Phase 1: Before arrival.

Get a United States Visa: The University will send you an admission packet, which might contain an I-20. This needs to be presented to a nearby US Consulate to obtain a visa. Additional financial documentation may be required. For help in this area, please consult the International Education Services of this University, or Immigration and Naturalization Services of the United States Government. Download this document for some actual visa tips and experiences.

Buy airline tickets: Refer to the Airport Pickups section for a list of airports.

Learn driving: (Optional) If possible learn driving and get an International Driving Permit or Indian Drivers license. You can also learn driving here, but it can be expensive. At some point in your life in the US, you will need to drive a car.

Buy Books (Optional): A list of books for different majors is provided here.

Get a haircut (Optional): Just before leaving. A haircut is anywhere around $13-$16 here.

Immunization: Read more information here. Get all required tests and vaccinations done and bring a proofof the same (letter from your doctor giving details with dates will do). Ensure you have gotten two (not just one) MMR shots since birth (unless you want to take one here for $60!) and the TB test results. You will need to show the records at the University Health Center here.

Look for Housing: Get details here.Ideally, you should find a place to stay before you arrive in Maryland. If that is not possible, contact us for temporary accomodation.

Let us know: Please fill your information in the correct table at this database on the SCI Maryland Yahoo! group. (If you cannot access this link, go to the group site here, go to the Database section, click on New Students YourSemester , and then Add Record. Access to this site is restricted to registered users of SCI Maryland Yahoo! group.)

Departmental Contacts: It is a good idea to have a contact established before you come here. A list of Departmental Contacts is available to help you with department related queries. But also get in touch with friends/seniors that you know here in UMCP. The better you know where you are going to stay, and what you need to bring, the easier you will settle down.

PHASE 2: From Home to College Park

On the flight: You will be asked to fill out the I-94 form. The Immigration authorities at the airport will write your visa status on a part of the I-94 card and pin it to your passport. This status may look like F-1 D/S, which means F-1 for the Duration of your Status, if you are an F-1 visa holder. Please do not lose this card.

Pick-up: If you have arranged for an SCI volunteer or a friend/relative to pick you up, please keep their contact information handy.

How to go to College Park by yourself (In case your arranged pickup doesn't show up):
- Taxi: It costs about $50 from Dulles (IAD), $40 from BWI and $25 from DCA. A 10% tip is customary but is not absolutely required.
- Airport Shuttle: It is cheaper then taxi, but it takes much longer time. Available at the outside service counter at the Baggage Claim or Passenger Pick-Up area. Example: SuperShuttle, which services to and from BWI, cost $17 one way to or from College Park (P.G. County). Details here.
- Metro: From BWI, you can take Bus Number B-30 from the International Arrival area which will bring you to Greenbelt Metro Station for 3$. You can take Metro from DCA directly. From Washington Dulles, there are other buses which will bring you to the nearest Metro Station. However, it not recommended because you are not familiar with the subway system yet. When you arrived at the College Park station, you need to take UM Shuttle bus. The one-way cost from DCA to College Park is less than $3.

IES (International Education Services): After you arrive in the University of Maryland, you have to report to IES Remember to bring your I-20 and passport. You can either go directly to the 3rd floor of Mitchell Building or wait till the New Student Orientation.

Social Security Number (SSN): This is absolutely necessary, as credit-cards, registration and basically everything in the US requires this number as an identification. If you are not going to be a TA or an RA, you need to obtain a letter from IES to apply for SSN. After you get the letter from IES, you can go to a Social Security Administration Office to apply for SSN. Alternatively, you can get a ticket from IES to attend the SSN application hours arranged specially on campus. Seats for this are limited, so make sure you go early and get a ticket. Social Security Administration Offices are located in the following addresses:
- Wheaton Plaza, Suite 63, 11160 Viers Mill Road, Wheaton, MD 20902 (take C-2 bus from in front of the Stamp Union)
- 7401-C Fobes Blvd., Seabrook, MD 20706 (One block before Lanham Severn Rd. On Rt. 193. It is on the intersection of Fobes Bld. and Greenbelt Rd.)
- 51 Monrose St., Rockville, MD 20852
- 2100 M Dt., NW Washington, DC 20009
- Phone number for all the offices is 1-800-772-1213

Internet: To apply for your WAM (email, WAM lab, and dial-up) account, you need to go to the Office of Information Technology, which is located in Room 1400 in the Computer and Space Sciences Building.

Banking: State Employees Credit Union (SECU) on 193/University Buoulevard (opposite Beltway Plaza) and Chevy Chase Bank on campus at Stamp Student Union are the best choices. You have to prove you are full-time student (bring your registration card or I-20). We recommend Chevy Chase since they have a branch on campus, and plenty of ATM's in MD and DC area. Note that you do not need an SSN to open a student checking account with them.

University Shuttle: This will be probably be your main way of commuting to school. Shuttle-UM is free for students with a valid University of Maryland Identification Card.

Public Transportation: The Washington Metropolitan Area has a large number of buses and the Metro Rail system. You can get to most places using this.

Driver's License and Insurance: They are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for driving; so get them first before buying a car! An International Driver's License is acceptable for both getting an insurance and driving at first. You must, however, eventually obtain a Maryland Driver's License as required by law if you are insured in Maryland. Before attending the paper and road test, you have to bring your orginal driver's license and two inhabitant identifications.

Buying a Car:
- Buying a New Car: Car dealers are not your friends! So you better discuss with someone with the experience of buying a car.
- Buying a Used Car: You can look for ads from local newspapers or on the internet. You MUST make sure that the car can pass the state inspection. Check for the value of the car in the Blue Book instead of believing the owner. You can check car buying guide from Edmunds.