G O I N G   T O  A M E R I C A
                 (An informal document)
  
  Index
  
  Introduction

  Carry Luggage

  The Arrival

  Using Telephones

  Public Transport

  Mind your language

  The Anti-Universe phenomenon

  Food, I'm hungry

  Office and Work Environment

  Americans and their Behavior

  Initial Package from DCI

  Social Security

  Driver's License/Photo-ID

  Bank Accounts/Cheque writing

  Cards (Credit/Debit, ATM, phone, medical)

  Shopping

  Renting an apartment & Garage Sales

  Buying a car

  Renting a car

  Doctors Appointments

  Tax on H-1 / W2 form/State,Federal

  AAA membership value

  Last Word








Introduction
Usually, before anyone comes to the U.S.A for the first time from India
he/she will start talking to people who have been here before and get
information from them about what to expect, what  to do etc. Though this
gives some idea it doesn't make one confident or better prepared and
moreover how much can one absorb at once.
So we felt the need for a small, informal document which anyone could
carry alongwith or read on the plane before he/she gets to the U.S.A. The
objective of this document is to make you aware of things, situations to
expect and enlighten you with facts so you can be comfortable once you
get there.
This friendly document will guide you during your stay in the U.S. You
will be better prepared for the trip if you read this document before going
or just after reaching. It tries to give information on preparing for the
trip, food, travel, stay and culture in the U.S.
This is just out of our experience and should be considered as an advice
rather than final authoritative statements, which may be arguable. We
want you to enjoy your trip to the U.S. as much as possible. You bet.

Carry Luggage 
The carry baggage is the biggest problem while coming to U.S. What to
carry? How much to carry? Do I carry more woollen clothes 'cause its cold
out there? Well, we all think, it depends !!

Don't carry too many heavy utensils, cooker etc. You can buy most of the
utensils there. They are not costly and you don't have to carry much. You
can carry some spices with you if you want to, 'cause after going there
you  may start missing the Indian food taste.

Don't carry too many warm clothes (unless you are going there in winter),
or sports shoes etc. It would be better if you buy them after going
there. That way you can buy the latest style. But you should carry leather
shoes from India, since leather items are costly in the U.S. Rest, it all
depends on you and your needs !!

The Arrival
Enjoy your flight. Try to learn more about other nations from the
co-passengers There can be international stops on your way to the U.S.

International Stops
Generally passengers are required to get down at an International stop,
which  might be for Security checkup or cleaning of the airplane. You
will be given a 'transit card` or say 'transit visa`. Normally the halt is
for a couple of hours. Listen to the announcement which is always made before
the  international halt. You will hear information about departure time,
gate number etc. After getting down at Intl. Airport, you can move around in
the   airport. But be at the gate within 45 minutes of your flight's
departure for the onward journey, 'cause they may require to check your tickets
etc. Once you get in, you are all set to take off for the final
destination.

Immigration
The first thing you need to go through at the port-of-entry U.S. airport
(international airport where you first land in the U.S.), after landing
is the immigration and customs clearance. After which you may board a
domestic flight to reach your final destination. Before getting down at
your port-of-entry final international halt, inside the plane, you will be
given a form to fill up called I-94. SPECIFY DCI`s CONTACT NUMBER, ADDRESS
AND OTHER OFFICIAL INFORMATION AS YOUR CONTACT NUMBER, ADDRESS WHERE YOU ILL
STAY etc.

On alighting from the plane you may ask people or signs will guide you to
the immigration. Keep your passport, H1-paper ( Blue form ) and the form
you filled inside the plane, handy. At the counter you might be asked
some questions. TALK ABSOLUTELY TO THE POINT. DON`T TRY TO LIE. MAKE SURE
THAT WHATEVER YOU SAY IS WRITTEN ON THE PAPER. You will be given the counter
foil of I-94 form. Keep that very carefully. And say to yourself "WELCOME
TO USA".

Baggage Claim
Try to acquire some 25 cent coins (called "quarters"), which you may need
for getting a trolley cart for your baggage and also for making telephone
calls etc. Thereafter move toward the baggage claim carousel assigned to
your flight, simply follow the signs directing you to the place. Collect
your luggage and look for signs directing you to customs clearance. At
the customs clearance they may ask you to open your bags for a security
check/verification.

Domestic Flight
Since the Port-of-entry may not be your final destination in the U.S. and
you have to proceed onwards, locate the counter for the domestic airline
you will be taking to your final destination. Above all don't hesitate or
feel shy to ask for help from airport support staff (at information
desks) or police officers, if you need anything.

Follow signs directing you to your domestic flight because you will need
a boarding pass. If it is far away, take the Airport shuttle (bus) service
which is free. If you don't know where to get down, tell the driver in
advance and he will drop you off at the proper place. At the counter
(podium) check-in your baggage and get your boarding pass issued and
ready. On arrival at the final destination, collect your baggage once again
and look around for that someone who may be there to receive you. If you
don't find anyone or you already have specific instructions, follow those,
otherwise call up (telephone) the DCI area co-ordinator whose tel. number
you should be carrying. Therefore remember to keep phone numbers handy.
Get information from the DCI area-coordinator on the stay arrangements made
for  you. Finally, if no one comes to pick you up, try to locate the
information counter from where you will get all the information
regarding  how to call for Also the Public Transport section of this guide
will help you in understanding the travel facilities available in the U.S.

