STEP 4: PREPARE THE TRIP TO THE U.S.
4.1. Obtain and Complete Application Form
Congratulations on your admissions to a college or university in the United States. You have made some very important decisions already, but there are still many things to do before you leave home. Your first months in the United States will be much more satisfying if you plan ahead. If you have not already done so, visit the IIE Vietnam in Hanoi if you have chance. This advising center offers helpful pre-departure orientations for new international students. It is typically more accessible than the U.S. consulate.
What to do First
If you are accepted by the university/college, the Admission Office will send you a letter that you have been accepted. At this time, they will ask you to comply with various requirements. They will ask you to confirm that you accept the offer of admittance.
Often they will ask if you wish to apply for campus housing. Plan where to stay in the first period. Although the cost of living may be lower out-of-campus, you usually can not find one without any direct help. If you haven't got any friend or acquaintance there, I suggest you to choose to stay on-campus in the first semester. They will also send instructions on how to prepare for your first term. The first thing you should do is to respond to these questions and requirements immediately, in order to secure your admission without any last minute problems.
At receiving your confirmation, I-20 form, a letter from International Education Office, and a financial statement, in which all the costs and full or partial financial if any will be sent to you.
The I-20 form is a certificate from the school, addressed to the U. S. government, in which the school attests to several facts, including a belief that you are a bona fide student who intends to pursue the academic program to the end and a statement that you have been accepted by the school for a full course of study. By itself, the form is nothing more than a piece of paper on which facts are stated. An I-20 is a required part of an F-1 visa application, but merely having one in your possession has no legal meaning. For J-1 visa application, IAP-66 form is provided.
Take special note of the date entered in item "a" of your I-20 or the beginning of studies date on your IAP-66. You must arrive in the U. S. and appear at the school by that date. If you cannot, you will need written instructions from the school or may have to wait until a later time to begin studies (with a new form).
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You will need a student visa to enter the United States to study. Apply for a visa at U.S. embassy or consulate office using the form I-20 or IAP-66 that your U.S. college, university or sponsoring agency sent you for this purpose. If you have been accepted by several institutions, do not apply for a visa until you decide which you will attend.
In Vietnam, to obtain visa to the U.S., besides U.S. Embassy to Vietnam at:
7 Lang Ha Street,
Badinh, Hanoi
Tel.: + 84 4 843 1500
Fax: + 84 4 843 1510you can also go to Consulate General Office at:
51 Nguyen Dinh Chieu,
District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel.: + 84 8 823 4642 or + 84 8 822 9433
Fax: + 84 8 822-9434You will need various documents to support your visa application. Prepare carefully for your visit to the U.S. embassy. Read all documents carefully, so that you know exactly what you are agreeing to when you enter the United States on a student visa.
The following standard documents are required when you apply for a visa in the U.S. embassy:
- A current, valid passport,
- Birth certificates, police certificates, and other civil documents,
- The I-20 form for the F-1 visa or an IAP-66 form for the J-1 visa,
- Evidence of financial support for the period of time and amount indicated on the I-20 or IAP-66 form. The F-1 student visa applicant must present documentary evidence that sufficient funds are, or will be available from a specifically identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, the applicant must present credible documentary evidence that he or she has enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that barring unforeseen circumstances, adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. The M-1 student visa applicant must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of indented stay.
- Proof that you have a permanent resident in Vietnam. For this purpose, you will be asked to submit your “So Ho Khau” when you have an interview with visa officer.
- 2 passport–type photographs,
- A nonimmigrant visa application (this form is provided at the U.S. embassy),
Additional application materials may be requested by the visa officer to prove your eligibility for a student visa. These may include: evidence of your English proficiency, school records to verify your academic preparation, your additional evidence of strong ties to your home country (proof of place of work for example), or of your ability to support yourself while in the United States.
The consular officer will place a visa in your passport. If you receive a multiple-entry visa, you may use it to reenter the United States up to the date of its expiration as long as you have a valid I-20 or IAP-66. Normally for F-1 visa application, an entry visa will be provided. This only used to enter the U.S. and has a short validity and not very long from the report date indicated in your I-20 or IAP-66. Most colleges and universities offer important orientation activities before the academic term begins. If you must arrive later than your report date, contact your college or university.
