Congratulations, you are about to leave for the United States/ UK to pursue higher education!

With all the changes you are about to experience, this is probably both an exciting as well as an uncertain time for you. Before embarking on this journey, you need to get acquainted with important practical information in order to have a pleasant and easy stay at your destination. The better your preparation, the easier your transition will be and the more you will be successful in your academic and professional endeavours.

There are certain legal documents, which should be carried with you and never packed in your checked baggage:

• Passport
  
  
• Visa
  
  
• I-20 form (USA), University acceptance letter (UK & Other countries)
  
  
• Evidence of financial resources.

Some time before your arrival at your destination, the crewmembers in your flight will distribute customs declaration forms and arrival-departure forms for immigration. Fill these forms in the plane to save precious time and submit them to the appropriate U.S/U.K. customs and immigration authorities after you land. If you are not able to understand the form properly, do not hesitate to ask the available flight attendant. Being equipped with relevant information / documentation and taking the right things with you, is the key to a pleasant journey to your intended destination.

Each student is expected to carry all the relevant academic documentation. Hence, you are advised to carry official transcripts from secondary schools, colleges, or universities. Additionally, any syllabi, course descriptions, or other relevant materials issued by the secondary school or university you have attended most recently, may be carried along. These records can be very useful in course waivers and advance standing applications.

Health Insurance: International students are required to have medical insurance. Health insurance provides coverage for medicine, visits to the doctor or emergency room, hospital stays and other medical expenses. Policies differ in what they cover, the size of the deductible and/or co-payment, limits of coverage and the options for treatment available to the policyholder .

Foreign Exchange: One can carry $ 10000 under the Basic Requirement Quota (BTQ), in which the currency can be up to $ 2000 and rest as Travelers Cheques (TC).

ITP Tip: Carry more of TC than currency as they are insured and can be reclaimed even if lost.

Immunization: Universities require proof of immunization for vaccine preventable diseases (MMR I, MMR II, chickenpox, meningitis, etc) as a condition of enrollment on residential campuses. Students are advised to take these records with them.

Air Tickets: While booking tickets check with various agents and choose airlines according to your budget and time requirements. Some of the most preferred airlines are:

• Lufthansa
  
  
• British Airways
  
  
• American Airlines
  
  
• Austrian Air

ITP tip: Check for extra baggage allowances. Some airlines allow extra baggage during students' session. Check for those details.

Luggage Rule: International flights generally have the same size and weight allowances but may cut down on the number of pieces that can be checked in. Also allowance variations can differ depending on the destination country. Please check with specific Airlines if you are close to any of these limits.

ITP Tip: Some airline follow the piece concept and some the weight concept for different countries, check for the same while booking tickets.

While in the United States/ UK, you will want to explore the country in all possible ways. ITP pre-departure counselling session will apprise you of many opportunities to discover more about the country of your choice. Right from matters related to day-to-day life e.g. shopping, food, banking, postal and telephone services, to culture and people- we will tell you everything.

Contact now to enrol in the next pre-departure session .