Using Telephones
The first thing you might do when you come to U.S.A. is call someone. So
this is a good time to tell you about telephone usage. Telephone calls
within U.S. are considered "local" (within the area of the caller) or
"long  distance" (outside the area of the caller). Local calls
within a short regoin are free unless made from a public pay phone which
is  a coin operated machine. Long distance calls are charged at varying
rates,  depending on how you  make the call (which long distance
carrier/company you use), for how long you speak and the time of the day. Note that the telephone companies in the  U.S. are private.Each local region is assigned an "area code". So the phone  numbers are denoted as (areacode)-123 4567. where 123-4567 is your actual phone number. If you are calling a number within your "area" then you should dial only the phone number. If the call is outside your area you need to dial 1-(areacode)-123-4567, which  is the long distance call. Again, sometimes when the area code is the same as yours, you may still have to dial a "1" before the number without the area-code e.g.
1-<7-digit  phone number To make an international call i.e. to India you
need to dial  011-91-<STD CODE-<TEL. NO. e.g. 011-91-22-1234567.
Here 011 indicates an international call. 91 is the country code for
India. 22 is the "area code" for Bombay and 1234567 may be the actual phone
number you want to dial.
Other important facilities provided are -
1. Yellow pages (Tel. directory)
Advertisements and Telephone numbers of businesses.
2. Emergency Telephone Number
There is one emergency number that you can dial for any type of emergency
which is 911 (Fire/Ambulance/Police).
3. Directory assistance
Local telephone numbers - 411
Long distance - 1-(Area Code)-555-1212
Toll Free number enquiry - 1-800-555-1212
4. Toll free
Most of the 1-800 numbers are toll free. You will not be charged for the
calls you make to such numbers. e.g. The toll free number for Mr. Ashok
Agarwal (DCI California) is 1-800-969-1117. This is a toll free number
and you can dial it from anywhere in the U.S. without having to pay for it,
even from a public phone. Some telephone numbers have alphabets in them
such as 1-800-COLLECT. To dial this number, just press the digit on the
telephone pad which has the corresponding alphabet you want to dial on
it, simple!.

  Most people use answering machines which are connected to their
telephones, or some kind of voice mail system. It has a standard 
pre-recorded greeting which is played when you call up and then after some beeps, it records your  message. Initially you will feel like you were talking to a dead person, but soon you realize the importance of owning an answering machine. We bet  you'll buy one too!.

Using the PUBLIC "pay" phones
The important difference is, you need to insert the money first then dial
the number. To operate a pay phone you need 25 cents. This pays for one
local call. If  your call is not connected your money is returned in the
"coin return" slot.

Collect call - If you want the called party (person whom you are calling)
to pay for the call then you make a collect call. To make a  collect call
pick up the receiver and press 0. Let the operator know that you want to
make a COLLECT call, the operator will connect you to the phone number
you need. But before that the operator will check with the other party if
they want to collect (pay for) the call. An easier way is to dial 1-800-COLLECT
from any phone and just follow the recorded instructions.

Time zones
There are four time zones in the U.S.
1) Eastern  TZ
Example : Massachusetts, New York, Florida etc.
2) Central  TZ  ( lags Eastern TZ by  one hour )
Example : Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana etc.
3) Mountain TZ  ( lags Eastern TZ by  two hours )
Example : Colorado, Utah, Wyoming etc.
4) Pacific  TZ  ( lags Eastern TZ by  three hours )
Example : California, Oregon, Washington etc.

Day light saving :
As the name suggests, the time is set in such a way that maximum day
light could be used. e.g. During summer, the sun rises at around 4-5
o'clock.So the clock is set forward by one hour. This forces all activities to
start one hour earlier so that maximum day light is used till late in the evening.
Therefore:
The Clock is set back by one hour on the first Sunday of November 1 (Fall
Season) at 2:00 am. Clock is once again set forward by one hour on the
first Sunday of April at 2:00 am. (Spring Season).
The easiest way to remember this is FALL BACK, SPRING AHEAD.
By the way, Arizona is the only state which is not affected by
day-light-saving. People there do not ever change the time in their clocks.

Currency
Dollar : 100 cents
Quarter: 25 cents
Dime   : 10 cents
Nickel : 5 cents
Penny  : 1 cent
Initially there is some confusion since the quarter is exactly of the
same size and shape as the Indian 50 paise coin.

Public Transport
All major cities have some sort of public transportation not necessarily
very good or frequent or well connected. Therefore most people prefer to
travel by their own cars. It is better that you own a car in the U.S. so
that you are independent. But till you get to buy a car you can use the
public transportation system or depend on your friends/colleagues for a
ride.

Trains and Buses
In most cities, you may purchase Daily Tickets from the conductor or the
driver on the train and buses each day. For more information on routes,
schedules and fares, see the publications and maps published by the
city's local authority. You can locate them in your telephone book.

Taxi Companies
In some areas you must telephone for a taxi and make an appointment. You
will not find them waiting in the street corners but you do find them
waiting in a queue at the airport. Taxis are listed in the yellow pages
under the name "Taxi" or "Taxicabs".

When you call, tell the "dispatch" operator where you are and where you
want to go. The dispatch operator will tell you how long it will take for
the taxi to arrive at your starting point. He or she will ask for the
telephone number, so they can call you if the taxi driver cannot locate
you. You should ask for the estimated cost of the ride.

When you enter the taxi, the meter will read flat rate. This is the
minimum charge. You will be charged the flat rate for each mile you travel.

Mind your language
For successful conversation, in the US, it is advisable that you speak
slowly and pronounce properly. Well, the first part you really need to
practice otherwise what you will hear from the person opposite is "pardon
me", "come again", "I am sorry", "I didn't get you". e.g. The changes in
pronunciation are like 'schedule' pronounced as 'skedule', 'route'
pronounced 'raut' etc. Also some words are totally substituted like
'petrol' by 'gas'. Here is a table from  Gary Nobel of HP SanDiego,
which he created when he traveled in India. Thanks to him. The dictionary is very remarkable.

The following is a simple dictionary for translating between American
English and Indian English.  This dictionary should be useful for the
new-comer to either the U.S. or India.  The words are in no particular
order.  Suggestions for additions are gladl taken at garyn@sdd.hp.com.
Gary Nobel  8/20/92

Indian           American
English          English

======  Food related  ======
Coriander         Cilantro
Cold drink        Soda pop
Curd              Yogurt
Cafe ("kayf")     Cafe ("kaf-ay'")
Nes-coffee        Instant coffee
Filter coffee     Brewed coffee
Milk powder       Cream
French beans      Snow peas
Hotel             Restaurant
Jelly             Gelatin
Garam masalla     Curry
Lady fingers      Okra
Small pastries    Lady fingers
Toffee            Hard candy
Brinjal           Eggplant
Biscuit           Cookies/Wafers
Bun               Biscuit
(Potato) wafers   (Potato) chips
Finger chips      French fries
Groundnuts        Peanuts

=====  Education Related ======

Public school     Private school (tuition charged)
Private school    Public school (free)
School            High school
College           School
University        School
High school       School/Junior High
Take a class      Teach a class
Be a student      Take a class
2nd standard      2nd grade
High marks        Good grades


