Traveling Tips – USA

The United States of America is the most preferred choice of destination for many individuals and families around the globe. Individuals/Families travel to the U.S. for various purposes ranging from education, employment, personal, medical treatment, business, and tourism. Possession of a valid visa and passport of your home country allows you to travel to a port of entry in the United States.

At the foremost, a prospective traveler to the U.S. needs to locate the nearest U.S. Embassy/consulate and apply for a visa well in advance. A valid passport and necessary documents should be showed to support the visa application process. Student applicants need to apply for a student visa, find colleges and universities in the U.S. and apply for financial aid. A course enrollment certificate to a U.S. school or university is compulsory before starting the visa application process.

As a norm, foreign visitors on arrival in USA are required to show valid passport and visa documents. Foreign visitors are also required to fill the I-94 form and any cash, ‘monetary instruments’ or travelers’ cheques above US $10,000 or more (in any currency) ought to be declared with the custom authorities.

Traveling Expenses

A visit to the USA is a privilege for many people around the world. Discovering America is a fun-filled adventure with breathtaking landscapes, fashion streets and innumerable interesting attractions. Tourists keen to discover the myriad culture and greatness of America do not need a lavish budget.

Taking away the cost of air fares and visa fees, one can be content with a minimum budget of $250 to $300 a day, to keep on the spirit of discovering America. Apart from travellers check and cash, major debit and credit cards of MasterCard/Visa are also accepted. U.S. Dollar ($) banknotes and bills are all of the same size and colour. An American dollar ($) is equivalent to one hundred cents and US Dollar notes come in denominations of 1, 2 , 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

Buying the Cheapest Air Tickets

The United States of America has maximum air linkages with almost every country of the world and regular flights operate from major cities of the world. Its international airports are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

America has some of the busiest airports in the world handling millions of passengers daily. Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Dallas’s Fort Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport are some of the busiest airports in the world. Airfare in the U.S.A is very competitive and Americans are the world’s most frequent fliers.

An overwhelming majority of foreign visitors arrive in the United States by air and with the constant increase in air traffic, fares have been lowered. For a cheap ticket, ticket prices of all the leading airlines for the best scheduled flight and low-cost flights may be compared through the web. It is advisable to purchase air tickets after receiving the visa. International air fares to and from the USA are amongst the lowest. Air-India, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Jet Airways, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and many other international carriers fly to major American airports from major Indian cities.

Alternative Modes of Travel

Air travel is the primary mode of travel between India and the United States. Sea routes are generally opted to ferry vast manufactured products and raw materials. However, a person interested to travel by sea shall explore gorgeous views, get a chance to socialize with a dash of adventure that is hard to find anywhere else. Luxury liners and cruises operate between India and USA via European countries.

Plan Your Journey Well

A journey needs to be planned well in advance. It is more important in the context of foreign tours as it involves issuance of passports and also issuance of visa in due time before the departure period. One also should get accustomed to the conditions in the travelling country beforehand to make the trip most pleasurable and exciting.

Acclimatizing Yourself with the New Weather Conditions

Tourists/Travellers generally opt to go to America during the summer season. Autumn or spring seasons are also commonly preferred. The climatic condition in most parts of US is temperate. Southern parts of US are hot and northern parts are more seasonal. Surprisingly, when the beaches of Florida and Miami are warm, winters in the northeast can dip to a freezing point.

As it is known that the USA is also a big country with variations in temperature, it is recommended to find out the climatic condition beforehand of the place where you will be staying.

Buying Suitable Clothes

Extra worm clothes, Warm clothes, thermal jackets, leather gloves ad warm inners are needed to keep one-self warm during winters in USA. Light clothes may be opted for moderately warm summers except for the hotter South during summers. Summers may be hot with temperatures reaching 100 ° F in extreme South. The northeast part experienced heavy snow and freezing rainfall in the winter. Summers in this part are pleasant.

The mid-west region is moderately dry with excellent conditions in summer and chilly winters. Temperatures may even dip to -50° F. Other parts of USA have a mild temperature all around the year with temperatures averaging around 40° F.

Travel Insurance

To avoid unpleasant situations arising out of sickness, injury, theft or accident, it is relatively safe to be adequately insured before travelling to a foreign destination. Travel Insurance provides a person with protection cover in case of cancellation of travel plans arising due to accident, injury or illness. A local insurer will guide you best whether to opt for domestic travel insurance or international travel insurance, in consideration with unique needs. Travel insurance plans are available on the web. However, only a few insurers provide a wide array of travel insurance plans.

