| Different Drafts and Cheques that I should bring? |
- To pay the tuition fees +
health insurance (see your I-20), get a draft/cheque in USD on the name of
University of Kentucky.
- Cash of atleast $100
- It is adivsable to bring atleast $2500 Travellers-Cheque/Cheque/Draft on your name.
Note: Please get your health insurance done in US only. You can also pay the tution fee by credit cards.
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| How do I manage my finances? |
Given below is a detailed outline of your monthly income and expenditure. All of you should be able to find an on-campus job within the first
month of getting here. An on campus job should pay you anything from $6 - $10 per hour. As an international student, you are allowed to work for 20
hours per week. On that basis, your income per month will be around $450.
Compare that to your monthly expenditure.
| Expenses |
On – Campus |
Off – Campus |
| Monthly Rent |
$ 170 - 250 |
$ 160 - $ 230 |
| Water Bill |
Included in rent |
$ 25-40 per house |
| Local Telephone |
$ 30 per house |
$ 30 per house |
| Electricity |
Included in the rent |
$ 25 - $ 30 per house |
| Monthly Grocery Bill |
$ 60 - $ 100 |
$ 60 - $ 100 |
| Phone Calls to India |
$ 40 - $100 |
$ 40 - $100 |
| Total |
$300 to $480 |
$340 to $515 |
- Immediately on arrival you will need to pay $90 - $ 250 as deposit for your apartment. You will also have to
pay the first month’s rent. So be prepared for an initial expense of around $ 700 - $900 and get money accordingly.
- Most Indian students get around $ 2500 - $ 4000 alongwith them. Do not get an unnecessarily big amount of money with you as
it might be a financial burden to your parents and it is a big hassle to send the money back.
- A dollar-draft on your name or Traveler cheques are the best form to get the money.
- You can open an account in the University Of Kentucky Federal Credit
Union Bank, which is located on the campus.
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| Immigration and Customs? |
- You will have to go through customs and immigration at your port of entry, that is the first US city your plane lands. Before the plane
lands, the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms and immigration forms .
Keep your passport, I-20/IAP-66 and filled immigration forms ready for inspection as soon as you land.
- Even if your luggage is booked for your final destination, it will be off-loaded at your port of entry. After passing through the immigration
area, you will collect your baggage and then pass through the customs. Then you have to check in your luggage again.
- A customs inspector will ask you to declare what you have brought into the country. He/she will inspect your bags and review the customs form
you have filled out on the airplane. Penalties for concealing declarable items can be severe, so be honest and make a full
declaration.
- As far as edibles go, just remember that there should be no fruits, vegetables or anything raw. Pickles, Spices, etc will be allowed in as
long as they are packed properly and sealed. Spices are usually classified as non-perishable and dehydrated and you may declare them as
such.
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| What should I do inorder to catch a connecting flight? |
If you have to continue your journey, check in at the appropriate airline counter for the connecting flight as soon as you land in. In most
airports, you have to change terminals to board your connecting flight. Please ask the airline representative at the counter about changing
terminals.These counters are, usually, right outside the customs area. You can use the Airport Transport System, if available, to
change your terminal.
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| What if my baggages does not arrive at airport? |
In case your baggage does not arrive when you landed, do not waste too much time hunting for it. Mention it to the airline representative and give
them a forwarding address with phone number where you can be reached. They will take care of your luggage. In any event, do not miss your
connecting flight.
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| What if I miss my connecting flight because it got delayed or is cancelled? |
In case your flight landed late, or the onward flight is cancelled, it is the responsibility of your airline to arrange for another flight. If
the delay involves an overnight stay, the airline will pay for your stay as well as for your meals.
Note: Please don't panic if it so happens that your flight arrives late and the time for the connecting flight is too near
(say, within the next 10-15 minutes) for you to make it due to Immigration and Customs delays. Simply follow
the same actions outlined above and get your airline to arrange things for you. Don't be rude, but be firm while dealing with the airline
representatives. All the best !
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| Meal preferences, if any, during your flight? |
You may specifically ask your travel agent to book the meal of your choice. Vegetarians should specifically mention no meat and
no fish or Asian Vegetarian meal. In United states fish is also considered vegetarian. So be specific. Failure to do so may keep you
hungry in your journey, because most of the international airlines do not keep any vegetarian food by default.
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Current Student