Port of entry procedures 1. Sometime before landing the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms & immigration forms (I-94). Fill these out on the plane and ask flight attendant if you require any help. Some will provide I-94 form at the port of entry. 2. Please ensure that all electronics good, you are carrying on you at the moment (in the airplane) are under $100. Hence you can indicate that you have “NOTHING TO DECLARE” 3. Fill form I-94 in the plane or the port of entry. 4. Keep a copy and the original of your I-20 and SEVIS close at hand. This should be retained at all times (not surrendered when you temporarily leave the US). Your admission number (SEVIS No.), memorize it & note it elsewhere. 5. Don’t forget to correct your watch when you land in the airport. 6. Once you are out of the plane go straight to the immigration counter. 7. Keep your I-20, passport, SEVIS, admission & aid letters ready. After seeing your documents, immigration officer will indicate length of stay, university, etc. They might ask few questions like - is this your first time in the US? -Are you a student on F-1 visa? -Which University are you joining? Answer to the point. 8. The immigration officer will attach an I-94 card on one of the pages of your passport usually against the visa page. This will be attached to your passport. You must retain this I-94 form; else you will face trouble in leaving USA later... 9. Relax and answer all questions that the office will ask. Sometimes the officer may ask you to present financial documents or letters from your sponsors. Thus it is advisable to carry these along with you in your cabin baggage. 10. Then go to the conveyor belts to fetch your luggage. Pick up a cart to carry the bags & pick up your bags (suitable eye-catching labels help here). 11. Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked, tell the officer that you are a student on F-1 visa, school, department and coming to USA for the first time. If asked to open the baggage does so slowly but do not mess up the place. Note: In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply waved through. 12. Then go & wait at the nearest exit for the volunteers who are supposed to receive you. They will always be standing and waiting for you on the exit. If you have asked your university to make arrangement to pick you up, ensure you go with them itself. Never keep them as back up. Many a times, students have to drive close to 2 or 3 hours just to pick you up. You have to respect them for the effort they are making. After all , they are in your college and you will have to meet them mostly everyday after that. 13. Never leave your baggage unattended. Dont go out of the airport until somebody comes to receive you. If you have doubt the person who has come to receive you, dont hesitate to ask for his/her identification paper. Once you reach campus/ house call home & inform them of reaching safely!!!
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 06:19:00 +0000
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