Invigilator       Proctor
Canteen           Cafeteria


===== Clothes =====
Windcheater       Windbreaker
Vest              Undershirt
Waistcoat         Vest
Half-pant         Shorts
Purse             Wallet
Swim trunks       Swim suit
Swim costume      Swim suit


===== Transportation Related ====
Traffic signal    Traffic light
Boot, dikky       Trunk of a car
Bonnet            Hood of a car
Petrol pump       Gas station
Petrol            Gas
Diesel            Fuel
Pavement          Sidewalk
Footpath          Sidewalk
Zebra Crossing    Crosswalk
Take a lift       Get a ride
Motorcycle        Motorbike
Cycle             Bike


===== Other =====
Football          Soccer
American football
(rugby?)          Football
Solid             Substantial
Ltd.              Inc.
Transistor        Radio
Two-in-One        Boom box
Goggles           Sunglasses
Cooling glass     Sunglasses
Toilet            Restroom
Guest house       Motel
Current           Electricity
$20 Note          $20 Bill
Cell              Battery
Torch             Flashlight
Rubber            Eraser
Snap              Picture
Photograph        Picture
Mixee (?sp)       Mixer
Dustbin           Trash can
Beggar            Panhandler
IBM-Compatible    IBM-Clone
Inflammable       Flammable
Mess              Dorm cafeteria
Hotel             Restaurant
Restaurant bill   Restaurant check
Picture           Movie
Talkies           Movies
Lift              Elevator
To fix            To install
To repair         To fix
Pram              Stroller

===== Idioms ======

To post (a letter)        To mail (a letter)
To submit                 To turn in
To be out of station      To be out of town
A place to park           Driveway
A place to drive          Parkway
Straight-away             Right away
Anticlockwise             Counterclockwise
Bunk school               Skip class
Passed out                Graduated
Fainted                   Passed out
Ring up (someone)         Call up (someone)
The line is engaged       It's busy / I got a busy tone
Push the accelerator      Step on the gas
Give the car some race    Speed up the car
Get down (from a bus)     Get off (of a bus)
Let's push off            Let's go
Let's make a move         Let's go
Convince someone          Talk someone into

Black money                Tax free, undeclared income
Standing from a constituency    Running for an election
Issue a book (from the library) Checkout a book (from the library)
How are you?                    How are you doing?
How is everything?              How is it going?
Intimate                        Inform
(Very Close Relations)          (Intimate Relations)
Too good                        Cool


The Anti Universe phenomenon

When you come to the U.S. you will notice the opposite everywhere. You
will get the feeling "These guys are crazy" .....almost everything you try
todo will fail even if it is a small thing like switching ON the lamp !!!!"

This is just to make you get a hang of it. The cars are driven on the
right hand side instead of left hand side of the road. So you should look
left first while crossing roads :-). You may have to insert the key upside
down and rotate it in the opposite direction to unlock. You will also
notice that switches work in opposite direction i.e. UP is ON and DOWN is OFF
The date is written with the month first, then day, followed by the year.
As one of our American colleague pointed out jokingly, "its logical, if
you see that India is exactly opposite in location on the globe, to U.S.!!!"

FOOD, I'm hungry
Ofcourse you must be hungry, when you arrive. God knows what you ate on
the plane. You don't remember the item's name nor its contents. It may be
one of the weirdest things you ever had for dinner or lunch. So you must be
apprehensive about what you will get for lunch or dinner. The best thing
you can try is PIZZA, which is pronounced as "PiTza".

You get both Veg. and NonVeg Pizzas. But to be on the safer side order a
Veg. Pizza that way you won't be left hungry atleast. Order a small pizza
if  you are alone or a medium size is enough for two or three (well it
depends on your appetite actually). You can order pizza by phone and it
will be delivered at your doorstep in a few minutes. Refer to the yellow
pages or consult the motel receptionist you are staying in, for
information.

For breakfast, have 'Continental breakfast' which is cheap and the best.
To be sure about Veg. items, always ask for items with "NO MEAT" rather
than "WITHOUT MEAT". Besure to say "NO ICE" if you prefer to have your
drink without ice. And remember that a CHEESEBURGER is a misnomer. It contains
meat besides cheese, so be careful!

Here is a guide for Vegetarian Dishes:

Mexican
Bean Buritto, Enchiladas, Bean Taco, Cheese Taco, Bean Tostadas, Mexican
Pizza

Italian or Greek
Eggplant (brinjal) sandwich, Sphagetti with tomato sauce, Lasagna
(pronounced Laza-nya), Italian Pitza, Italian Pasta with tomato sauce,
Falafal, Veg. Gyro
(pronounced Yero).

Denny's
Vegetable omlete (with eggs)Vegetable lunch/dinner (salad, potato smash,
garlic sauce)
Broccoli soup

American Restaurants (Sizzler, Olive Garden)
Best bet is salad bar & French fries

McDonald's
Mac cheese sandwich, Milk shakes, ice-cream sundaes

Pizza Hut
Veggie Lover's delight, Veggie pizza with a choice of toppings such as
Jalapenos (pronounced Hala-pin-yose and are green chilies), pineapple,
tomato, onions etc.

Burger King
Vege cheese whooper, Garden burger

Office and the Work Environment
Before you start your first day, get a hang of how the work environment
is at the client's place from any PCS person there or read on for some
typical environments you may find.

- Project Leaders are very understanding and friendly. And do not unduly
pressurize you to perform. They will definitely give you some time to
come up to speed on their work environment.

- There is a lot of individualistic approach. Every person's inputs are
given a lot of importance. Independent views are respected. Before
discarding any of your ideas, they will give you a good enough reason
for doing so.

- For the smallest of decisions they will sometimes hold a meeting and
get the entire team's inputs/comments/suggestions before proceeding. One
feels  important when this is done. But sometimes it can get boring.

- Nobody double checks what you are saying, they take you for your word.

- There are no suspicious feelings and managers don't fear subordinates.

- Managers will openly discuss about their meetings with "their" bosses,
with the team. There is no hide and seek as far as information/feedback
is concerned.

- People admit if they don't know or have information about certain
things.  They don't pretend to be all knowing.

- People are dedicated to their area of work and develop expertise in it.
But they do not talk about work related topics which are not in their
area  of expertise, they immediately refer you to the right person.

