Web Page : www.usouthal.edu/inational/india

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Baliga 

Executive committee: 
President:                   Sashank Purighalla          334-342-7863   sashank77@hotmail.com
Vice President:           Ravi Paul Gollapalli             
Secretary:                  
Treasurer:                  Ruhi Kekatpure 
Sports Secretary:       Srivardhan Ramgopal      
Cultural Secretary:      Prithvi Gopalan 
CISO representative   

Hello Friend, 

We congratulate you on having been accepted by the University Of South Alabama(USA). Welcome to the University and the city of Mobile.
We hope you will have a very enjoyable and rewarding stay here. We suggest that you read the Information bulletin for foreign students very carefully. It has a lot of useful information. In addition, we have put together a few tips pertinent to Indian students. 

Getting the VISA: 

The grapevine has it that the process of obtaining  a student visa  at the American Consulate in Madras(a.ka. Chennai) is changed. Please note that ISA cannot help you in the VISA process nor advise you in any manner. 

You should have already received your I-20 from (USA). Please arrange to get your VISA as early as possible to allow for enough time to plan your travel. Check with the nearest USEFI (these are located at Delhi, Bombay, Madras and Calcutta) for VISA orientation programs that familiarize you with the requirements, dos and don’ts. These are normally held a couple of times in the months of May and June. 

Things to be taken with you when you apply for the VISA 

a) Filled VISA application form 
b) Two passport size photographs 
c) A demand draft for the application fee. 
d) Passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the USA. 
e) Signed I-20 form 
f) Admission & Aid letters 
g) GRE / GMAT and TOEFL score cards (original) 
h) Transcripts / Grade cards, Degree certificates, Work experience letters as applicable 
i) Any financial support documents as applicable (original) 

For further details contact your nearest US embassy or check out their web page, www.usia.gov/abtusia/posts/IN1/wwwh6.html 

Getting here: 

Flight tickets: 

The next thing to do is blocking tickets (this implies no financial commitments). This can be done via travel agents. Please note that a VISA is not required to block or purchase tickets. It would be a good idea to block tickets in advance even if you get delayed in applying for your VISA for some reason. It is very difficult to confirm tickets at a late date. Put pressure on the agencies to get as much info as possible and arrive at the best deals. Some airlines (British Airways and Air India for example) offer concessional fares for students. Plan to arrive here a couple of days earlier than the scheduled orientation to allow you some time to settle down. Avoid change of airline. A direct flight is best. If change of airline can’t be avoided, which is indeed the case in travelling to Mobile, leave atleast 4-6 hours gap between the scheduled arrival of one flight and the scheduled departure of the connecting flight. Baggage is usually safe with a single airline – change of airline sometimes leads to misplaced luggage. Some airlines don’t take care of baggage transfer – you may have to personally carry it (check this while booking). Indicate whether you want Asian vegetarian meal, non-smoking section, etc. CROSSCHECK EVERYTHING THE TRAVEL AGENT SAYS. Much before the flight call the airlines themselves and confirm your tickets. 

Things to be done in advance: 

Driving: 
If you have not learned driving, it is a good idea to learn before coming here. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to secure a car for practice. It would also be a good  idea to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) which is issued to any Indian driving license holder at an additional charge of  Rs. 10 at your nearest Road transport  office. 

Cooking: 
Banish the thought that somebody else is going to cook for you. Dining out is very expensive. Go through a few quick cooking lessons with your mom, so that you do not step into a strange new world – The Kitchen. Cooking is a very important aspect of your life here, which if neglected can create problems with your roommates. 

Medical Check up: 
Have your eyes, teeth and body checked thoroughly and have any abnormalities set right before coming here. Medical tests or surgeries are very expensive here. Bring along an extra pair of spectacles or contact lenses and a small medical kit to tide you over the acclimatization period. Also bring your medical history in case of specific ailments. 

Finances: 
Arrange to obtain foreign exchange, for the amount you require. This can be done at any of the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. You will need your Passport, I-20 Student copy and air tickets for this. Additional documents may be required if you need to carry more money than permitted by the RBI. Carry the whole amount in Traveller’s checks and cash of about $ 150-200 (make sure you have some 1 dollar bills, 25 cent and 10 cent coins). It would be good idea to carry the entire quota of money allowed by the RBI to tide over start up expenses. Please note that ISA cannot help you in the process of securing  assistantships/loans in any manner. Contact the department for assistance.
 

Computers: 
It will be a good idea to acquire a few computer skills before coming. An exposure to emailing back there will be good. Also try and learn the basic MS packages like Windows, Word and Excel. Anything in addition to the above mentioned, like Windows NT, C, C++, VisualBASIC, etc. will be good too. 

Packing / Travelling tips: 
Start your packing well in advance. Buy two good boxes –they should be as large as possible within the size of the limitations specified by the airlines. In most airlines you are allowed 2 pieces of baggage with total linear dimensions (l+b+h) not exceeding 270 cm. The weight of each bag should not exceed 32 kg. In addition you can carry a bag with linear dimensions not exceeding 115 cm on board. However please confirm with your airline for specific details. 