Medical and General Insurance for Studying Abroad
Medical insurance covers both domestic medical and international medical insurances. An international medical insurance may suit one’s short or long term international medical concerns, depending upon the need such as the extent of single/multiple plan trips for individuals or families. Generally, international medical insurance covers emergency medical expenses, hospital stays and major surgeries.

Medicines carried while travelling must be checked to ensure that they are not controlled or banned by the government in the travelling country. Allowed medicines should also be correctly labeled in a container along with the prescription from a recognized doctor. It may be more viable to show personal health records along with the medical prescription. Maximum insurance covers from Indian students abroad come from accident and health ailments followed by pregnancy. Some universities have their own set of requirements while others have set up ties with Indian insurance companies in covering Indian students.

Travelling Tips – UK

Travellers to the UK need a valid passport and a valid UK visa. For a visa, a visa application needs to be submitted to British Embassies/Consulates through the outsourced partner VFS, located at New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, or Mumbai. While travelling to the UK from a non-EU country, one is allowed 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits, 60cc of perfume, and £145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs and 250cc of eau de toilette.

Travelling Expenses

Britain is a great destination for all kinds of travellers. Budget travellers, mature travellers, coupes, singles and students can discover Britain even on a shoe-string budget. Travelling expenses vary with the purpose of visit. A British pound (£) is equivalent to one hundred pence. Foreign currencies may be easily converted at banks, post offices, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks found commonly at international airport and important city centers.

Buying the Cheapest Air Tickets

The United Kingdom has air linkages with almost every country of the world and regular flights operate from major cities of the world. Air-India, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and many other international carriers often fly to most major airports located at London -Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton. Ticket prices of all the leading airlines for the best scheduled and low-cost flights to Britain may be compared with through the web.

While in the UK, passengers may have their airline baggage double-checked before travelling to British airports. The one-bag norm has also been lifted at six of seven British airports. Unfortunately, a limited number of airlines continue to restrict the number of airline cabin bags. Upon reaching London, a number of train services such as the Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express ferry passengers between Heathrow, Gatwick and Central London

Alternative Modes of Travel

Though aircrafts are the primary source of travel between India and Britain, Indian travellers within Europe may travel by the Eurostar. The Eurostar is a high speed service train linking London and Ashford with Paris, Brussels, and Lille. A trip with Eurostar services will let you explore unseen and exciting parts of Britain and Europe. The ride is comfortable and uniquely frequent, with fares starting from £60.

Plan Your Journey Well

Your journey needs to be planned well in advance. Visas and passports should be applied well in advance so as to avoid any last minute cancellations and delays. Acclimatizing Yourself with the New Weather Conditions Britain has periods of fine weather in all seasons. Temperatures in summer seasons usually exceed 30 degrees Celsius. The weather differs on a day to day basis with summer temperatures hovering around 14-30 °C. Winters are icy and cool at 1-5 °C.

Buying Suitable Clothes

British weather is changeable. Hence, it is advisable to include a selection of light clothes and warm clothes which you can wear depending on the temperature of the day. The weather in spring fluctuates around 6 – 11 °C, with a maximum of 18 °C. In the summer season, temperatures range around 14-30°C. In autumn, temperatures fluctuate around 7-18°C. Winter in Britain sees shortest and coolest days with temperatures dipping to a low of 1 – 5 °C.

Travel Insurance

It is relatively safe to be adequately insured before travelling to a foreign destination. Travel agents and insurance agents will be able to guide you to opt for the best available travel insurance policy in tune with your specific and unique needs. An adequate insurance policy helps an individual to cover health and medical issues, apart from theft or damage to ones’ belongings.

Medical and General Insurance for Studying Abroad

Medicals carried while travelling must be checked to ensure that they are not controlled or banned by the government in the travelling country. Medicines should also be correctly labelled in a container along with the prescription from a recognized doctor. It may be more viable to show personal health records along with the medical prescription.

For the 1,10,000 students who go abroad every year from India, medical insurance is top priority. It is mandatory for select foreign university students to buy medical and health insurance. The maximum insurance covers from Indian students abroad come from accident and health ailments followed by pregnancy. Some universities have their own set of requirements while others have set up ties with Indian insurance companies in covering insurance of Indian students.

Travelling Tips – Australia

Australia is a travellers delight with its attractive environment and amazing activities. Before you plan your journey you must meet certain norms and criteria.