- People enjoy their work and leisure. They plan their weekends well in
advance. Very few people stay back late in the office or come and work
during weekends. Such things are not related to performance. As long as
you   do your work well and within time, nobody cares what else you do and
when.

- Most companies allow you to compensate by working during the weekend if
you take an 'off' from work on a regular weekday.

- The work hours in most companies are flexible. Come anytime and go
anytime but you do need to put in a minimum of 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
as  contractors.

- Regular time sheets "may" have to be filled, in some companies.

Americans and their Behavior

Its helpful to know how Americans typically will be. Otherwise you will
start feeling "These people are great dramatists... ". Here are some
tips:-

- Americans are very friendly and helpful.

- They don't make you feel like a foreigner. (Though you feel !!!)

- It is very easy to adjust with them. But they don't like people getting
very inquisitive or trying to get too personal in the initial phase of
the aquaintance.

- They dress casually and nobody bothers which dress you wear etc.

- They are fun loving creatures and enjoy their free time. Most of them
like to keep themselves physically fit by regular outings, hiking,
exercise, biking, jogging etc. They love the outdoors and natural
surroundings. They look forward to weekends and plan their weekend
activities in advance. This usually consists of some outdoor activity.

- They are frank about their opinions.

- They respect individual views and allow everyone to voice their own
ideas on a subject.

- They have a lot of patience. Especially when standing in queues or
while driving, nobody will try to jump before you in the queue. Most of
them are very disciplined drivers. However this differs from State to State.

- If they happen to come in your way or you happen to come in their way,
you  will promptly hear an "Excuse me" or "Excuse us".

- They need a lot of feedback while talking. You have to acknowledge/nod
continuously. Otherwise they feel you are not interested in listening or
are confused.

- They gesture a lot and shoot some funny (at least so it seems
initially) phrases at you. It is a matter of "getting used to it".

- They are "very" proud of their country. To them, the Universe is the
United States. So never ever make fun of or speak lightly about them or
tell them that they do not have any social/cultural background. You will
make more American friends that way.

- Most Americans think of India as a poor country of beggars, snake
charmers and  swamis etc. This is due to the insufficient and improper
media coverage given to India. Their T.V. only shows the poor Indian
villages and cows on the streets.

Hope you will be able to prove that India is a country of INTELLIGENT
people like you and not just ELEPHANTS and SNAKE CHARMERS.

Initial package from DCI:
NOTE: The first official thing you should do without being asked to, is
to apply for your Social Security Number - details are given in this doc.

After arriving in USA one gets a package from DCI. This package consists
of different types of forms. The most important one being the Medical
Insurance form. Don't be careless about this, make sure to fill and
return it soon.

After receiving this package one should sign all the forms and send it
back to DCI as soon as possible. This package consist of following
documents.

Personal details  :
In this form you need to fill up all your personal information which is
required for official purposes.

Passport details  :
In this form you are expected to furnish all your passport details.

Away from business expenses form :
One is supposed to fill up this form at the end of every month. We get
our salary in two parts. One is Salary or Allowance and the other part is
the reimbursement of the expenses incurred. Your area co-ordinator will
inform you about what amount you can claim etc. It depends on the position
and the class of city you are in.

Couple of memos :
These memos inform you about certain rules.

Medical insurance registration form :  (MOST IMPORTANT FORM) This form
you are supposed to send to the medical insurance company. It needs routine
personal information. In two weeks of time you will receive your medical
insurance card, which will cover most of your medical expenses in the
U.S But be sure you understand what is covered under this scheme and what
is not.

You are supposed to send all these forms and memos asap. Couple of these
forms require your Social Security number. If you have not yet received
your social security number then leave that place tentatively blank in
your forms and you can inform DCI about it later, when you get one.

Subject:  PART II : C O M I N G  T O  A M E R I C A

Continues from Part I......

Getting Social Security and Driving License

You must go and get your social security number and driving license done
immediately after you come.

Social Security Number ::
Each individual in Unites States, is required to be registered with US
government by law. The way we have registration in India through Ration
Card it is Social Security here.

This number is very useful for the government as well as the for the
individual. Government can keep track of the individual from this
particular number. You will need the SS number for any official paper
work or dealings e.g. while filling Tax forms or while opening a bank
account or while getting a membership in the public library. A person's entire
credit history can be traced from this number.

As soon as one arrives in US he/she is required to get Social Security
number immediately. It is a very simple procedure.

Every town or a city has a Social Security office. You have to go there
with your Passport. First thing you need to do is collect the application
form for new social security number. These forms are available in various
languages. Find one in English and fill it completely. It will ask you
for your local postal address details besides other information. The
officer will check your application form and passport. After checking everything
you will be informed when you will be receiving your Social Security
number, which will be by postal mail.

Generally within three to four weeks time you will receive your social
security number which appears printed on a small card, which you should
carry/preserve safely.

Getting Driver's License ::
Driver's license is one of the most important document required in United
States. Apart from driving needs it is required at almost all the places
where you need to show your ID. Mainly because this is the only valid
Identity card which is required and approved at all the places.

Here in US most of the money transactions are done via checks or
Credit-cards. Initially when you don't have credit card, check is the
only practical and recommended way of payment. Nobody keeps cash. People
generally issue  checks even for a small amount of less than $5.00.
Checks are as good as Cash and can be deposited at any ATM (Automatic
Teller Machine) center. These checks are accepted only with a valid PHOTO-ID at
most  places. Actually a Photo-id couldalso be a simple identity card
issued by the DMV (Dept.of motor vehicles), which is not a driver's license. At
most places Driver's license is the only valid PHOTO-ID. So after getting
Social Security number, Driver's license is another very important thing
one should acquire as soon as possible.

Getting driver's license is not very difficult here. Before appearing for
a driving test behind the wheels one has to clear a written test conducted
by DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicles - similar to RTO in India ). Each
state has their own laws for driving a vehicle. DMV issues a book on the
rules which are required to be followed very strictly. This book gives detailed
information about all the laws and is written in a very nice manner. It
is very easy to follow all the rules as they are nicely explained and if
necessary, supported  by good photographs.

After understanding the contents of this book you can appear for the
written exam. You can appear for the test on any working day. You can
call up DMV and take an appointment with them or you can even go directly.

