A Complete Guide For Students Moving To The United States Of America

Moving out from your home country is a big transition, one flight brings you among strangers. The new adventure and life prospects make it worthwhile, yet, knowing about these changes would make the journey more seamless. Some of these surprises include the cultural shock, lifestyle, and grocery shopping.

In the longer run, this blog will help you adapt early and help you with early focussing on the intended purpose of their visit, i.e. studying, and securing a job. But, the transition would be easy for Indians in the US because of the influential and vibrant Indian-American community. Now we will get into the details about the things to do before moving to the US.

Costs of Moving to the USA

Moving to a foreign country requires funds and it's important to ensure to make some expenses available beforehand to avoid financial stress. These expenses don't include the tuition fees.

However, the table below provides an estimation of several expenses, which may vary depending on the city, lifestyle, and university location. However, after reaching the new country avoid overspending and save for unforeseen expenses like medical emergencies or sudden changes in accommodation.

You can refer to the cost of study in the US  to create a more realistic budget and stick to it. In the initial days or say the first month at least, one should avoid extravagant expenses on going out, exploring new places outside the city, doing shopping, etc. Another thing that students usually do is underestimate their expenses. They go into unrealistic thinking that they can cut on all the expenses and become a money-saving ninja once they land in the US. A new country brings newer expenses that can only be understood by living there, so one shouldn’t think of unnecessarily cutting expenses that are poised to be a part of the monthly budget.

Options to Sponsor Your US Education

The cost seems overwhelming so, you can consider a few available options to sponsor your US studies. 

Scholarships:

Many international students hesitate to apply for scholarships as they feel that they might not qualify for them. However, the government and private organizations provide merit-based and need-based scholarships. Want to explore available scholarships? Tap here and you get redirected to all the details you need. 

Education Loans:

Many Indian banks and NBFCs offer education loans to students looking forward to studying abroad. You should compare interest rates, repayment terms, and loan coverage before choosing the best option. Instead of doing this you can just simply use the GyanDhan Eligibility tool and make the process more easy.

Know more about Education Loans

Part-time Jobs:

After landing in the US you can consider taking up assistantships, some online/offline paid gigs, or campus jobs that can fit in your 20-hours per week condition. This earning can help you accommodate your monthly expenses. 

Make a Budget and Stick to it

One of the most crucial challenges that a student faces after moving to the US is managing their finances. Expense management can bring a substantial change in the way an individual lives. Since living expenses are also covered under the loan students have limited or no option to expand their finances. In the initial days, no one gets a part-time job, so taking control of the finances becomes very important. The act of managing the living expenses starts with knowing the monthly living expense allotment under the loan and then juxtaposing it with an average cost of living expenses. One can search the cost of living of a particular city wherein they have chosen to study, which helps students in making a better plan for expense management.

Get the Health Insurance with Broadest Coverage

Nobody knows what might happen to them at any point in time. The cost of healthcare and hospitalization is very costly. It can cost a fortune when seen from an Indian middle-class family. So, it becomes very important to choose the best possible insurance coverage. An international student has to take health insurance compulsorily. It helps the students in those times when they don’t have access to their families. So, it becomes important to have a health coverage plan that gives maximum coverage to students. Health insurance is also included in many loan plans, but students have to ask for it explicitly. If a loan plan doesn’t mention the insurance coverage, then the borrower should either ask for it or switch to a loan that offers it. Students can also get help from the international student office and ask for assistance in taking the best insurance plan. The universities’ officials help students take an insurance plan that gives them maximum coverage at minimal costs. 

How to Get Your Student Visa?

After you have planned your expenses it’s time to apply for a study visa for the USA, most students apply for the F-1 student visa. Follow these steps to get your F-1 student visa:

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  Get accepted by a SEVP-approved university.
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  Receive the I-20 form from the university.
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  Pay the SEVIS fee (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).
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  Complete the DS-160 form and schedule a visa interview.
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  Attend the visa interview at your nearest US embassy or consulate.
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  Receive your visa and prepare for travel.

Refer to the Study in USA for more information. 

Choose an Affordable Place of Residence

You have applied for your visa and arranged all the funds. It’s time to look for a roof in the new country. This will help you prepare for your stay in advance and help you avoid unseen circumstances. Thus, remember these key points before renting a place:

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  Rent: Residence in the US can be a lot more pricey than in India.

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  Travel: Choosing a place of residence not too far from the university campus will help you get time for studies. 

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  Comfortable: Renting a place for less rent can be a risky task thus, make sure that you go for a comfortable place that comes with all your necessities. 

Look for your dream space in your dream country, Explore.

Open a Bank Account in the US

When a student moves to the US, they need a US bank account to manage money safely. However, cards along become a useful means of managing daily expenses, thus, Indian students should go for a bank that provides a US credit card along with a bank account. 

Packing Essentials for the USA

When you get on the flight, you need to ensure that you are carrying all the essentials but, within the allowed weight of the suitcase. Therefore, pack smartly to save you money and hassle. Here’s what to bring:

What to Bring?

