There is a limit to the amount of baggage you can take with you on
an airplane. The number of pieces of baggage and the size and weight
of those pieces determine this limit. Confirm your airline's baggage
allowance when you purchase your ticket. Be aware that allowances to
North America are often more generous than allowances elsewhere in
the world. Regulations are subject to change.
Since most people travel economy class, the following limitations
are given as guidelines. To North America, passengers are usually
allowed two pieces of baggage, plus one small piece of hand or
"carry-on" baggage that can be carried onto the airplane and must be
able to fit under the airplane seat. Each piece must not surpass a
certain weight and size restriction, as established by the airline.
If your luggage exceeds these limitations, you will be asked to pay
excess baggage charges.
"I brought a lot of clothing with me. I figured that since I was
leaving for two years, I should have clothes for many types of
occasions. However, when I got to America I soon noticed that
fashions here were quite different from the ones in my country. I
ended up buying more clothes, already in the first few weeks, mostly
because I liked them but also because I wanted to fit in, to look
like the others. I also ended up spending a lot of money on winter
clothes since I was not well prepared for cold weather. Our foreign
student adviser took a few foreign students and myself on a 'field
trip' to the local department store to show us what was recommended
to wear in the winter. I still wear some of the clothes I brought
from my country, but most of it is now just using up space in my
small dormitory room!"
— Sanjay, India
What you bring with you is largely a matter of personal choice. You
will have to carry whatever you bring, so it is in your interest to
keep it light and compact. If you need advice, write to the
international student adviser at the college or university you plan
to attend or talk to another student who has recently been to the
United States.
Start to pack early, so that excess weight and bulk can be
eliminated and essential items not overlooked. Do not worry if you
cannot bring everything, since most goods are available in a wide
range of prices in the United States. Small items can be sent by
airfreight or through the postal system. Shipping by sea can take
several months.
Do bring:
- a good bilingual dictionary, since it might not be possible
to obtain one for your language in the United States;
- all of your essential dentification papers and documents, to
be carried on your person or in your hand baggage. DO NOT PUT
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN BAGS YOU HAVE CHECKED ONTO THE PLANE -
KEEP THEM IN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE (see "Documents to Bring");
- books, manuals, or journals that you think may be useful for
reference in your field of study and that definitely will not be
available in the United States;
- pictures of your family, home, and country, for yourself but
also to show to your new friends;
- items from your culture, such as musical instruments,
recordings of traditional and contemporary music, picture books,
arts and crafts, and small gifts, to share your talents and
customs with people in the United States. For festive occasions
you may consider bringing traditional dress and accessories from
your country. This would be a great way to show and tell
Americans more about your culture and traditions;
- a camera so you will have souvenirs of your time in the
United States after you return home.
You can obtain a booklet on customs regulations at the consulate or
embassy where you acquire your visa. Prohibited items include some
foodstuffs, narcotics, weapons, and items for resale. The U.S.
Customs Service also provides this information on their website at
https://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/.
Do not bring:
- things you can easily buy in the United States, such as
notebooks, pens, paper (paper in the United States is of a
slightly different size than in countries following the metric
system), toiletries, towels, or bed sheets. These items will
take up valuable space in your luggage;
- food, seeds, or plants. The United States has very strict
restrictions on importing foods, perishables, and agricultural
goods into the country;
- books that can easily be obtained in U.S. libraries. Some
universities have their library catalog on the Internet, where
you can check the availability of books. You can also contact
the university library staff to verify the availability of any
essential books. You can usually also obtain books through
interlibrary loans;
- animals;
- medications, unless you have written prescriptions from a
doctor (see "Prescriptions for Medication and Eyeglasses");
- expensive jewelry, treasured possessions, family heirlooms,
or delicate things, since there is always a chance that these
items can get lost, stolen, or damaged during travel or during
your stay;
- firearms, knives, weapons, or articles that could be
perceived as weapons;
- narcotics or drugs;
- any article of clothing, artifact, or medicine made from
endangered animals;
- electrical appliances. Appliances in the United States work
on a 115 volts and 60 cycles system. It is usually best to
purchase electrical items in the United States, especially if
you plan to live in university housing, as some items will not
be allowed. Most items are reasonably priced. Also note that
video systems, including televisions, VCRs, and DVD players
(including those in laptop computers), use different systems in
different parts of the world, and those you bring from home are
unlikely to be compatible with the U.S. media.
Be sure that you clearly label every piece of luggage with your
name, U.S. address, and a telephone number (perhaps the
International Students Office of the university or college you will
attend). Identification tags are available from the airline, but
sturdier luggage tags or labels are recommended. For additional
security, you may also want to put a label or luggage tag inside
your luggage.
Baggage insurance protects you against loss, damage, or theft of
your baggage (see "Baggage Insurance").
You should have enough clothing and personal items packed in your
carryon baggage to last for a couple days in the event your checked
luggage is lost or sent to the wrong destination. Be sure to pack
prescription medicine, eyeglasses, or other important items in your
carryon baggage.
NOTE: Never leave your baggage unattended. You must always be alert
to the possibility of theft.
Personal belongings that are sent separately are called
"unaccompanied baggage." Such baggage may be taken with you as
"excess baggage" (but the cost is high) or sent by mail or private
carrier, by land, air, or sea.
Usually it is more convenient to take packages to your local post
office, rather than to a shipping company or an air cargo terminal.
Mail also has the advantage of arriving at your address, rather than
at a shipping dock or customs area. However, there are limitations
on the size and weight of packages being mailed. Check with your
post office about sending such packages to the United States. Ask
about rates, regulations, and estimates of how long it will take for
your packages to arrive at your college or university in the United
States. Items too large or too heavy to meet postal regulations must
be sent via a shipping company, either by air or by surface carrier.
The procedures for shipping are complicated and time-consuming, and
students often employ the services of a shipping agent or
freight-forwarding company. The agent can make arrangements for
transporting the item to the air- or sea-cargo terminal for shipment
to the United States. The agent also usually can arrange to have the
shipment cleared through customs at the point of entry into the
United States and can have it sent by road or rail to you.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) agents are
recommended. Ask your travel agent or an airline representative for
the name of a reliable shipping agent.
It is possible to pay for excess baggage and have your extra baggage
sent on the same flight you take to the United States. This,
however, can be very expensive. It is best to investigate in advance
and compare prices with shipping agents. Airlines have size
restrictions (approximately two meters). If you have a large item,
talk to the airline agent about it. They may accept it as part of
your baggage if you pay extra fees; if not, you may have to ship it
by air or sea cargo.
International airlines sometimes have air cargo services. There are
also independent air cargo companies; however, these companies may
not have offices in a large city near you and may fly goods only to
large cities or airports in which they have regular service. It
would be your responsibility to claim the shipment, pass it through
customs, and get it to your residence. Ask your travel agent or
airline representative about air cargo services.
Shipping cargo by sea is, of course, far slower than by air, but
depending upon how much you ship, it may be less expensive. You
would have to claim your packages at the port of entry, clear them
through customs, and either transport them yourself to your
residence or pay additional handling fees.
Regardless of how you ship unaccompanied baggage, mark all baggage
clearly with your name and your U.S. address. Write directly on the
box or on an address label secured with wide, transparent tape over
the writing.
Be sure to declare unaccompanied baggage at customs when you enter
the United States. When you pick up the parcels in the United
States, you might have to pay "duty" (import tax). Ask about this
when you make arrangements with the carrier you have chosen. |
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