They will check your Passport and will give you  a question paper.
Questions are objective type and you have to choose the best answer for
each question. Time is no limit for the exam. After you are done with it,
the person on the counter will immediately check your paper and will tell
you your score. Upon passing this test you will get temporary driving
license which is valid for two months. DMV also issues an ID card. This
is issued by the state government. You can use this Id card as a Photo-Id
till you get your driver's license. At some places you are required to
produce two Photo-Ids, that time it is very useful to have this photo-id  you
can even go for some driving lessons. For driving lessons you can go to
driving school or to a private teacher. Private teachers are little
cheaper  as compared to driving school. Once you are ready for the test,
again you will have to take an appointment with DMV for the driving test.

On the day of appointment you have to go there with your learning
license.  The car in which you will give your driving test should have
proper Insurance papers. Also check all the controls, including signal lights
and   brake lights.  If any of these is not in shape, you will not be
allowed to  appear for the test.  This test will be of 100 marks. After your
test, driving  inspector will immediately tell you your result. Generally they
explain to you your mistakes so that you can work on them and rectify.
If you have passed you will get your license immediately in most places.

If you fail there is no minimum period required between the time you
appear  again. So you can practice again and appear as soon as you can.

Bank Accounts
- They are basically of two types - Savings a/c (with interest)
- Checking a/c (with NO interest)

- Generally most people open a Checking a/c at first.

- To open an account you need a social security number, however since it
takes  a week or more to get the social security number one can request
the  bank to verify the passport and open the a/c. Later do remember to
inform the bank once you receive your SS number.

- Then there are concepts like
- minimum balance - which is either NO or YES
(It is better to open an a/c with NO MINIMUM BALANCE otherwise you have
to  maintain the specified minimum amount always in the account).
- overdraft facility - Again NO or YES
(This allows you some amount of overdraft. This might be beneficial in
some  cases, such as when the monthly salary is not received on time and
the house rent, phone bills etc. have to be paid.)

- There are various kinds of check/cheque books available that one can
choose from, such as the kind of colored paper and printed background
design on paper etc. Usually a set of 200 checks bound together in books
of  20 each is sufficient for 6 months. But it depends on how many checks
are issued by you and at what frequency. The first check book is given by
the bank immediately on opening an account, the other 200 checks are mailed
to you at the given address.

- The next thing is to ask for an ATM card. This allows you to withdraw
money 24 hrs. from any ATM machine of the bank or related ones.

- Some banks charge money to issue an ATM card and the first set of
check/cheque  books. Something like $10.00 for the ATM card and another
$10.00 for the first 200 checks (10 books of 20 pages each). But most
banks  do not charge anything.

- The whole procedure of opening an account takes about 10-15 mins.

- A few shops/gas stations etc. ask for a valid photo-id when payment is
made by check. This is just for verification. (A photo-id could be a
U.S.driver's license or an actual ID-card which is issued by the local
Deptt.of Motor Vehicles office.

- Small payments such as $1.25 etc. too can be made by check and it is
not  absurd to do so. People carry very little or no cash on person. Most
of them make their payment by Credit card or check. But it is advisable to
carry about $20.00 in cash at all times to cover emergency needs. Of
course  you will have to always carry your check book around.

- The following style is used to write the amount in words on the check.
Say for e.g. the amount to be paid is $35.47 then you would write:

Amount in words $ :  THIRTY FIVE & 47/100

Cards
- It is a fashion to collect cards of all types and store them in ones
purse. The cards here refer to the plastic type e.g. credit cards.
- So there are cards such as:
Credit card,
Debit card,
Bank ATM card,
Shopping Store cards (e.g. Sears card; "SEARS" is the name of a chain of
stores in the U.S.)
Medical benefit card, Telephone calling card, Public library membership card.
- Most purses have transparent packets to keep these cards in order.
- Credit/Debit Cards:
A credit card allows you to pay for your expenses without bothering
about availability of money at the time of payment. The credit card company
pays for you and later sends you a statement every month elaborating the
payments made. You can then, pay the credit card company by check. There
are certain limits imposed on Credit cards with regard to the amount of
credit available to you, which vary.

VISA and MASTERCARD are the most widely accepted credit cards. The other
being American Express card. (Called Am-Ex for short).
A Debit card is almost like a check, since it allows you to spend from
your  available resources only (no credit business). This is generally
issued by the banks where you have an account, after you apply for it.
It is not so easy to get a credit card for the first timer in U.S. The
application is scrutinized by the Credit Organization/Bank and the
credit history checked up (They call up the banks   where you have an account,
to find out your balance and credit status etc).
Actually it seems the credit history is traced from your Social Security
No. Usually the period of stay is also an important criteria e.g. at
least 6 month stay is essential to be considered eligible for a Credit card.
To build up a good credit history, many people take loans from the bank.
e.g. to buy a car and repay it in time. This increases the chances of
getting a Credit Card sooner.
The most easiest to get is the American Express Card. They ask for a
letter  from the employer regarding salary status etc. once the initial
application  is verified.
- The Gold Card is the next thing to aim for, once you have at least a
card. The Credit limit is higher on the Gold Card apart from other
benefits.
- The most difficult to get is the DISCOVER credit card.
- Most Credit cards offer other benefits too, such as mileage
accumulation  for some airline enabling you to travel free on that airline
anywhere in the U.S. once about 20,000 miles have been accumulated, at the rate of 1 mile per dollar. Some others offer Rental Car Insurance coverage and so on.
- Most organizations (health clubs etc.) issue membership cards with neat
plastic lamination too.

