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This is the first part of our series of FAQs on studying in America.
We asked a selection of students, already in the US, to share the wisdom of their experiences with us. This is what some of them wrote back to say.
Our topic: How should I prepare myself for the US immigration process on arrival?
Reply 1 from Arindam Chakrabarti, University of California, Berkeley, California
Make sure you have your I-20, visa, and passport. The immigration officer will probably ask you simple questions to make sure you are a legitimate student and not an impostor or terrorist. Just answer the questions calmly. You will be finger-printed and photographed. Your I-20 and passport will be stamped and returned to you.
Reply 2 from Tejas Nair, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
On the flight you will be asked to fill up an immigration form, which you will need to provide to the officials at the port of entry (first place you land) in the US. Your check-in luggage may be randomly checked again, and your cabin luggage and yourself would be scanned. The immigration officials read through the immigration form you filled on the aircraft, will
check your I-20 and stamp it, and attach an I-94 card to your passport, which is proof of your legal entry into US with all your important details about your date of entry etc. Make sure you get your passport with an attached I-94 card.
Make sure you be very careful with all your documents, keep them always with you, make sure your passport is stamped by officials in India and attached with I-94 card at port of entry and your I-20 is stamped at port of entry.
Reply 3 from Nishi Mishra, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota
Relax! You have the visa, you ARE going there. Just smile and be friendly to everyone who does the paperwork with your passport, I-20 and ticket in hand. Nobody can stop you from coming to USA unless and until they think you are a threat to USA. So, behave well and relax, you are now the representative of your country. If the immigration people ask questions, just face them with the same confidence with which you faced the visa officer. Have confidence and be nice!
Reply 4 Tora Mitra, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
Once you reach the US, follow signs to proceed towards the non-US resident queue. Look around for signs, see what the people ahead of you in the queue are doing and then act accordingly. You will be given an I-94 form to fill up on your flight before landing. Keep your documents like passport, I-20 form and I-94 form handy. Keep all original documents/records in a folder inside your carry-on luggage so that you can show them if the need so arises.
Reply 5 from Jophy Jose, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Don't worry about it. Make sure you have all the documents, carry the right stuff, follow all rules along the way and you will manage just fine.
Reply 6 from Priyanka Gupta, a student in ConnecticutJust answer the questions asked, to the point -- that you have come to the US to study and that you hope to get out once you are done studying (even if you intend to stay!).
Reply 7 from Kavita Thomas, formerly at Boston University, Boston, MassachusettsPatience. The forms are simple to complete, but be prepared to wait in line for long periods of time.