Travel

Before Leaving :

While buying tickets to the US, get tickets to Philadeplhia, Pennsylvania (airport code PHL) which is known to the locals as Philly. This is the closest airport to the university. Avoid booking your flights to Newark, New Jersery (airport code EWR) or New York (airport code JFK), as these airports are about 3 hours drive from here. Please note that Newark, Delaware does NOT have an airport.  

Please contact someone from the university and inform them of your travel plans. We have provided a list of students who have volunteered to help you adjust to the new life here on arrival. Feel free to contact them with any questions or concerns you might have. If someone in US contacts us on your behalf make sure that they tell us your full name, the program you are joining (e.g. M.S. in chemical engg., etc.) and your expected date and port of arrival. We also need to be informed of ALL the flights you will be taking in addition to your final time of arrival in Philly. This is so in the case of a delay, we know where you are!

Make sure that your tickets are confirmed well in advance - the last thing you. d want is to be rushing around at the last hour trying to get your tickets confirmed. We will attempt to send you the names of other students who are coming from your city or from nearby in case you. d want to travel together.

Money - When you arrive at the airport, you may need to give some tip to the people carrying your luggage or for the busses; so carry around $50 of $1 or $5 dollar bills with you. Unless people ask for money, don't give money to people. They will ask for it. Nobody accepts bills greater than $50 here, so don. t carry any $100 bills and if you do, don't show it to anyone. Try to use $1 bills. Do not carry all your money with you. Either use a credit card (VISA or Master Card) or use traveler. s check. There a few Indian Banks, but they are mostly at large cities and you may not reach them for a long time. Traveler. s checks are accepted at almost every local bank. In case you use a credit card, there will be a small amount (between $1.00 to $3.00) of charge every time you use your credit at the ATM machines. And be warned that every time you withdraw money from ATM machines, you will be charged an extra amount for cash advance. Consult your bank about this amount.

In Transit :

As it is going to be a long flight try to wear most cofortable clothing.Always keep attentive at the airports and check for the flight delays, change in departure terminals etc.Drink lots of fluids(beer ??).They help you to get over the jetlag. Sleep as much as possible in the flight.

Though it is not common, your luggage may get delayed or misplaced in transit. Make sure you keep your passport, money, and ticket on yourself - a money belt is the most common way to do this. Keep a few items of clothing in your handbag in case you need to spend a few days without your suitcases. Carry photocopies of your passport and university related documents in your handbag.

Should you miss a connecting flight, keep in mind that you can speak to the airline staff at the ticketing counter and be put on the next available flight. Do not hesitate to ask people authorized to provide assistance at any stage of your travel.

At the port of entry, the place your arrival in the US, you will need to clear the immigration. The white immigration form (I-94) and green customs declaration form will be given to you aboard the aircraft (on the flight to philadelphia, which you should fill out completely. The Immigration form(I-94) asks for your name,passport number,visa number etc. The cutoms form asks for the agriculture products that you are carrying along with you. Fill them during the journey.Ask the attendants for any help. When you arrive at the immigration counter, you will be photographed and fingerprinted as per the US regulations (for details visit http://uscis.gov). Be prepared to answer simple questions like what is the purpose of your visit to the US, is this your first visit, what university and program do you plan to attend. Co-operate with the immigration as well as customs officials. Keep cool and relaxed.They will stamp the I-94 form and pin it to the passport. You must keep this I-94 all through your stay in US.Now go to the baggage claim and pick up your luggage.Sometimes the customs staff may ask to open the bags. Nothing to worry.Mostly you will not be asked.

Upon Arriving :

We will make every effort to see that you are picked up at the Philly airport. If you have already contacted someone to pick you up then things should be fine. Note that Philly is about 30-40 min from Newark and traffic jams might delay things further - especially if you are arriving around 4:00pm which is the rush hour. So your ride may be a bit delayed but don. t worry. Simply wait outside the terminal under the sign of your airline or near the information desk inside if it. s dark. You can also try calling us from the airport (for which you will need 35 cents) - keep in mind that it will be a long distance call.

We suggest you maintain contact with someone from your department or igsa or the university. Do inform them of your travel plans (including the intermediate connecting flights). We will try our best to arrange your pick-up at the airport. Please have the telephone numbers of your contact incase the flight or the pick-up gets delayed.

In the event you arrive without contacting anyone for a ride, you can take an airport shuttle. Delaware Express Shuttle and Super Shuttle can take you to Newark for around $35 + tip ($3-5).Delaware Express Shuttle (www.delexpress.com) is quite easy to pick up. When you arrive at the Philadelphia airport , you will go through the immunization process and then go to claim your baggage. Retrieve your luggage from thr baggage claim, and follow the signs for ground transportation. "Ground Transportation Counter" just opposite to the exit from "baggage claim". Go to the counter and ask about the "Delaware Express Shuttle". The person there will help you out. Typically, you will be given a ticket with a 2-digit number. The airport attendent will ask you to dial 24 from the telephone there to reach Delaware Express' arrival call. If you have not already made a reservation, you can make it at that time. Wait for the shuttle van in the lobby. The driver will come looking for you. Ask the shuttle driver to take you to any of the addresses of the seniors that you have already contacted. If you have not contacted any seniors you can use the below given addresses and telephone numbers. These people will be very much willing to help you.

Addresses :
Amit Goda  ----  81-8,Thorn Lane, Towne Court Apartments, Newark , DE -19711
Trisha Kesar    ---- 628 Lehigh Rd , #P-4 Parkplace apartments, Newark, DE - 19711
Sudhaker Chhabra      ----  211, Thorn Lane,Apt # 12 Towne Court Apartments, Newark, DE - 19711
Sachin Kamboj      ----  201, Thorn Lane,Apt # 12 Towne Court Apartments, Newark, DE - 19711

Telephone :
Amit Goda    ------- (302)-731-9574
Trisha Kesar ------  (302)-731-0281
Sudhaker Chhabra ------  (302)-559-0215
Sachin Kamboj ------  (302)-731-1052

Remember to dial 1 before phone numbers if you are calling from another state or country. If you are calling from India, dial 0-0-1 before the phone numbers.A local call is 35 cents. You will need a 25 cent and a 10 cent coin. Long distance calls (e.g. from Philly to Newark) depends on the talking time. Before you insert coins into the telephone machine, dial the number and the operator will tell you the amount you need. Don. t worry if you put too much coins into the machine, it will give them back. If you need coins, there are usually machines that also give you coins for dollar bills.