Shopping
The American system of sizes and measurement is different from that in
India. Most of the shops in the U.S. are the equivalents of super markets
in India. You can go around the shop, buy what you want and pay at the
counter. The important difference you will notice is, the shops are
driven  by customer service. So if you don't like anything that you bought
or it doesn't fit you properly you may return it within a certain period
allowed.  You should inquire about the return policy when you buy
returnable goods.
Ofcourse you need to preserve the receipt of the purchase. Most of the
time  they won't even ask you why you want to return the goods.
When you buy shoes, the size should be 1/2 more than your size in India.
For example, if you buy size 9 in India, you should buy size 9 1/2 in the
US.(Or approximate it to the nearest round figure).
Following measurement chart will help you in converting between American
system and metric system.
Metric Conversion Chart
millimeters x 0.04 = inches(in)
centimeters x 0.4 = inches(in)
meters  x 3.3 =  feet
kilometers x 1.1 =  yards
inches  x 2.5 =  centimeters
feet  x 30 = centimeters
yards  x 0.9 = meters
miles  x 1.6 = kilometers
grams  x 0.035 = ounces
kilograms x 2.2 = pounds
ounces  x 28 = grams
pounds  x 0.45 = kilograms
milliliters x 0.3 = fluid ounces
liters  x 1.06 = quarts
liters  x 0.26 = gallons
fluid ounces x 30 = millileters
quarts  x 0.95 = liters
gallons  x 3.8 = liters

Renting an apartment
Now that you have started your work you would like to move into your
apartment rather than stay in the motel. Here is what you should know about
renting an apartment. You can get information on how to rent an apartment from
the "Apartments" section of the Yellow Pages, newspaper or 'Rental Guides'
which are available at the stores. To lease (rent) an apartment you
should  consider following points:

1. Lease period and deposits
Usually there are two types of lease depending on the period of lease: 6
months lease & 12 months lease. (In some places the allow 3 month lease
too, but the rent increases in that case).
Most of the cases you get 1 months rent free in case you select 12
months lease and you get half months rent free if you select  6 months lease.
You have to pay 1 months rent as security deposit and some amount around
10$ to 15$  as key deposit. Rent for the apartment in basements is less
than other apartments. Very few people prefer to stay in basements
becauseof security reasons. So when you ask about availability of
apartments it is  possible that the Manager will say only basement apartment is
available.
Hence insist for apartment on first or second floor if you don't want a
basement apartment. Otherwise after renting a basement apartment you
will realize that apartments other than in basements were also available.

2. Utilities
Check whether your rent includes utilities such as hot water, Cable etc.
Otherwise you end up spending around 100$ to 150$ for electricity bill
if you have to pay for hot water.

3. Lease Terms
Understand the lease terms properly because most of the times you need
to break the lease in case your project terminates suddenly. if you want to
break the lease
a. You have to give 30 days notice.
b. You lose your security deposit
c. In some cases they (the apartment management) try to find somebody
who wants to rent your apartment. If they don't get anybody within 30 days
period You have to pay 1 month's rent extra. In this situation you lose
your security deposit plus one months rent. Get these terms clarified
before signing the lease papers.

4. Lease Breaking
If you are sharing an apartment with somebody. Suppose 3 people are
sharing  an apartment and all three have their names on lease papers. In
case one of  the three wants to leave before the lease period is over, you need to take a letter from him saying that all further paper work can be done by
the other two people. This letter is required when your lease period is over
or  even if you want to break the lease before that period is over. If
you don't have such a letter you won't be able to break the lease unless all
three have signed the lease break paper. In such cases you also end up
losing your deposit. This is true even for normal termination of lease
period. Be careful and understand these terms and conditions fully.

5. Damages
After renting an apartment carefully observe if there are any types of
damages in the apartment. If you see any, ask your Property Manager to
make  a note of it. Otherwise they will deduct some amount from your
security deposit when your lease period is over.

6. Downgrading and Upgrading
If you want to move to 2 bedroom apartment from 1 bedroom apartment you
have to pay some 100$ to 200$. Many cases downgrading i.e. moving to 1
bedroom apartment from 2 bedroom apartment is not allowed. Get
clarification on all such points while signing lease papers.

7. Electricity  and Telephone connection
After you rent the apartment you need to inform your local Electric
Supply  company that you will be staying in that apartment from so and so
date and  that they may bill you from that date.  Ask your local telephone
company for a telephone connection by calling them up. Most of the business
takes place on the phone. Surprisingly all work gets done and promptly too.

8. Maintaining an apartment
In most of the apartments you have cooking range, oven, dish washer,
refrigerator etc.  Use aluminum foil to cover part of the cooking range
(other than coils) so that it remains clean and in the end you don't
need to spend time in cleaning it. Dish washer soap is available in liquid or
in powder form. Dish washer inner surface starts becoming blackish after
some  days. The cleaning liquid can be used to clean it. This can be done
once in  a month. Clean your oven once in a month using oven cleaning liquid.
Use plastic garbage bags in trash cans so that you can just take the bag and
dispose it in the central trash, usually provided in the apartment
complex.

9. Laundry
If the apartment itself does not have a washer/dryer, there will usually
be  a common laundry room in the complex where you can do your weekly
washing/drying. Such common machines usually are coin operated machines
so  you'll need a few quarters and also your own favourite detergent
powder.

Decorating, Furnishing YOUR house
Ofcourse this is not an advice for interior designing but to make your
APARTMENT look like a HOME. Home is not a place with four walls, but
where  you have furniture also :-). The greatest place to get the things
you need  for your house is Garage Sales. You can  get  things like Sofa sets
to Wall  paintings very cheep from this source. Everyone will be amazed if
you have  a full furnished house in a few months.
Garage sale is a second-hand, used things sale which includes household
items such as furniture like couch etc, appliances such as T.V., stereo,
clothes/jackets, other used items.
This is held in peoples garages or backyards generally on weekends. They
are a nice place to buy furniture from, which is usually in good shape.
Anybody who wants to sell old used things, can hold a garage sale and
put up a sign near the house announcing such a sale. The prices are
negotiable.Generally people advertise through local newspaper ad columns.
The early morning time on Sat. and Sun. between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00
a.m.is  the best to hunt around for used things in garage sales.