A full ten year valid passport is needed with at least six months of validity after your scheduled return trip from Australia.
A valid student visa should be issued to you from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. You can apply for the visa through your nearest Australian High Commission/ Consulate.
You must remember that Australian Student visa is divided into multiple categories with ‘main course of study’ and ‘nationality’ as the sole criterion.
A full-time course acceptance certificate from an Australian educational institution is necessary before initiating the student visa application process.

Travelling Expenses

Australia has an advanced tourism industry that caters to needs of the rich and middle class segments. Fortunately, Australia is an amazing destination for even small budget travellers, such as students. It is difficult to fix a certain sum for a particular trip to Australia. On an average, a minimum of Aus. $ 250 to Aus. $300 is needed for a single day stay, which includes accommodation.

In Australia, the currency is the Australian Dollar. Foreign currencies are exchanged at banks, international airports and hotels. A 10% service tax is levied on all good and products. Credit cards from American Express, Visa, JCB and its affiliates are commonly accepted.

Buying Cheapest Air Tickets

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and most major airlines fly to its multiple cities. Air tickets must be booked after receiving a valid visa and after organizing important documents. Cheap Air tickets can easily be booked. With the expansion of ‘open sky policy’ almost everywhere, markets are very competitive. Websites of leading airlines may be checked for a comparative cheap air ticket and the ticket can be booked through credit/debit cards. Alternatively, one may get a good deal with the promotional discount air tickets offered by airlines at regular intervals, especially during festive seasons.

On arriving in Australia, be ready to show your valid passport and Incoming Passenger Card. Tinned or packaged food and also plant and animal material should be declared. Illicit drugs are banned and illegal. Persons carrying cash, travellers check, ‘monetary instruments’ of $A10 000 or more in foreign currency must make a declaration with the Custom authorities. Medicines carried while travelling must be declared so as to ensure they are not banned by the Australian government. It is advisable to carry personal health records and proper medical prescriptions assigned by a qualified medical practitioner along with medicines. Carrying prescribed medicine and prescriptions not for your personal use or for someone travelling with you is illegal.

Alternate Modes of Travel

Air travel remains the most preferred choice of travel for most travellers from India to Australian cities. However, attractive tour packages in luxury liners are offered by well known tour operators such as Cox & Kings. Such packages increase traffic in sea travel to well known destinations such as Australia. Once in Australia, its wide air coverage will fly you to different cities of your choice. For a more enjoyable trip, one may travel by high speed rail or road. Australian roads are well known all over.

Plan Your Journey Well

A journey needs to be planned well in advance. It is more important in the context of foreign tours as it involves possession of valid passports and receiving valid visa well in advance of the departure date. One also should get accustomed to the basic immigration and custom norms along with living conditions in the travelling country beforehand to make the trip pleasurable and exciting.

Visas and passports should be applied for well in advance so as to avoid any last minute cancellations and delays.

Check this list before you leave (documents, currency, other important items, contact information)
Checklist before your leave
As a preventive measure, it is important to get all your important documents thoroughly checked. A valid passport, travellers check, visa and other entry documents, educational certificates and other necessary documents should be carried along to avoid any delays and cancellation.

Financial documents and immigration documents should be awarded top most priority. You must pay attention to your university and other educational documents. Copies of visa, credit card numbers, insurance policies and passport should be carried along and back-up copies, including that of the itinerary, should be left at home with an immediate family member.

Acclimatizing yourself with the new weather conditions

Iced sloped mountains, lush rainforests, cool lagoons and surreal beaches can make you imagine the climatic condition prevalent in Australia. Climatic conditions in Australia are always unique to make you enjoy your trip to the hilt. Summers are warm and sunny and spread from December to February. It is usually a good time to enjoy sun bathing and have a good time nearby the beach. Winters are spread from June to August with snowfall on the Southern mountains The Northern states are temperate at 24°C at the same time.

Buying suitable clothes

With variations in temperatures all around Australia, it is advisable to purchase extra warm and warm clothes along with leather gloves. Light tee-shirts and sunhats may be worn to avoid the strong Sun which also causes skin related diseases. A prospective traveller may look for prior information, relating to climatic condition through the web. Accordingly, suitable clothing gear may be brought.

Travel Insurance

To avoid unpleasant situations arising out of sickness, injury, theft or accident, it is relatively safe to be adequately insured before travelling to a foreign destination. Travel Insurance provides a person with protection cover in case of cancellation of travel plans arising due to accident, injury or illness. A local insurer will guide you best whether to opt for domestic travel insurance or international travel insurance, in consideration with unique needs. Travel insurance plans are available on the web. However, only a few insurers provide a wide array of travel insurance plans.

