Tips for mortals leaving for USA

Please find the list of Items that we need to get from India :

1) Luggage : 2 Big Suit cases . In any VIP show room, if we tell them that we need suitcases for US trip,they will give you. The maximum luggage we can afford to pack is 62 kgs. This will be checked-in in the Airport. One suit case worth 8 kgs which contains the things we need to carry with us will remain with us through out the journey.
2)Once after packing the 2 heavy suitcases, get 3 things : White big sheet , Cello Tape and Ropes. Write the your-US-address on the White big sheets with Sketch Pen, and attach them to both sides of the Suit cases with Cello Tapes. After that, tie the whole suit case with Rope. Luggage is handled very roughly after check-in. So,we need to take lot of care while packing.
This is more important than the contents of the Luggage. :)
2) Get a light weight jacket. In Flight,the AC may be very very high.We feel cold. Pack some food. (biscuits, or some things like that) in your hand luggage. As once the border crosses India, we cannot say whether we can eat the food served in the Flight.
3) Try to sleep as much as possible in the Flight. It will help you to reduce the Jet Lag.
Now,coming to the Matter inside 62 Kgs : ==============================
1) Coming in Winter.So, need to get : a) Thermals b) Winter Jacket c) Gloves d) Socks e) Monkey Cap f) Scarf g) Umbrella h) Cosmetics Required for Winter i) Sports Shoes
Winter depends on the Area. In my area it goes down to very low temperatures. But, over all the Winter here is severe compared to Indian Winter.So,its better we have atleast 1 pair of all these for survival.
2) Generally, Indian people too wear Formal Pants + Shirts here. Very rarely we get to wear Chudidaars. And in Winter espicially we cannot wear Chudidaar due to the cold.
So,for clothes : a)Formal Pants b)Shirts c)Jeans are must.
Worst case scenario, the Western Wear is the same cost either Here or India. We get a formal pant for 30$ - 35$ here. In India, it might be about 1100 Rs. So,not a big difference.
3) We have Indian Stores here. There,we get all the Indian Grocery items ( daals, chapati flours, ready made pickles) , Vegetables, etc. But,depending on the area, the Indian Store may be in walkable distance or not. So, better take groceries for atleast 15 days. In the intial days it takes time to get to know things.
4) Take some utensils for cookings. What all I took was : Pressure Cooker, 2 plates, Variety of Spoons for all the things we make, 1 kadai, 3-4 utensils ( for milk,etc).
If you eat Chapati, carry the chapati making set also ( one rod and one flat wooden surface ). Few things we tend to forget are : Spoons, the things required to make Tea, Coffee, and one utensil holder when on the Store ( i dont know the exact name in english. It has 2 pangs,and we hold the vessel with it when its hot on the Stove). Just inquire how are you going to stay. Like, are you going to start fresh in a Single / Double bedroom Apt . Or are you joining people already staying there.
If you are starting fresh, just take some extra care to carry all the Utensils. Or else, just carry what all you generally have with you in your hostel /Apt.
5) Try to carry as many cosmetics ( soaps, deo, perfume) . They are costly here.
6) Technical books are very costly here. So,make sure you get all your must-have text books / training material with you.
7) One important thing is : We get everything here. So, even if you forget anything, no problem at all. Try to keep luggage to the minimum.
These are very important things, carry these things along with you.
1. Medicine - Get as much you can for whatever you think of... antibiotics, paracitamol, clove oil for pain in teeth, ear drop, throat infection medicine, eye drop, pain killer, band-aid, any specific you take usually.. (any creams.. you get these all here but are costly), cotton
2. Warm Clothes.. IMP: Get leather gloves, leather jacket (not full size, get it of blazer size) , 2 sets of thermal wear (you can get it in any garment store), woolean cap, sweater (optional)
3. Pair of shoes (leather), sport shoes, few pairs of socks
4. Under garmets - depends how long you are planning to stay
5. Get cosmetics you use - you can get it here but get it for initial few days
6. Utensils: cook ware, 2 plates, pressure cooker, 2-3 gaskets, etc
7. One blanket (low weight) for time being, but not necessary if u have more luggage- all rooms have heater . Anyway you have to buy it here for weather over here
8. If you wear glasses get atleast 2 sets- Glasses are very costly here
9. Also get suffcient formal/casual dresses While travelling.. remember:,
1. Keep warm clothes with you in cabin bag.. You might need them if you have to stay in New York (if you are coming via New York)
2. Get exchange at Mumbai air-port (without fail- Very Imp). You need change for trollies at most of the air-ports here. Get few $1, $5

3. Always keep VISA documents
On arrival at Minneapolis / St. Paul international airport, do the following:
On your own
In the event of nobody being available to pick you up, which could happen on a working day, follow the steps given below:
If in doubt about your accommodation, gather the details including the telephone number and driving directions from the RM / BRM. Most probably it would be “Super 8 Motel”.
Travel time from the Airport to either hotel would be approximately 30 minutes with the fare around $50.
Alternatively, you can use Airport Taxi. After collecting your luggage, simply dial toll free 1-800-464-0555 from any pay phone. The friendly phone staff will guide you to the "special call" area and tell you which taxi number you can expect to meet you there. You may also count on Airport Taxi for all your ground transportation needs while you are staying in the area. Airport Taxi is a full service company with taxis stationed throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul & all suburban areas. And, of course, you can count on them when you need to go back home. Airport Taxi will gladly take your reservation for taxi service to get you to the airport worry free.
More details are available at http://www.airport-taxi.com/
International license holders need not take an Instruction Permit (like Learner’s license in India) and drive with the International License itself till 60 days after taking the written test. But they should take the road test within 60 days. The regular fee for the road test (about $20) applies.
Indian license holders should take an Instruction Permit also, after taking the written test (an additional fee of $10). They need to practice driving for 3 months with a valid license holder beside them, before they can take the road test.