After Visa Preparation

First and Foremost
There are certain things that have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as get you your visa - much before the flight.
 Learn typing
 Learn driving and get the driving license and an International Driving Permit. This usually takes 40 days. So its better that you start off early.
 Learn to cook.
 Apply for a bank loan (if necessary)
 Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.


Immunization:
Find out the necessary immunization info and get everything done. Generally there are some vaccines like Hepatitis B, which require 3 doses once each month. So do it early. These vaccines are very costly in US and you certainly do not want to start spending money the moment you land in US. Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR).

Tickets:
Please go and block the ticket first. You need not pay anything while blocking, it’s free! You can pay later (5 days after blocking) after your ticket and schedule is confirmed.
 Try and book a direct flight to your place, even if you have to take a local airline it is better and safer than greyhound, which usually has its stops in the shadiest area of towns. Buy a single ticket all the way through – add on are very expensive. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is the best.
 If change of airline can't be avoided' leave at least 4-6 hrs gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting flight.
 Baggage is usually safe with a single airline - change of airline sometimes leads to misplaced luggage. Some airlines don't take care of baggage transfer - you may have to personally carry it (check this while booking) and cross check every thing you are promised by the Travel agent with the original air lines. Even if you have confirmed ticket in you hand.
 And remember to ask for student concessions...Generally all the airlines will come up with one or the other discount offer for students...so check all this out before you pay the money.
 Typical expenses: Rs.31, 000 - Rs.42, 000/-


Health Checkups
Get a medical check-up done.

Dental check up
Fresh check-up, especially if you have a major ailment.. This is VERY IMPORTANT.

Eye Check Up:
Get your eyesight checked - get a new prescription. Buy at least one extra pair of glasses or a pair of contact lens. Get requisite immunization done (especially MMR) Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/US brand name)

Important: Complete the health documentation that you may have to submit when you arrive in US.

Medicines:
LIST OF MEDICINES RECOMMENDED BY A DOCTOR

Crocin tablets (paracetamol 500 mg)- 3 strips
For fever, body ache, and headache.
One tablet three times a day as necessary.
Above 60 kg please use 650 mg tablets (thermol/dolo).

For fevers, mild pain relief Actifed tablets – 2 strips (side effect drowsiness)

A costlier but much better alternative is Alerid (cetrizine) or Neoloridin(loridine)less sedation and next to no side effects

Azithromycin 500 mg tablets (aziwin) - 3 strips. One tablet once a day for atleast 3 days ...use if you have a bacterial cold or Respiratory infection..(most common symptom being dark yellow colored mucus, fever, etc.).NOT NEEDED FOR ordinary cold (white mucus, watery secretions)

Sporidex 500mg capsules - 2 strips. One tablet twice a day when necessary as advised (please don’t use on your own. This stuff needs a prescription to be used properly ... meant only for persistent troublesome infections)

Avomine tablets - 1 strip for air/ motion sickness. One tablet as necessary.(causes drowsiness)

Lomotil/Andial tablets- 15 (for diarrhea) But remember the best treatment for diarrhea is plenty of fluids, some good rest and bland food.

Omeprazole 20 mg .For gastritis.Can be take once or twice a day

Digene tablets- 20 mg. For stomach discomfort .One each three times a day.

Spasmoproxyvon capsules - 3 strips for abdominal colic pain, backache, menstrual pain etc. One tablet every 6 hours or as necessary.

Domstal tablets - 10. For vomiting .Has to be taken atleast half an hr before food

Electral powder - 2 packets. One teaspoonful mixed with drinks to make up loss of electrolytes after vomiting & diarrhoea

Novalgin - 2 strips for headache & bodyache. One tablet as necessary.

Brufen 600mg tablets - 2 strips. For arthirtic joint pain. One tablet three times a day after food.

Avil Tablets - 1 strip for allergy (use cetrizine/loridin for less sedation), One tablet as necessary.

Relaxyl ointment - 1 tube to be applied as pain balm.

Band Aid assorted - 12

Soframycin skin ointment - 1 tube

Nimesulide tabs. For the severest of headaches and pains. (But banned in the US).
100mg upto 3 times a day

Ciplox capsules 500 mg. 2 strips.1 capsule twice a day. For Infective diarrheas

Vitamin B-complex capsules .Just in case your starving yourself out there.

SHOPPING

There are so many things one needs to carry, as this is the first time you are going abroad. If you have a friend who is going to the same university, for the same semester, it is better to share few things. You have to carry the most essential ones like pressure cooker.

Click Here to Read About the List of items.

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, traveller's' checks)
 Address book/phone book (Indian & US)
 Copies of your photos (passport size)
 Enlisted steps to be followed in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc.)

Things to be kept in person:
 Shorter extract of contact addresses - especially of people coming to pick you up.
 Receipt got along with traveller's' checks - in case you lose the TC's.
 1 handbag to carry in flight stuff with you (buy a good quality, spacious one 'cause you might have to use it for carrying clothes to the laundry later).
 1 backpack (get a good one, you will use it almost all the time in US).

Books:
Most books used in US are vague. Heard one professor-using book in electronics by an Indian author to teach his students! Ha ha ha. These books are easy to follow.
 Contact students at your Univ.
 A good dictionary
 Your calculator
 Your entire fundamental course texts and notes (for reference of basics).
 Standard mathematical table and formulae handbook. Might also want to buy an alarm clock.
 Good story books if you have a penchant for reading, though you may not find time during the first semester.

Money to be taken with you:
Other than you fee requirements you may have to take $1000-$2000 depending upon where you are going (you can get this info from your seniors over there). This you can get from Thomas Cook/American Express and of course any Foreign Exchange bank like SBI, SBH IOB etc. Do this after you buy your ticket. And remember! Take major part of the money in DD or TC's. The typical combination is. DD for the entire fee you have to pay, $1000-$2000 in TCs, and $100 in cash...a combination of notes and coins....

Getting permit for us$750: (Please check... I am not sure about this.. fount it online)
This can be got from any bank authorized to do so (need not go to RBI for this). You can get this within a month of the date of the flight. The following documents have to taken along to get the permit: Passport + copy, air ticket, I-20 Student Copy + copy, grade cards + copies, p.c. + copy, xii standard pass/mark sheet + copy, aid & admission letters + copies, bank advance/any other form of payment. You may take part of the $750/- in the currency notes up to $50 is okay (legally up to $100 allowed). Money you may need to pay after going there: Other than your fee, you may have to pay the security deposit for the house, rent for the first month, groceries for the first month...basic utilities like toaster, rice cooker etc.which may come around to $500 approx.

Documentation:
Carry all documentation safely, and have photocopies to back you up - letter from Univ., mark sheets, etc. (the visa stuff basically). Things to get photocopied: Make three sets of the following copies, keep one set at home and take the remaining two sets with you.
 Visa
 Xth, Inter (10+2), Degree marks sheets, Convocation Certificate of Under graduation.
 I-20 and acceptance letter from the university.
 Take all the I-20's with you if you have more than one.

Important things to do before you leave:
 Give power of attorney (authorization letters) to your father or brother or to someone on whom you rely
 Put your signature on a 10 plane papers, write you name below it, keep these at home, they may need it for any purpose like authorization to collect marks sheets, Provisional certificate, Transfer certificate, Bonafide certificate, Degree certificate, Migration certificate from the university, applying for the refund from the college etc.
 Make all bank accounts joint

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 20 in number preferable)
 Your tailoring measurements.

Read Here What to do in the last week and on the day of your flight here