You've got your I-20 & visa, and now you are all set to come here. Some stuff that will help you make your travel comfortable and worry-free.
TRAVEL PREPARATIONS
Now that you've got your visa and have done all the shopping, you need to get an air ticket to Dallas. The Dallas airport is officially known as the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport . This is about 25 miles from the school. Most of the flights from India do not have Dallas as their port of entry. Your port of entry , which is the first airport in the US that you arrive at, is where you will go through customs & immigration.
Tickets: Book your tickets as early as possible. It is very difficult to get confirmation at a late date. You should plan enough time for getting your visa. Plan to arrive in Dallas at 3-7 days before the Orientation Date (mentioned in your school documents). Inform us as soon as your travel plans are made. A weekend would be ideal. Most of the students here do not own cars, have to plan your airport pick-ups with others who would most probably be working on weekdays. So, try to reach Dallas either in the evenings or on a weekend, but of course, whenever you reach, we'll try our best to receive you at teh airport. It will be very convenient if you can plan your journey with friends coming to UTD. It is imperative that we are informed well in advance, of your arrival, to avoid any confusion. remember, that Dallas is 10 1/2 hours (from April to September, 11 1/2 for the rest of the year) behind Indian time.
Luggage: By now, you must have received tons of advice on what to take with you from all and sundry. This "tons of advice" will normally translate into "tons of luggage" and while you may not be averse to the idea of performing the Herculean task of carrying it around airports of the world, we doubt if your back or the airlines would look kindly on this venture. Remember that if you are coming from outside the US, you are allowed only 2 pieces of luggage of specified weight and dimensions.
Documents: REMEMBER - keep all your immigration-related documents (I-20/IAP-66, passport, visa etc) with you. Do not keep them in the check-in luggage. Keep them either in you hand bag/purse or carry them with you in your hand. Also keep some clothes (for 2/3 days) in it.
NOTE: You should keep your passport and I-20/IAP-66 with you at all times - do not put any of your immigration papers in your check-in luggage
ARRIVAL IN THE U.S.
Immigration: You will have to go through customs and immigration at your port of entry. Sometime before the plane lands, the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms and immigration forms. Fill these out on the plane. You will submit them to the appropriate US Customs authorities after you land. If you do not understand a form, ask the flight attendant for assistance.
Customs: Even if your luggage is booked through to your final destination, it will be off-loaded at your port of entry. After passing through the immigration area, you will collect your baggage and then, with your baggage, pass through customs. A customs inspector will ask you to declare what you have brought into the country. She/He will inspect your bags and review the customs form you have filled out on the airplane. Penalties for concealing declarable items can be severe, so be honest and make a full declaration. As far as edibles go, just remember that there should be no fruits, vegetables or anything raw. Pickles, Spices, etc will be allowed in as long as they are packed properly and sealed. Spices are usually classified as non-perishable and dehydrated and you may declare them as such.
Connecting Flights: If you will be continuing your journey by air, check in at the appropriate airline counter as soon as you are through customs. In most airports, you might have to change terminals to board your connecting flight. Please ask the airline representative at the counter about changing terminals. You might have to use the Airport Transport System to do so. These counters are right outside the customs area, usually. Remember, it is your responsibility to collect your baggage after passing through immigration, clear it through customs, and get it checked in again for the onward connection. In case your baggage does not arrive on the same flight as you, do not waste too much time hunting for it. Mention it to the airline representative and give them a forwarding address and phone number where you can be reached. In any event, do not miss your connecting flight. In case your flight came in late, or the onward flight is cancelled, it is the responsibility of the airline on which you flew into the country, to make arrangements for another flight and if the delay involves an overnight stay, then the airline has to put you up for the night and also pay for your meals. Do not let the airline representative convince you otherwise.
Note : Please don't panic if it so happens that your flight arrives late and the time for the connecting flight is too near (say, within the next 10-15 minutes) for you to make it due to Immigration and Customs delays. Simply follow the same actions outlined above and get your airline to arrange things for you. Don't be rude, but be firm while dealing with the airline representatives.
If a representative from the airline on which you will be traveling is outside the customs area, tell him/her that you are taking the plane to Dallas. (Many times he/she will telephone ahead and the plane will be held for a few minutes for you.)
ARRIVAL AT DALLAS
At the airport : If you have communicated your travel plan to us and you find none of us at the airport, wait for at least 45 minutes before trying to find your way to UTD. Call one of us before you do that. A list of number is attached below. If you have been given a contact name and a number of the person who would be coming to the airport to receive you, please call him/her before you call one of these numbers.
Tanay: 214-909-7361
Nidhi:682-554-0520
Manoj: 972-310-7280
Vacha: 214-991-9650
Nisarg: 972-900-4508
Nitish: 214-727-1179
Using the phone : A phone call requires 50 cents so keep some change with you. One dollar notes can be changed in a changing machine. You can also buy a coffee or soft drink with a dollar bill and get change. The area code for Richardson (that's the suburb in Dallas where we live) is 972. You will NEED to dial 972 followed by the phone number - that is the entire 10 digit number. This might be different form other places in the US, where you have to dial just the last 7 digits.
Answering Machine : This is a way of life for communication here. If you get no response after calling us, wait for the recorded message to come on. There will be a long beep At the end of the message. Leave your message after the beep. If you are calling from the airport give us your name, time and the airport terminal that you are in. We regularly check our answering machines.
Lost / Delayed Luggage : Rarely, it may happen that your bags don't reach Dallas with you. DON'T PANIC. You will get them in a few days. The airlines will deliver them to your apt. But for this to happen, you will have to talk to the airline officials at the airport. You will be asked to fill a form; do so. You willhave to fill in an address on the form - this address will bethe place where they will deliver your bags. If you know the exact address where you are going to staying, give that one. If you will be given temporary accomodation after reaching UTD (which would be true for most of you), this is the address that you give
c/o Tanay Shaha
2200 Waterview Pkwy,
Apt No 25108, Richardson, TX-75080
Phone: (214) 909 7361
Bus Shuttle Services : If you land at DFW and have not informed us, there is a possibility that you may not be able to contact us and might have to come on your own to the addresses given below. Don't take a taxi as this might turn out to be quite expensive. Go to the courtesy phone in the baggage claim ares. Select ground transportation and dial 08 for Discount Shuttle Service ($19) and give them your terminal number of arrival and destination (UTD/Waterview Park apts, Richardson in your case), or dial 02 for Super Shuttle Service ($21). This is the information that you will give them on your destination Your destination is Waterview Apartments, on the campus of UTD - University of Texas at Dallas.
The street address is 2600 Waterview Parkway ,
This is in a city called Richardson , which is in North Dallas The closest street intersection is Campbell & Coit Roads Most of the times, just telling UTD campus will be enough, but Dallas is a large place, and there might be some drivers who might need additional information.
You should not have any problems traveling and reaching here. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any help. Bon Voyage !!