Things to be kept in hand baggage: 
Original important documents (I-20, VISA, Certificates, etc.) 
Enough money (little cash, traveller’s check) 
Address book/phone book (Indian and US contacts) 
Any valuables (like calculator, alarm clocks etc…) 
Things to survive for a week in case luggage gets misplaced (toiletries, two sets of clothes etc.) 
A sweater 
Some medicines (Chloroquin, Panadol etc) 

Things to be kept on person: 
Some cash ,traveller’s checks and tickets 
Receipt got along with traveller’s check – in case you lose the TC’s 
Shorter extract of contact addresses – especially of people coming to pick you up. 

Things to be kept in a safe place: 
Copies of all certificates/documents 
Important apping materials (like SOP, Reco etc.) 
Clothes: 

The weather in Mobile is : cold in winter with temperatures ranging between -2°C and 7°C and summer temperatures soarup to a blistering 40 °C(humidity around 90-100%). We suggest you come with sufficient winter wear eg jackets,blankets, etc. Be sure to pack some comfortable cotton (eg Tshirts,jeans etc) cloths for the summer. For daily wear, pack clothing which requires little or no ironing. Usually clothes are machine washed about once in a week or ten days. Hence one week supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed. Get atleast a dozen sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs, some towels, bedsheet and pillow covers. Leather items like belts, wallets and jackets are very expensive in this part of the world. Buy them in India. When buying a wallet, make sure it has space to hold a good number of cards such as ID cards and Credit cards. 

* For Mobiles weather check out www.weather.com/weather/us/cities/Al_Mobile.html 

A good pair of shoes, 1 pair of leather chappals, 1 pair of hawai chappals. 

Cooking stuff: 
Most Indian food stuff is available in the Indian grocery store over here. You may carry a few spices to take care of the initial few days. Do not bring a whole lot of cooking vessels, as they are best brought here. However, we recommend you to bring a 3 ltr. Pressure cooker or pressure pan ( with spare handle, safety valves, weights, base plate and gaskets), Charani (Server with holes), Rice server, Idli plates and tongs. When bringing home made food items make sure that they are properly packed. Pickles must be sealed in airtight leak proof containers. Remember, improperly sealed food items will be confiscated by the U.S customs upon arrival. Only condiments and dry foods are permitted. Try to get “instant” stuff as people generally don’t have much time to cook over here. Some important books, some stationery related items 
 

Arrival at University Of South Alabama: 
Inform the Office Of International Services (e-mail:bhinson@jaguar1.usouthal.edu,Phone:334 460-6050) and the Indian Student Association well in advance of your travel plans giving date and time of arrival, airline and flight number information by letter/email/ phone. We shall receive
you at the Mobile Municipal Airport. If you do not get a chance to inform us about your arrival, call us or the Office of International services at (334) 460-6050 and we will have someone pick you up. We suggest you do not waste money on taxicabs. 

After arrival: 

Housing: 
Most students prefer to live off-campus; there are plenty of good apartments close to the campus. Most of the apartments are furnished. Do not get any 220V appliances, as they do not work here. Sharing apartments (2 to 4 in each) is a common practice. We will help you in locating one and also your roommates. 

Finances: 
Here is typical estimate of expenses. 

Apartment rent (could be shared by 2/3 roommates) $360-$400 
Deposit (First month only) $ 75 - $ 100 
Basic Groceries $ 50 - $ 100 
Utensils, Bedsheets, etc $ 75 - $ 100 
Telephone Installation (first month only) $ 100 
Utilities (Electricity, Water, Telephone) $ 200 
Books $ 100 
Health Insurance $ 100 - $ 150(RA/TA are covered by the university) 

On campus jobs: 
Based on our past experience, the campus has been able to support majority of students with part-time jobs in university hostels, cafeterias, library and other departments. 
These are available on a first come first served basis, but not assured immediately. The hourly rate is $5.15-$7.00 and there is a limit of 20 hrs/ week for foreign students. These jobs are certainly no sinecures, but will help you out. 

About Mobile: 

Mobile is small city, which makes it a great place to attend school. The people here are friendly outgoing and helpful. Compared to big cities, the pace of life is decidedly slower, there is no rush hour and commuting hordes. Mobile boasts a low cost of living, safe and peaceful town, which makes it a very pleasant place to reside. 
 
 

About ISA:
ISA is an informal campus organization of about 100 students. Our aim is to foster kinship amongst all Indians, promote and celebrate Indian culture and tradition. The slate of our activities include picnics, music and dance concerts, dinners, cultural shows, movies, sports etc. Please write to us at the above addresses, if you need any further information. In case of emergency, please feel free to call any of the committee members at their home numbers. We hope this letter has eased some of your separation and transition anxieties and answered most of your questions. We are sure you will like your stay in Mobile. We look forward to  seeing you soon. Bon voyage ! 

Last Updated:    06/30/01