USA Travel Checklist and Immigration Process for Students 2024

Many prospective students choose to study in the United States. They are yet not aware of the required documents, processes to follow to get to the United States, the Name of the University and courses offered in the school, and lots more. This page outlines the Travel documents required to migrate to the United States for studies and other necessary processes to follow to have a smooth migration to the US.

Study Visa Approval Stage

Every student migrating to the US needs a student’s Visa approval. After the student visa approval, a student can study in the USA 30 days before the start date listed on the I-20/ DS-19 form. If one arrives early, then he/she will have to visit the USA on a tourist visa to gain proper awareness of the study environment. The student would have to leave the USA and come back again on a student Visa.

What is the Requirement to Study in the USA | Travel Checklist?

The list of documents required to travel for studies in the US is as listed below;

All Original Academic Qualifications/Certificates
Chest X-ray &Immunization Certificate (Recommended)
I-20/DS-19 Form
Internet Receipt Verifying SEVIS Fee Payment
Passport With A Valid Visa To Study In The USA
Proof Of Finance, Affidavit, And CA Statement
University Address And Contact Detail
University Offer Letter & Accommodation Proof

How to Study in the US

Study in the USA and Immigration Process is outlined as follows;

Fill out the customs declaration form before entering customs and immigration facilities at the US airport.
Keep all your documents handy.
Go to international arrivals, immigration, and customs.
Do not click pictures right after landing, as it may lead to interrogation and confiscation of your cell phone.
On reaching the immigration facilities, Go to the Passport Control/immigration counter and stand in the lane for foreign citizens.
Submit the passport and immigration/ customs forms to the officer on duty.
After validating the passports, the officer will declare admission to the US by putting an entry stamp on the passport.
This stamp on the Visa will act as the legal status of a student visa in the USA.
After clearing the passport control, Go to the baggage claim section to collect your baggage and forward it to customs.
If you are carrying any stuff that needs to be declared, move to the red lane that reads “Goods to Declare “; else, move to the green lane that says “Nothing to Declare“.
After completing the customs and immigration formalities, enter the International arrivals area.
Proceed to the university shuttles, cars, or taxis prearranged for your local destination.

Travelling in the USA for International Students

Travelling in a huge country like the USA undoubtedly needs a lot of research. Especially for international students since they have all kinds of time and money constraints. Concerning the finances, there are many funding options to study in the USA for international students that help cover these. While most of us know about tourist attractions, knowing how to reach that spot is much more necessary. There are various methods of transport in the USA. A few of them are the following:

Renting a Bike

One can find bike rentals very easily in the USA and opt for a relatively cheap mode to travel in the USA.
On Average, Renting a bike in the USA costs $75 per day but varies depending on the bike.
Most college campuses in the US provide a bike rack for parking the bikes safely.

Buses

Public transportation in the US is expensive in urban areas.
However, buses do not run as often in rural areas, and an alternative method is used.
Greyhound offers an inexpensive way to travel across the USA through its extensive Bus system.
The average per-person cost of travelling within cities in the USA is $7.36.

Trains and Subways

Trains and Subways are the Lifelines of Public transportation in the USA.
They are comparatively cheap to travel in the USA.
The average fare for trains and subways in the USA is $2.75.
They are a bit more expensive than buses, yet faster, but are usually considered for travelling long distances.

Renting a Car in the USA

Renting a car in the USA is the best option for long weekend plans.
Many car rentals are happy to rent their cars to international students.
The average car rental cost is $ 80, considering cheap car rentals.
The cost might vary with the type of car rented.
Make sure to have a valid driver’s license before renting a car to avoid legal trouble.