Buying a Car
If you are going to stay at a particular place for quite some time say
more  than three months, then its better to buy a car rather than rent
one.Buying a car involves quite some work. Its better to be cautious while
buying a car, 'cause owning a car brings you freedom and you own a
vehicle  but you need to maintain the car and take care of any problems.
The main concern while buying a car is its maintenance cost should not be high,
otherwise you will loose a lot.So here is what experience tells us.
Buying a car in America is very easy, there are lots of used cars for
sale  and there is never a shortage. It is just the question of deciding
the budget and type of car to be bought.
Most people prefer Japanese cars over American makes simply because of
the  easy resalability. The most popular Japanese car makes are Honda and
Toyota.
Types of models ? There are two categories of cars, 2-door, 4-door.The
2-d  are cheaper. Then comes the type of transmission (gear), automatic
or stick-shift. Most people buy automatic transmission. Such cars are very
easy to drive. (Almost all Indian cars are of the stick-shift variety).
Where to look ? The local newspapers carry a lot of car sale
advertisements  everyday. You should see the paper and decide on the ones
you are interested in. Next call up the owner at the tel. no. given, as early in
the day as possible and fix up an appointment to visit and see the car.
Test drive it, if you like it and the price is ok, tell the owner that
you'd like to get it checked up by a mechanic. This is the normal
practice.  There is nothing to feel shy about asking the car to be checked
up. This will save you a lot of money later after purchasing the car from
unforeseen  problems that some used cars land up into.
Look up the yellow pages in the local tel. directory to get the list of
car  mechanics or just ask colleagues to recommend one. If that doesn't
work out, ask the local AAA (American Automobile Association) office to
recommend someone to you. For a fee of about $25-30 the mechanic will
check up the car and tell you the problems or possible problems if any.
Some people do it for free. It is good to tell the auto mechanic to
check up the following things with additional care in addition to their
regular
1) brake cylinder, drum and worn out pads
2) transmission. ( this is the costliest part in an automatic car )
3) if it is a 4 speed never buy it. 5 speed is ok.
4) check for rust in bottom, radiators, muffler and tailpipe.
5) check for vibrations when you brake from 40mph, without down-shifting.if
there are vibrations, either break pads or steering pinion is in bad shape.
Get 4 people to sit in the car and you can make out if the suspensions are
ok, when you make a sharp turn.
6) Most important, check for oil leaks, and whether the car gives you power
speed/pick-up when you try to accelerate. You can feel if it's OK.
7) last, check for emission whether the smoke is black(thick), which
means oil is also burned with fuel = the car is beyond its life. The piston
rings might be leaving a gap in the cylinders because of wear. In that
case, don't buy the car, because you will have to change the cylinder,
piston and rings which will come to double the cost.
8) ask the owner to give the records of the maintenance he has done,
like new tires etc. Also, make sure you don't go beyond 3rd hand purchase.
There must be something seriously wrong with the car if people have changed
owners drastically.
9) Air filter, valve etc. OK ?
Ask the owner to discount the price of the car by the amount required for
the repairs suggested by the mechanic. Or else ask him to get it repaired
for you. The rates of the used cars have some standard values which are
generally not exceeded. These values can be checked up in something
called  "Blue Book"which is a text available in the public library or
with car dealers. So car models classified as per Year of make have their value
listed in the Blue Book. There is a cost deduction to be applied for the
mileage that the car has been driven for, which is mentioned in most
Blue Books. That gives a fair idea about the standard cost of any used car.
Moreover there is ample scope for price negotiation. Generally private
owners who sell through ads can give better discounts than used car
dealers. Generally car dealers stick to the Blue Book Price but usually ask  more.
Mileage is also a consideration while purchasing a used car. Lesser the
better. The ideal average is 10000 miles per year. So a car manufactured
in  1987 may have a driven mileage of about 70000 miles in 1994 and not
more than 80000. These are approx. figures.
After buying a car you need to get it insured. You cannot drive a car in
the U.S. without proper Insurance. The car has to be insured against
collisions etc. There are various vehicle Insurance companies having
various deals. Look up the yellow pages and call up some of them and ask
for their rates. Then decide on one. The Insurance coverage period and
the  type of Insurance chosen and your age (more for less than 25 yrs.)
decides  the amount to be paid. The "comprehensive", "collision" are
terms used by
the Insurance companies to describe the type of insurance coverage. Get
everything explained properly.
There is sometimes a windscreen coverage too, for a nominal additional
amount per month, this insures your windshield against damage (a
windscreen  replacement may cost about $200.00 approx. otherwise).
You have to get the emission testing done on your car before it can be
registered. In case the previous owner has got it done and the test is
valid still, then there is no need to do it again for the specified
period.  The valid test papers are required for Registration.
The local vehicle registration office will issue a temporary
registration for 45 days and meanwhile process and prepare the proper number plates.
The  documents required to get a registration are -    Car ownership
(title) papers, Emission Test papers, Car Insurance papers.  After proper
registration is done you can drive your car. However you should have a
Driver's License. Actually each state in the U.S. has different laws.
Most  states allow you to drive with an I.D.P. (International Driving
Permit)for  a year or so. But others require that you get a local Driver's
License.The  driver's license can be obtained from the local DMV office after a
written  and driving test. Refer to the section on obtaining a driver's
license for  details.

Renting a Car
Car is a necessity in most of the places here in U.S. Either you buy a
car  or you can rent a car. You can pay either a monthly rate or daily
rent.Though its expensive to rent a car for a month or so, it might be
required  if you are going to stay at that place for a small period of
time. Here is  some information you will need OR should know when you want to rent a car.
- The driver/co-drivers need to be at least 25 years old.
- Credit Card is required to rent a car. Else a deposit of about $300
etc...Most companies do not allow you to rent a car if you do not have a
credit card.
- You need a valid driver's license to drive a rental car.
- Well known car renting companies are - Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Budget,
Dollar, Enterprise etc.
- Car Insurance has to be bought for the Rental car. It is a separate
charge or is included in the total per day renting cost. Some credit
card
companies pay for the insurance if you use their card to book a car e.g.
American Express Credit Card, in such a case you need not buy insurance
from the car rental company.
- You have to register the other drivers too as co-drivers of the rental
car while booking the car. They should have valid driver's licenses too.
Nobody else should be allowed to drive the car other than those
registered!
- Unlimited mileage or fixed mileage is also a criteria which decides
the hiring charges of a rental car.
- You can make the booking over the phone. But you have to go personally
to  pick-up the car from the renting agency.
- Generally the gas (fuel) tank is full and you are supposed to return
it with a full tank.
- Some rental agencies do not allow you to rent their car for travel
outside the state.
- There are various types of cars that can be booked. Generally
depending on the seating capacity, such as small, medium, compact, large,
full-size,premium, mini-van, van etc. One may even choose the make of the car if
available. The rental agencies maintain the cars in good shape and
generally  have new cars.

- The renting charges vary depending on the season, weekend/weekday, for
how many days you want the car, how much in advance you are booking,
availability, type of car etc.

