EDUCATION / TRAVEL SPECIAL.............. BON VOYAGE!!

BON VOYAGE!! YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A NEW JOURNEY, BUT BEFORE LEAVING FOR YOUR DESTINATION, THERE ARE A FEW POINTS THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE OF STUDYING ABROAD FULFILLING.  >> FLIGHTS AND IMMIGRATION Many airlines including Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, allow extra baggage allowance for students. Check your baggage size and weight limits before you choose your airline. Earlier, if you were flying to the US you were allowed two bags each weighing 32 kg each totalling 64 kilos. This has now been reduced by most airlines to 23 kilos per bag totalling 46 kilos.     If you are travelling to the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand you do not need to have ECNR or Emigration Check Not Required in your passport. If you get an immigration officer who insists on you having ECNR, call the manager of the airport because you do not need ECNR while travelling to developed countries. Nowadays, most of the new Indian passports don’t have ECNR stamped on them.     If asked at customs, state the amount of foreign exchange that you are carrying. As a student you are allowed to carry the amount mentioned on your I-20 or admission letter, as long as you are not carrying foreign currency equivalent to over US$3000.     When you reach your destination country make sure that you have your passport and I-20 or admission letter with you when you land. At the foreign immigration counter you may be asked the reason for your visit, how long you plan to stay in the country and how you plan to fund your education. Make sure that you answer all the questions honestly. In some countries you may also be fingerprinted at the immigration counter. This is routine procedure. Also keep in mind that currently students arriving in the US are asked to undergo secondary immigration inspection. Don’t stress because if you are a genuine student with authentic travel documents, you will have no problem.     When you land and clear immigration and collect your bags, you will encounter customs just before you leave the airport. The customs officer may ask you about the contents of your bag and if you are carrying fresh food with you. Again, make sure you answer honestly. Remember, all customs officers are aware that food can always be found in any Indian student’s bag. >> HEALTH & INSURANCE If you plan to study in the US, you would need to have taken the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) vaccination at least twice in your life. Given soon after birth, this vaccination must be repeated before you leave for the US. UK universities generally do not require applicants to have taken prior vaccinations, but check with your respective institute if any vaccinations are recommended. If you plan to study in Canada, Australia or New Zealand you may need to clear medical requirements before you are granted a student visa; this includes a chest x-ray and blood tests. It is advisable to have taken the MMR, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, Diphtheria, Tetanus vaccinations before departure. Remember to carry proof of the vaccinations and medical test results. For US and Canada, you can buy health insurance from the university or from an independent insurance provider (if the university permits it). However, all international students in the US must have insurance cover. UK has one of the best insurance systems in the world and international students, whose courses are longer than six months, qualify to receive subsidised treatment and, hence, do not need to purchase any additional insurance. If you are studying in Scotland, you do not need to be enrolled in a course longer than six months to avail of the insurance benefits. Always check the national insurance websites in these countries to make sure that you are covered.     When you apply for a student visa to Australia, one of the requirements is that you register for the Overseas Student Health Cover programme before you arrive in Australia. Universities in New Zealand require applicants to have a comprehensive travel and medical policy, which is generally purchased from the university. In rare circumstances, this policy can be bought from an external company and the university evaluates the external insurance policy.     Medical treatment outside your home country is expensive, so make sure that you are covered under at least one insurance policy at any given time. >> FOREIGN EXCHANGE RBI allows you to take up to US $100,000 and even a higher amount in case your institute certifies that the tuition and living expenses exceed US $100,000 per year. It’s easy to obtain foreign exchange to study abroad and RBI will not restrict you. It is sensible to carry your money in denominations: traveller’s cheques, cash and demand drafts. However, RBI does not permit individuals to carry more than US$3000 in cash (few exceptions to this rule). You can also wire transfer your money to the university’s account before you get there. If you prefer, you can top up a prepaid forex card and use it as a debit or ATM card. >> CLOTHES & WEATHER The dress code on most campuses abroad is usually informal, however, carry a few sets of formal clothes and traditional attire. Always check the weather report and carry clothes that you would require to be comfortable, as your body will take some time to adapt to the new climate. In extreme climates in parts of Canada, the buildings on campus where classes are held are joined by corridors; in most countries the classrooms are centrally heated.     If you are an undergraduate student and plan to stay on campus you will not need any utensils. If, however, you plan to stay in an apartment, you can consider taking a few utensils. The rest of the utensils including cutlery and crockery can be bought in the destination country. You can carry some of the spices with you, but most Indian spices are now widely available. Remember to carry your medicines and it’s advisable to carry small quantities of toiletries with you. If you wear glasses or contact lenses take spare ones as well.  KARAN GUPTA