travel documents/immigration documents).
• Health care documents/Immunization form and immunization completion certificate.
• General and specific medication/Spectacle and Contact Lenses and spares.
• Clothing and Accessories: Sweaters, Umbrella/raincoat, even a pair of good water-proof boots if you can.
• Formal attire and traditional attire.
• Required pots and pans, even a masala box if you can.
• Edible items/Spices/Masalas
• Textbooks, plastic files and folders to start you off in school. Other Stationery you think will be useful.
• Your list of contact numbers and useful addresses.
• Some loose change in 25 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents or at least in 1 dollar bills.
• Travelers' checks/cash for foreign exchange.

Things to be kept in Hand Baggage

• Some medicines (including for air-sickness)
• Novel/mags/books for in-flight reading
• Sweater
• Original important documents (I-20, visa, tickets ...)
• Enough money (little cash, travelers' checks)
• Address book/phone book (Indian & US)
• Copies of your photo (passport size)
• Enlisted steps to be followed in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc)
• Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (two sets of clothes, valuables like addresses etc)

Things to be kept on person

• Shorter extract of contact addresses - especially of people coming to pick you up.
• Receipt got along with travelers' cheques - in case you lose the Travelers’ Cheques

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
• A few blank signed papers or Power of attorney to your parents.

On the day of the flight & in-flight later

• Since it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable (Cotton dress + full hand shirt). Wear your shoes in-flight. You can remove them (some airlines give in-flight shoes - else relax in socks)
• Be at the airport 3-4 hours before flight departure
• Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible
• For vegetarians - watch out before you eat - you may get non-veg even if you had asked for veg. Veg. food is generally bland. Fruits/juice is good choices. (Before ordering anything on board check if you have to pay for it separately for it). Don't hesitate to ask questions.
• Once out of India be very sharp.
• Don't hesitate to talk to people to ask questions -
• Usually they will answer all your queries properly.