Medical and General Insurance for Studying Abroad

Medical insurance covers both domestic medical and international medical insurances. An international medical insurance may suit one’s short or long-term international medical concerns, depending upon the need such as the extent of single/multiple plan trips for individuals or families. Generally, international medical insurance covers emergency medical expenses, hospital stays and major surgeries.

For select foreign universities, it is mandatory for students to buy medical and health insurance. Maximum insurance covers from Indian students abroad come from accident and health ailments followed by pregnancy. Some universities have their own set of requirements while others have set up ties with Indian insurance companies in covering up Indian students.

Travelling Tips

Every Indian student dreams to study abroad and get a global exposure. A degree from a university in the US, UK, Australia etc. provides you a competitive advantage. However, before packing your bags and boarding a flight, take time out to understand the implicit academic, financial, legal and living obligations for some of the countries you will be visiting.

Common Information

The most important elements of traveling abroad, regardless of your destination, are briefly discussed below:

Documentation

Make sure you have the originals and copies of all your degrees, certificates, recommendation letters, Evidence of Student/Exchange Visitor status (recent tuition receipts, transcripts), name and contact information for designated school official, at your intended school or program, valid passport and visa. Ensure that you have the required authorization to travel to another country and an offer letter from the university you will be joining. Be sure to keep your original papers in a safe place. Losing important documents in an alien land can get you into serious trouble.

Customs and Import

Make a list of duty free entitlements, baggage and belongings that carry an associated duty and forbidden articles that you are not allowed to carry on the flight, into another country and also out of another country.

Health

Some countries require that you go through some basic medical tests and furnish proof of vaccinations, such as MMR and Hepatitis-B, before entering the destination country. Most countries require you to obtain a medical insurance cover for the period of your stay.

Legal trouble

Avoid getting into scams or scandals abroad. In case you unknowingly do get into some problem, contact the Indian High Commission / Consulate of the country.

Cash, currency and banking

It is advisable not to carry too much cash or too many uninsured valuables to another country. The most preferred mode of carrying money is using travelers checks. These are safe, easily replaced or transferred, easily exchanged for local currency across the world and have wide acceptance. Most banks accept them.

Student Associations and Exchange Programs

This is especially beneficial if you are going to a location for the first time and do not have any acquaintances there. Most major universities are located in places where there are associations and exchange programs for international student communities. Many colleges themselves provide a forum for international student groups. Some major exchange programs are NAFSA Association of International Educators, USA(http://www.nafsa.org/about.sec ), Study Abroad United Kingdom (http://www.study-abroad-uk.com/index.html ) and AIESEC(http://www.aiesec.org/cms/aiesec/)

Electronic Equipment

Check the supply voltage conditions, in the location you are leaving for, before carrying wired electronic equipment. These conditions may differ in some countries rendering your equipment such as laptops and PDAs unusable.

Financials

Most countries only grant a student visa provided you can prove your financial stability on paper. Long before you start applying to institutions, you must begin to devise ways to raise funds for your education. Since most US, European, Asian and Australian colleges themselves provide scholarships, a little bit of planning and research beforehand can come in very handy. Government organizations as well as private bodies also offer aid in the form of grants, fellowships, trusts and scholarships. After you have commenced on your course, you may take up part time employment as per the rules of the nation-state.

Accommodation

Unless you can get into a university hostel, finding a comfortable and cost-effective dwelling is a matter of serious concern for any student traveling abroad. Luckily most colleges and universities either provide hostels, dormitories or have an office panel assist you in securing accommodation. Alternatively, you could register yourself on the student accommodation forums, for a particular country, on the net before leaving for the country of study. Some such forums are:

http://www.studentaccommodation.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=6
www.studentpad.co.uk/ in the UK, and
http://www.unilodge.com.au/ in Australia This way you may be able to find a host family, apartment, paying guest accommodation or student hostel quickly.
Socio-Cultural and environmental differences
Before you leave for another country you should realize that there are bound to be cultural and environmental differences from your country of birth. The best way to cushion yourself against rude shocks is to acquaint yourself with the climate, ethos, language, customs, festivals, bank holidays, public transport system, and food and eating habits of the destination country.

