International Students

Today we have an International student posting for us for the International perspective, here is what he had to say:

Hey Guys,
Some of the students coming in this Fall may be from different countries, as is 10% of our undergraduate population. For many of you , it may be your first time coming to UT and maybe even the US. I know that I encountered this situation a year ago, and I hope that my experiences can help you all.
First:
Make sure before you leave your home country, you have all of your immigration documents in order as you could be asked for any of them on entry into the US. Have your I-20, I-904, and your personal financial statements handy. You will be asked for your I-20 at almost every security checkpoint. Once your in America make sure you fill out your Customs form and US Border Protection Forms properly to avoid delays. Keep your I-94 form SAFELY once you get it back from the Passport Control Officer. Have some University contacts and local contacts handy in case you need to contact someone when you get here. Also carry some US $ in cash to use at airports and use other services when you get here.
Second:
International students have a separate orientation period before they join in with the regular orientation. On arrival you will need to park in Thomas Parking Garage if you have a car, and head over to Plant Hall. There you will meet your international admissions counsellors. They will give you a schedule for your orientation and then you will be directed to a check in. Once you are officially checked in you receive your ID card, laundry card and your keys so you can stay on campus that night! The University has Bank of America on campus to sign up students for local bank accounts if they require it. I personally recommend having a local bank account. It eliminates high fees on foreign cards and funds are available more quickly. The University also has a cell phone provider on campus, where students can sign up for a cell phone plan (which is cheaper than Pay-As-You-Go) and you can get a free phone too! Once your done with the entire check in process, you are free to go around campus and move in before anyone else gets here!
Check out our other blog posts for shopping tips and what to bring. Remember you get everything here for cheaper, so there is no need to pay excess baggage!

See you guys here real soon!