US Related Information

VISA

Prepare your documents properly, stay calm and confident during the interview and you'll be through

Be sure to give honest answers and not cheat, as invariably they detect persons who try to hide significant information (like having a sibling in US or something like that).

VISA Checklist

1. Visa application (you get this at the Consulate Office)
2. Passport
3. Color visa photographs 2" square (5 cms)
4. I-20 and acceptance letter
5. Letter of scholarship, if any
6. Brochures of university
7. Original mark sheets and GRE/TOEFL scoresheets (original)
8. Income tax orders and challans of parents of last two years
9. Proof of liquid/fixed assets in yours and parents name. e.g. UTI, Stocks, Bonds, FDs, Property deeds etc.
10. Visa fees: Passport verification fees- Payable to" American  Consulate General" Rupee DD. equivalent to US $75 (get the fees info from American Consulate)
11. Bank letter dated at time of visa showing 1st year's fees in the account.
12. Proof in the form of Pass Book entry/Bank statement.

For more information: American Consulate General, Mumbai

Airport

Charlottesville is a small university town and does not have a big International Airport. But it does have a domestic airport (Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport) and you can fly to Charlottesville by connecting flights from bigger airports.

Other Airports you can consider are:

We advise you to come to directly to the Charlottesville Airport as it would be easier for us to come and pick you up.

If you come to one of the other airports, we cannot guarantee that some one would be able to pick you up and you might have to find your own mode of transportation like Greyhound Bus Service or by Amtrak Railway. We can easily pick you up from the Greyhound Bus Terminal or the Amtrak Railway Station at Charlottesville.

Moreover, sometimes the suitcase might not fit in the trunk of the car or there may be other problems. Hence, it is always advisable to fly to Charlottesville when you are coming for the first time.

Luggage Restrictions

You are allowed to check in 2 suitcases and carry-on 1 handbag with you.

Please refer to the guidelines provided by the airline you are traveling as regarding the appropriate size of the suitcases and weights allowed. The information is usually present on the ticket or you can even call up the local office of the airline or your travel agent and ask him the details.

The usual weight restrictions are about 30 kgs each for the bags, and 10 kgs for the handbags.

Clothing and Personal Items

What all should you bring? This question is asked to us all the time.

Within a few months of your arrival, Fall will be upon us. Get warm clothes, a couple of sweaters and some thick socks. A big jacket would be great for winter, but if you don't have one there, you can buy really good ones here. Get enough clothes and under things, since you should expect to wash them once in about 10-15 days. Jeans and T-shirts are recommended, but get maybe one set of formal clothes - light shirt, tie and trousers. Non-stick cookware is a must. Getting a few spices and non messy foodstuff is a good idea. When packing, keep important papers on your body or in the carry-on luggage, NOT in the baggage that goes in the hold.

If interested, you can go through the exhaustive list of items (pdf). (Get Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Driver's License

In the US, if you expect to drive, you have to apply for a driver's license of the state in which you wish to reside (Virginia for UVa students). The International Driver's Permit (IDP) you get from India is not of much use for students. It allows you only to rent a car (which is useful for people coming on a business visa for 3-6 months or as tourists). Even if you have an IDP, you still have to go through the process of procuring a learner's permit and then give the driving test to get Virginia State Driver's Permit. So, getting an IDP before coming is not terribly important.

For more information: Virginia Department of Vehicles

Social Etiquette

Upon arrival here, you may experience what is commonly known as ``culture shock''. Americans have their own customs and habits which may seem different from your experiences at home. Small, everyday habits may seem strange and confusing at first. Americans are usually informal, even towards strangers. This is meant to be neither disrespectful nor over familiar. Frequently, strangers will smile at you or wish you. An American who is friendly but never keeps promises to call or extend invitations is not trying to hurt you or make you feel unwelcome; he/she is simply trying to be polite. American classes are also more informal than many of you may be used to. Feel free to ask other students or the professor when you are unsure of what is appropriate. Watching how other students behave is also very helpful.

Plain curiosity may lead Americans to ask personal questions which may seem embarrassing to a foreigner. If you find any questions inappropriate do not hesitate to say that you would rather not discuss it. In most cases the person is not trying to attack your personal beliefs, but is just curious and will not be offended by a polite refusal. Remember that you are now in a different country with its own unique customs and traditions. Instead of being frustrated by these strange habits, it is often better to try and adjust to them and learn about the people here. I am sure you will find it an interesting experience, far better than isolating yourself in a world of your own.

Food

We advise you that if you do not know cooking at all, better learn some basic cooking before coming here.

Most of us prefer to cook our own meals, as eating outside is not very economical plus you have to develop a taste for eating American food (it might taste bland to you for the first time). Plus generally, its not good thing to eat outside daily.

The University Meal Plan is not compulsory and most of the graduate indian students do not take it.

A note for vegetarians: It is perfectly fine to be a vegetarian and you would not face any problem in the US. There are lots of places where you get vegetarian food and most of the vegetables and fruits you get in India are available in the US grocery stores, so that you can cook your own food as well.

A word caution for "Strict Vegetarians" though is that sometimes, you may unknowingly consume non-vegetarian food like when the fries may be fried in animal fats, etc.