The United States of America

You want to realize the American dream, but are you prepared for the grind? Note the following requirements that you must have in place before leaving for a US degree.

Visa requirements:

The first step to take is obtaining the US student Visa. A student visa in the US is termed a F1 or a M1 Visa. Embassies and Consulates issue student visas in 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date. For details on required documentation and interviews, see http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

Customs Tips

For details on the Do’s and Don’ts for an international student in the USA, http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/travel/knowbeforeyougo.ctt/knowbeforeyougo.pdf brochure or contact the US Customs Service Office for more information, at P.O. Box 7407, Washington DC 20004 or 202-927-6724.

Commuting within the US

The USA has a system of subways, cabs, rental cars, ferries, trains and bus services to provide mass transit facilities. However because of easy and cheap availability of cars, the mass public transit system is practically dismantled now. It is generally advisable to live within walking distance of your institute of study. However, if this is not possible, you can buy, rent or pool a car with a group of friends or batch mates. In case you plan to drive yourself, keep in mind that an Indian license is not valid in the USA and you must go through a drivers test to obtain a US license.

Airlines

Most airlines and travel agents offer discounted air fares for students traveling between the two countries. Quantas, Air India, Indian Airlines , Jet Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific , Virgin Atlantic and many more airlines, easily found on search engines, fly various destinations in the USA and India. Link to the Indian embassy in the US http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/default.asp Link to US embassy in India: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/

United Kingdom

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland UK has always attracted the maximum number of Indian students, for a number of reasons such as a tied history, less cumbersome processes and easily available information. All foreign students require prior entry clearance as a student if they wish to study in the United Kingdom. If you are planning to pursue a course of study in the UK, note the following important information:

Visa requirements

http://www.studentaccommodation.org/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=6
www.studentpad.co.uk/ in the UK, and
http://www.unilodge.com.au/ in Australia This way you may be able to find a host family, apartment, paying guest accommodation or student hostel quickly.
Socio-Cultural and environmental differences
List of prohibited or restricted items
For details on visas, customs and other requirements, visit the British High Commission website: http://www.ukinindia.org/
Refer to http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_PROD_008618 for a list of banned and restricted goods to the UK
The UK Council for International Students Affairs gives comprehensive details useful for international students planning to study in the UK. They provide information on visas, work hours and application procedures at http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/.

Commuting within the United Kingdom

UK has a very extensive and reliable system of public transport. Buses, trains, undergrounds, taxi services provide a decent commute within the countries. For details on easy access and information on public transport in England, see http://website.lineone.net/~travelinfo/links.html.

Another helpful and informative site on public transport throughout the UK is Traveline
India’s not on the list of EC/EEA community countries or designated non-community countries so an Indian license isn’t valid in UK.. You must obtain a British driving license to be able to drive in England.

Airlines

Most airlines and travel agents offer discounted air fares for students. British Airways, Quantas, Air India,Indian Airlines , Jet Airways and many more airlines, easily found on search engines, fly various destinations in the UK and India.

Link to the Indian embassy in the UK
High Commission of India http://www.hcilondon.net/
Link to British council in India
British Council www.britishcouncil.org/

Australia

Australian universities and colleges have aggressively been wooing Indian students for some years now. Most Australian universities have been regularly advertising, set up stalls and offices and participating in education fairs across the country. At present Australia is next only to North America and Europe in attracting Indian students abroad. If you are also planning to pursue a course of study in Australia, note the following helpful information:

Visa requirements

If you are planning to undertake a short course requiring less than three months of stay in Australia, a visitor visa is sufficient. However if the duration of study is longer than that, you must obtain a student visa. Visa requirements and application details are available on http://studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/Visa.htm http://www.diac.gov.au/allforms/index.htm will give you access to the various forms and applications that have to be filled in for applying for an Australian visa.

Customs clearances and List of prohibited or restricted items
See http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4350#e686 for a list of documents required for clearing customs in Australia. For additional information mail in to information@customs.gov.au

Commuting within the Country

Australia has an extensive public transport network of trains, buses, trams, ferries, national and regional airlines and taxicabs. Students may drive in Australia on a valid overseas driver’s license but if the document is not in the English language the visitor must carry a translation with the license.

Airlines

Many airlines fly from various destinations in Australia to India. Some major airlines servicing the two countries are Quantas, Air India, Indian Airlines , Jet Airways

High Commission of India Canberra hicanb@ozemail.com.au
Consulate General of India Sydney indianc@enternet.com.au
Australian High Commission in India http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/

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