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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES: Pre Arrival Check List

Pre Arrival Check List

Pre-Arrival Checklist

There are many things that you will need to plan and prepare before you arrive in the United States. The check list below will help you to get started.

 

  • IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU BRING THE DOCUMENTS BELOW WITH YOU TO THE U.S.
    • You will not be allowed to enter the country without them.
  • F-1 Documents
    • As an F-1 student you will be issued a Form I-20. Make sure you sign it. Have it with you at all times at the airport. Do not pack it in the checked luggage.
  • Passport
    • Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months past the intended date of arrival in the U.S. For all other visa categories, your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your initial intended period of stay in the U.S. Otherwise, officials at the U.S. Port of Entry may not allow you to enter the U.S.
  • Name as it Appears on Passport
    • It is very important that you use your name exactly as it appears in your passport for all U.S. documents such as your visa stamp, I-94 Form, etc.
  • Visa Stamp in Passport
    • For instructions on how to apply for your visa, go to the embassy or consulate website where you will be applying. You can find contact information for U.S. embassies and consulates around the world at: U.S. Embassy. For visa wait times check: Visa Wait Times.
  • Other Important Documents
    • If you have dependents that will be accompanying you to the U.S., be ready to show officials at both the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Port of Entry an original and English translation of your marriage certificate for your spouse and birth certificates for any children. You also want to have your MCC Acceptance letter and any financial support documents ready to show officials at both the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Port of Entry.
  • Airline Reservation
    • We recommend that you wait until you receive your visa stamp in your passport before you make airline reservations, since the waiting period for visa interview can be unpredictable.
  • IMPORTANT: F-1 students are not allowed to enter the U.S. more than 30 days prior to their program start date
    • Plan your air travel accordingly. You want to arrive in the US no earlier than 30 days from your program start date but also before your program start date. Give yourself at least a couple of days to settle before your classes start.
  • First U.S. Port of Entry/Customs
    • All passengers arriving in the U.S. must claim their baggage at their first U.S. Port of Entry and re-check them for their connecting flight after clearing customs. This means that if you have a layover somewhere in the U.S. before your connecting flight(s) to Chicago, you will be required to claim your luggage and go through customs at your first US layover. Plan sufficient time for layovers (at least 3 hours recommended). Check-in luggage counters are usually located right behind the customs area in most U.S. international airports.
  • Health Insurance
    • Unlike many countries, the U.S. does not offer universal health care that automatically covers everyone. It is not mandatory for MCC students to purchase college have health insurance plan (it is not included in the payment of registration fees). However, we strongly recommend that you purchase an individual plan for the duration of your studies in the U.S.
  • Some health insurance options for F-1 students:

MCC is not affiliated with the 3rd party insurance providers listed above

  • Bringing Money in the U.S.
    • Be sure to bring a sufficient amount of cash in U.S. dollars, traveler’s checks in U.S. dollars, or an optional credit card to cover your immediate expenses. There is no maximum limit as to how money you can bring in the U.S, however, any amount exceeding $10,000 must be declared upon arrival on both the Form 6059B and FinCEN 105. For more information, please follow this link: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency
  • Housing
    • We recommend that you wait to search for your long-term housing until you arrive in the U.S. You will want to find a room, apartment, or house that is comfortable, clean, safe, and conveniently located. For information for a short-term housing, please see the information on student housing. 
  • Have Questions?