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Pre-departure Information
Please find below important information There are some things you need to know before you leave your country for the United States. Please read the information provided and follow the instructions listed below.
A. When you receive your student visa:
- Complete and return the confirmation form.
Find theconfirmation form in your I-20 acceptance package. You may send the confirmation form by fax, e-mail, mail or you (or a friend or family member) may call us by phone. Before you leave for the U.S., please confirm your plan to study with us. - Complete the health form. Find the health form in your I-20 packet. Ask your family doctor to complete the health form.
- Prepare for the trip: The time of year you plan to come to Baltimore and your length of stay will determine the types of clothes you should pack. The chart below gives average temperatures for each season in Baltimore.
| Low | High | |
Spring |
5.5 C | 18 C |
| Summer | 17 C | 29 C |
| Fall | 7 C | 19 C |
| Winter | -3.5 C | 7 C |
B. When you travel: Please carry the following items with you when you travel. For additional pre-departure information, you may find the EducationUSA website useful.
You should carry the following items with you when you travel:
- Passport
- F-1 visa
- I-20
- Money for possible taxi and to buy food during travel
- Airplane tickets
- Book or other reading material for the flight
- ELC address and phone number
- Name and phone number of the person meeting you at the airport
- Address of your U.S. residence (This is helpful to show a taxi driver when you arrive at the U.S. airport.)
C. At the airport in your country
Arrive at the airport at least two or three hours before departure. Present your baggage for check-in. Keep your documents and valuables in a small carry-on bag to keep with you on the plane.
D. On the airplane
Before you arrive in the U.S., the flight staff will ask you to complete three forms. You will need these completed forms when you land at the U.S. airport. The three forms are :
- A personal information form: name, country of citizenship, address in your country of residence, address while in the U.S., phone numbers, passport number and more.
- An I-94 form, which is a small white card with your name, visa type, and entry number
- A written declaration of the items you are bringing into the U.S. (including gifts)
E. At the U.S. airport
After you land at the U.S. airport, you will go through U.S. Customs. In Customs, you will do the following:
- An officer will ask you for your passport (with the F-1 visa and I-20), I-94 card, and and personal information forms you completed on the airplane. The officer will check your I-20 and attach the I-94 to your passport. The officer may ask you some questions similar to these:
- Why are you coming to the U.S.?
- What are you going to study?
- Is this your first time in the U.S.?
- When was the last time you were in the U.S.?
- After you finish with U.S. Customs, you will present your bags for inspection. You will give another officer the written declaration you completed on the airplane. The officer may ask you to open your bags to confirm that your declaration is accurate.
- Finally, if you will take another flight to your final destination, you will need to re-check your baggage
F. Your final destination
If you have family or friends in the U.S., you might wish to arrange (in advance) for them to meet you at the airport.
If you will arrange your own transportation, we suggest that you use the airport taxi service. Taxi service from Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport to UMBC is approximately $20 (USD). When you exit the baggage claim area, you will see a line of white and green taxis with the label "BWI." We suggest that you write the address of your U.S. residence on a piece of paper so that you can show the driver where you wish to go.
For more information about airport taxis, see www.airporttaxiandsedan.com/bwi.htm.
G. After you arrive
After you arrive in the United States and have settled into your new home, please contact the English Language Center at 410-455-2831 or jpenn@umbc.edu to schedule a pre-registration appointment.
Please bring the following documentation to your ELC appointment:
The pre-registration appointment lasts about 45 minutes. At that time, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your upcoming studies at the English Language Center. We look forward to welcoming you to the ELC!
- Your ELC I-20
- Your passport, F-1 visa, and I-94 card
- Your completed Health History form (You received this with your I-20 acceptance package.)
- Payment for a full semester (tuition and health insurance). You may pay with cash, a personal check, a money order, travelers checks, MasterCard, or Discover Card.
- Your address in the United States