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 along with or read on the plane before he/she gets to the USA 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.
All the best!! :-)
2. 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 woolen 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. Make sure you get a cooker though, if you need one, because, they can get expensive in the U.S. .
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!!
3. 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.
3.1 International Stops : Generally passengers are required to get down at an International top, 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 checking your tickets etc. Once you get in, you are all set to take off for the final destination.
3.2 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".
3.3 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.
3.4 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 that 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 coordinator 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.
4. Using Telephones
The first thing you might do when you come to USA is calling 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 region 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 (area code)-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-(area code)-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> To make an international call i.e. to India you need to dial 011-91-
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.
Daylight 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 daylight 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.
5. 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.
5.1 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.
5.2 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.
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