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  Essential clothes, toiletries, and footwear.
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  Important documents (passport, visa, transcripts, etc.).
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  Minimal utensils (basic plates, cutlery).
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  Some non-perishable food items (check customs regulations).
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  Universal adapter for your devices.

What to Buy There?

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  Buy heavy winter wear in the USA.
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  Phone charger because USA uses 110V and Type A/B plug sockets.
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  US SIM Cards for easy communications. 

Seasonal Clothing Guide

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  Winter (Nov-Feb): Heavy coats, thermal wear, boots, gloves.
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  Spring (Mar-May): Light jackets, jeans, sneakers.
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  Summer (Jun-Aug): T-shirts, shorts, sunglasses.
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  Fall (Sep-Oct): Sweaters, hoodies, comfortable shoes.

Choosing the Best Mobile Phone Plans

Search for the available mobile networks and their plans and finalize them to make an easy decision while buying them at the airport. Local calling in the US is limited, and most calls are international. Thanks to WhatsApp, now with data, it is much more convenient to talk with mobile data than international calling packs. But again this varies from one student to another. One should check all the mobile plans and see which operator and which plan gives the best option. International students usually go for prepaid plans wherein they have to make the payment before each month. It is the best option as it doesn’t require an international student to give a social security number. 

Transportation & Getting Around

Most cities have a reliable public transport system with buses, subways, and trains. It’s better to go for the monthly passes as you can avail of student discounts on monthly passes.

You can also rent a car for transportation and many students get their home country’s license converted into the state's license. However, before taking a decision ensure that your rented place comes with parking to avoid any inconvenience later.

Along with that traffic rules are also important whether you drive or not. In most universities, traffic rules are usually explained to new students, but it’s always better to know every bit of detail beforehand. In India, the traffic rules aren’t as strict when compared to the US. Breaking traffic rules can land students in big problems. So, students are advised to know the details about traffic management before moving to the US to avoid any problems while crossing the road or understanding a signal. The laws in the US are pretty strict, and if there is a sign of “No Crossing”, the authorities mean it, and crossing it will cost a lot. So, students who are already limited in their expenses should take care of it as this will affect their future too if they are held up for breaking traffic rules. The driving direction is also different from India, as we are habitual driving on the left side while the US laws have right-side driving.

Get Well Versed with the US Metric System

It is very important to understand the US metric system as it is different from the one used in India. Students in India use kilometers, kilos, and degrees Celsius, but when they move to the US, they struggle a lot. Students need to understand all this, as in the US, the student will have to buy a pound of cheese, walk a quarter-mile to the nearest book center, and adjust the thermostat to Fahrenheit. In the initial days, students struggled a lot with the new metrics, so they needed to practice with the American metrics systems for at least one month before moving to the US. For the initial days, students usually rely on the conversion apps that are already there on their mobile phones. 

Safety Tips for International Students

Being an international student handling so many things can be tough but, ensuring safety should not be. So, here are some safety tips for international students to keep their journey safe and sound. 

Avoid Scams & Frauds:

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  Beware of fake landlords and housing scams.
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  Do not share personal banking details with strangers.
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   Verify emails and calls before sending money.

Emergency Helpline Numbers:

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  Remember the helpline number for emergencies.
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  Keep a backup of all the contact details.

Campus & City Safety Guidelines:

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  Always lock your accommodation.
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  Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas.
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  Keep emergency contacts saved on your phone.

Keep All the Documents Handy 

Once a student moves to the US, they must have all the important documents with them. One should start keeping all the important documents in a separate folder at least a month before departing to the US. Since sending documents from India will take around a week, it is advised to take all the documents with them at the time of leaving India. In the initial days, one might have the use of important documents. This is not an exhaustive list of documents. The list of documents might change depending on the university where the student is planning to study and also on the city where they will be living.

Important documents that a student must carry:
 

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  The photocopy of a student visa, at least two copies. 
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  Along with the passport, at least five copies of it. 
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  Original degree certificate, and at least five copies of it. 
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  Original transcript, and at least five copies of it. 
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  Attested copies of the documents mentioned above. 
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  Immunization form. 
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  SEVIS fee receipt (at least two copies)
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  English Proficiency Test Report, at least two photocopies. 
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  Recommendation letter. 
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  At least two photocopies of air tickets.

Always Avoid Getting into a Conflict with Locals

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  Avoid getting into a conflict as it might reflect very poorly on the part of an immigrant who went to study.
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  Don’t help or get involved in an offense, like a ticket while driving a car.
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  To get a job in the US don’t take the help of a shortcut otherwise, it might impact your chances of getting a green ticket.

Most of the factors can be learned within a day but, implementing them in your daily life can be confusing. Thus, ensure that you research and learn them to make your living a little easier from the first day. Helping you with all these tips has one ultimate goal which is to build a bright future. Hope this blog helps with your future life which you have been dreaming of for years.

Frequently Asked Questions