Notes:
- You must sign your Form I-20 or IAP-66 before it will be accepted by a consulate, embassy, or the Immigration Service. The signature on Form I-20 constitutes an agreement to abide by the rules and grants the school permission to provide certain information about you to the Immigration Service. When your I-20 is processed, either by the school or the Immigration Service, the first sheet (pages one and two) is removed and sent to an immigration database. You are given the second sheet, which is called the Student ID Copy.
- You will receive a sealed envelope containing important information for Immigration officer at the airport where you will enter the United States. Don't open it!
For more information please refer to U.S. Embassy to Vietnam's General Information for Students.
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Bring with you to the United States any important documents that relate to your academic, medical, and legal history:
- Official transcripts from secondary school, colleges or universities,
- Medical and dental records, including immunization and vaccinations (especially important for young children),
- Information about medical condition or treatments, prescriptions for medication (including the generic and brand names) and eyeglasses,
- Marriage certificate,
- Birth certificates for children,
- International driving license,
Obtain English translations of these documents and have the translations certified by an authorized organization (Phong Cong Chung Nha Nuoc). Retain photocopies of all original documents for your records.
Notes: Don't forget what you promised to present at arrival.
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Learn something about the climate and weather in the area around your new college or university to determine that types of clothing you will need. You can check the weather, you can go to some on-line weather forecast services like Intellicast US Weather Forecast.
You are less likely to lose luggage if you follow the baggage limitations of the international airlines. You may find, however that bringing certain items from home will help you to feel more comfortable in your new surroundings. Some students like to bring items to share as gifts with new friends and acquaintances who may never travel. Such gifts need not be expensive – indeed, they should not be; their purpose is to tell others something about your home country.
If you wish to ship some of your belongings in advance, check with your institution for the appropriate delivery address. You can obtain information about freight and shipping services through local travel agents. Insure any valuable items that you ship overseas.
Bring with you enough money to cover the expenses of your first month, which is likely to be one of the most expensive periods of your stay. Before the term begins you will pay for local transportation, possibly several nights of lodging off campus, and meals. Once on campus, your expenses will include:
- Tuition and fees for the first term
- Orientation charges (at some institutions)
- Books and supplies
- Housing deposits and rent
- Health-insurance premiums
- Clothing appropriate for the climate
- Household items
- Meals
- Transportation
- Communication
- Personal expenses
- Family expenses
- Recreation
- Travel
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Arrange for your flight as soon as you know your report date. Your college or university can assist you with information about your arrival, including the distance from the airport to the campus and the most reliable form of transportation. Find out in advance how to get from the airport to the campus. In most cases, you will take a bus or a shuttle van to the campus or to the city or town closest to the campus. Do not take a taxi unless the distance is quite short or you have been advised to do so by your institution. Remember also to ask the cost of the trip before getting into the taxi. Otherwise, it may be your first painful experience in the United States because the taxi rates here are very expensive.
You can buy flying ticket from different air carriers. The cheapest ones include: Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines. But be careful, some flight routes may require transit visa to France or Canada. Those visas do not cost you any money but without ones you will have a lot of troubles.
You can expect to experience fatigue and other physical symptoms due to long distance travel and time changes. Be well rested at the start of the trip and take care of details in advance. Eat lightly and drink plenty of water the day before you travel. Prepare for change in temperature by rearing several layers of clothing that can be removed or added as needed. Keep your passport, travel documents, and money with you at all times. Keep important papers in your carry-on luggage, with photocopies in your other luggage. Label your luggage inside and out with your name and both your home and U.S. addresses and telephone numbers. Use the address and phone number of the international student office, if necessary.
Toward the end of your flight, the airline personnel will give you several forms to complete for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Customs, in which the most important form may be the I-94 form. Keep this form carefully at all the times and be sure that this form is always attached to your passport since without this piece of paper, you can not reenter the United States. It is forbidden to bring certain items into the United States (for example, fruits, vegetables, drugs, and firearms). You will be asked to report the value of the things you are bringing into the United States. Simply follow the directions on the form. If necessary, ask the flight attendant for clarifications.
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1. Write to the university to tell them you are accepting admission. If your received more than one acceptance, send letters of regret to the universities you decided not to attend. Return any official documents such as the I-20 form that you received from these universities.
2. If you are being sponsored by an organization, notify this organization of your plans. Maintain contact with your sponsoring organization. Your sponsor can assist you with many pre-departure arrangements and provide valuable information.
3. Request information about insurance from your university.
4. Request information from your university about how to get from your point of entry in the United States to your university.
5. Obtain certified copies of your post-secondary transcripts along with detailed descriptions of courses and books used in your courses.