Doctors in U.S.
God forbid, but if something happens to you, here is what you should
know:
- The Medical Benefit Card which is sent by the Medical Insurance
Company is an important card and should be acquired at the earliest. Fill up the
Medical forms sent by DCI and return those immediately to DCI to ensure
that you are registered with the Insurance Company after you land in the
U.S.
- This card entitles you to coverage under certain medical categories
only.
- There is a $100 deductible. Which means if you land into medical
problems, you have to pay the first 100 dollars from your pocket.
Thereafter the Insurance company takes over the payment depending on the
coverage plan etc.
- There are two acceptable ways of payment for the Doctor's services
which  depends on the Doctor. The Doctor's receptionist is the best
person to ask  payment related questions.
Some Doctors ask you to pay them (by cash, check, credit card etc.)
immediately after the service. The receptionist will then give you a
formal  bill, which you must send (by postal mail) to the Medical
Insurance Company alongwith the claim form supplied by DCI (which comes in with
the initial package soon after you land in the U.S.) The Medical Ins. Co.
will  then send you a check after verifying your claim. Other Doctors
will note down the details of your Medical Insurance Company from your card. They will then send the bill to the Insurance Company and receive the payment
directly. You need not pay the Doctor.
But in both the above modes, remember that there are certain charges
which  the Insurance Company will not pay and which they don't cover,
such as the first $100. So find out the details from the Insurance Co. about
your respective coverage/medical problem etc.
- For certain kinds of medical problems where you have to visit the
Doctor  repeatedly, only a fixed number of visits per year are paid by
the Insurance Company and not all.
- How to decide on the Doctor to visit ?
Ask your colleagues or other Indian friends. Otherwise check up the
yellow pages (phone directory). Look under the "Physicians" heading.
Telephone the Doctor and fix up an appointment. Only in cases of
emergency,do the Doctors see you immediately, otherwise it is always by
appointment.
- You can claim the expenses for any Dr. prescribed medicine that you
have to buy from the Drug (medical) Store.

NOTE:
- Pain in the lower back and strain between the shoulder blades and a
stiff  neck are very common due to the kind of spring mattresses and soft
foam pillows available in the U.S. and one just needs to get used to it.
- Beware of Dental problems since they are usually not fully covered
under the Insurance Scheme.

Income Tax In US:
Income Tax return filing is very simple in US as compared to India. Here
Tax  forms are very simple and easy to fill up. One need not know all
about  Taxation laws, but still can very easily file tax return.  Here in
US there  are two types of taxes. One is the FEDRAL Tax which is something
like our Income tax and the other is the STATE Tax. Last day of filing the income tax return is 15th of April. Accounting year is considered from 1st of
January till 31st of December.  US has a Tax treaty with India. Under
this  Tax treaty one can file his tax return either in India or in US as
per the  convenience. But you need to show your income earned in either of
the country.
Suppose you come to US in the middle of  the year. You must be
definitely having some income in India before you came to US in that particular
financial year. Also some part of salary is paid to you even when you
are in US. This income is taxable and hence you pay tax on that income.
Generally you pay tax on this income in India as in most of the cases
income tax is deducted at source. So one pays tax on the income in India.
So now you are liable only for the tax on the income that you earn in US.
Here there are different types of forms for different category of
people.
For those who are US residents and who have status of Resident Aliens,
they  have to file the what is called 1040EZ form (form 1040 easy). Any
person who is in the US for more than 183 days continuously, gains status of
Resident Alien. Any person who is in US for less than 183 days in that
financial year is considered as Non Resident Alien.

Non Resident Alien will not have some Tax benefits which any US citizen
or  Resident Alien will have. Here in particular, Non resident Alien will
not get Standard deduction on their income. Also they have to pay Tax as per
the Flat rate. So basically when you file your Tax return as NR you land
up  paying more taxes. But you have to file 1040NR when you are having
status as Non resident Alien.

For filing Tax return form one can get help from the government body
which  is know as  IRS ( Internal Revenue Services ). This is same as
Income Tax department in India. Also one has to pay tax to the state government.
Each  state has a different tax law for the State Tax. Booklet of
information on  this is available on request. Tax forms are available freely at the public  places like Post office, Public library where one can get the
form that he/she   requires. Also, govrnment gives special services for the people who needs the guidance. One can get this information even on phone by calling them.One can even go in person to understand the form.

Apart from these facilities provided by the government one can even go
to private Tax consultants. They charge somewhere between $30 to $60. They
take care of every detail and one need not bother about anything. Along
with the Tax you are supposed to send one form called "W2" form. This
form  is provided by the employer to all the employees. The form contains
all the  information based on the salary of the person. Also all the taxes
paid by the employer to the State government as well as Federal government.
Details  about the social security taxes and the medical taxes paid by
the employer  is also   included in this form.

There are three copies of this form. One copy is to be sent with the
State  Tax form, one with the Federal Tax form and one is for the
employee's personal record.    Before sending the W2 form one should check the
validity of the information  in it. Most important is the correct social security number. If there is any change in any of the inforamation one should inform the employer asap.  Employer is supposed to send the corrected information to IRS and also a corrected copy to the employee which is called W2C form.

AAA Membership
We wanted to mention this specially 'cause its very helpful for a person
who is new to U.S. AAA read as 'triple A' stands for "American
Automobile Association"is an auto club which provides you with all kinds of tour and travel information. It provides you with all the maps and travel guides
which you will need. It also has services like towing, opening your car
door lock in case you get locked out, emergency help and so on. Being a
member of this club also gets you concession for motel booking and rental cars.

There is a yearly fee for all these services which they provide, and if
you  believe us, "It's more than worth it".
So we think its a good idea to be a member of this club. It will help
you in travelling, which ofcourse you will do once you get here.

Last Word
Stress is a part of professional life and more so when you are living in
an  alien country. The sooner you understand and accept it the more
easily you  will adapt to your new environment. Depression and home sickness are
symptoms that you should look out for. With this we all feel you will be
confident and may be able to come out with your own User Manual. But
before  we leave, we would like to tell you about "The Culture Shock"
that you may  feel. Try to position yourself on this graph. The graph shows
typical phases in the culture shock.It just makes you feel good, if you know
that others are in thesame boat !!!