6. Read your university catalog again.
7. Obtain a valid passport.
8. Apply for a student visa at the consular section of the U.S. embassy or U.S. General Consular office.
9. Make travel arrangements as soon as possible. Arrive on campus at least one week before orientation and registration begin.
10. Advise your university’s international student office of your travel plans, indicating your itinerary and date and time of arrival.
11. Obtain copies of important medical records, x-rays, and prescriptions. Have prescriptions written in generic terms.
12. Label all your luggage inside and outside with you name and the address of the college or university you will attend.
13. Check with the airlines regarding their luggage policy.
14. Make sure you can carry luggage for at least a half kilometer. You may want to purchase a folding luggage trolley.
15. Reconfirm your flight reservations 72 hours before departure.
16. Pack a travel bag with personal articles for use in case your luggage is temporarily lost during your journey. Pack valuables and items that could leek, such as shampoo, in this bag.
17. Give your family a contact number, such as that of the international student office, in case of emergency.
Wherever your airplane lands in the United States, the first thing you should be ready for is inspection by customs and immigration officials. Customs will often ask many questions, and may examine your luggage. The embassy or consulate will have placed your Form I-20 or IAP-66 in a sealed envelope for presentation to an immigration officer.
The immigration officer may or may not ask a few simple questions. He or she will then place inspection stamps on your I-20 or IAP-66 and on your Form I-94. You will be given the student copy of your school form and an I-94 departure record on which your immigration status (F-1, J-1, or M-1) will be written, along with the time you are required to leave the U. S. (D/S for F-1 and J-1 students, and a definite date for M-1 students). Though tiny, the I-94 is your most important document. It is your permission to enter and remain in the U. S. Do not lose it. Your I-20 is also important and should be kept in a safe place. Your I-94 should be firmly stapled to your passport, on the page opposite your visa.
b. Orientation and Registration
One of the items which should be sent to you by the school should be a calendar of events. Many schools will send several separate papers describing arrangements to begin school, including placement testing, academic advisement, registration, and the first day of classes. Among these papers will be information on the orientation program or programs. Most schools offer general orientation for all students and a special separate program for foreign students. Do not miss these programs (they may be required, but attend even if they are not). Orientation sessions will explain how the American education system works and will usually include a segment on your rights and obligations under the immigration regulations. You will be told about expected behavior in the classroom, including oral participation, which is given importance in American education. You will be told how the grading and credit systems work, how to choose a major and what courses you are expected to take for general and major requirements.
Do not expect anything more than general answers about term papers, assigned books, reports, or examinations. In America, these matters are decided by individual professors, not the school, and even two professors teaching the same course may assign different books. They make different decisions on papers and examinations and may use different standards for awarding grades. Often, foreign student orientation will include a tour of the campus or surrounding community and guidance on special services and academic
advisement.
c. International Student Advisor
When you arrive, the first thing you should do is going to talk to your international student adviser and your academic adviser.
The advisers in the international student office will be able to help you with most of the questions you have concerning study in the United States. The office probably will offer an orientation program for new foreign students.
Foreign student advisers will help you find fellow students from Vietnam or recommend clubs that you might want to join. In many communities a host family or friendship program works with international student office to help foreign students learn about the community in which the university is located and participate in community life.
The international student office is your best source of information, advice, and assistance related to your nonimmigrant student status.
As a new undergraduate student, you may be asked to attend an academic advising session with many other students, where you will be given information about the academic system at your institution. Such advising session often form part of a new-student orientation at the beginning of the academic term. If you have read the school's materials before the session, it may be easier for you to follow the information being presented during the session.
Take advantage of opportunities to meet with an academic adviser of faculty member to discuss your academic choices. Although the foreign student adviser usually can not offer academic advice, he/she can help you to find the right person at your college or university to do so.
Most graduate students are assigned to choose a faculty member as an academic adviser. Academic advisers offer you information guidance, and advice throughout your academic program. They may provide this information in a group setting with other student or in private sessions with you. Without the advice of your academic adviser, you make take incorrect courses, resulting in problem later.
Seek the advice of your academic adviser at any time to discuss important educational issues. If you have difficulties in a particular course, your academic adviser can help you find the assistance you need. Some academic advisers are not aware of immigration regulations relating to academic course load, so you should always discuss academic changes with your foreign student adviser as well.
Once all the main problems have been settled, start your academic life in the United States with many new experiences. Good luck!