What Should I Carry For My Travel To USA

I get used to people asking very often about items to carry while traveling to USA/other foreign countries from India. Looks a very trivial topic to discuss or to write a blog. But when I heard the same question again recently, decided to blog instead of rewinding the old tape.

Before we start, the needs should be categorized based on visitor type. Among the many - students, business visa travelers who stay for short period, temporary workers who plan to stay an year or more (H1B, L1 visa) , leisure tourists and parents are the prominent. For simplicity, short term and long term visitor makes an easier reading. 

 
Again the discussion is going to look too trivial, but bear with me - it's not for you, but it's for the needy.

 

Owing to growing Indian diaspora in United States, many of the Indian items are nowadays easily available - either online or Indian stores. The only matters of choice to decide whether to bring an item from India should either be saving money or preferring home made.
 

Long Term Visitor :

• Check in baggage - 4 wheels, 70-80 cm size, Min. 23 kg capacity. Based on your flight's itenarary, decide to get 1 or more bags per individual. 
• Cabin baggage - That can hold 8 kgs min (prefer to buy a "college bag", so you can use for regular office use too).
• Basic sewing items Shoes/Belt/Jackets - If you have already, do not buy new for the sake of travel. There are far better brands at lower prices in US.
• Bedding & laundry - Just basic. For the weathers here, you will get better items at lower prices in USA than in India. Also garment quality is way better. 
• Morning essentials - As needed for 1 week survival.
• Medicine - very basic, but ensure you have the prescriptions. 
• Jewelry - Avoid as much as possible. No one pays attention except those "mugging".

• Pressure Cooker - Good brand. Many kitchens in US are induction based. Buy accordingly. 
• For South Indians : Idly & Punugulu stands - Branded. Dosa pans are cheaper in American stores.
• Other Crockery - keep basic
• Chapati Roller
• Garam Masalas  - Only if it's home made. If not, you can get in stores in US
• Pickles - Make sure they are packed well. 
• Home made eateries - Yes, but in check in baggage only. 
• Knives, threatening items - strict "No" 
• Lunch box/Tupperware - Yes

• Marksheets 10th, 12th etc - If you are coming for work, then they are not required. A student might need. 
• Pendrive - it comes handy for printing resumes etc in initial days.
• Travel adapters - MUST (buy 2 minimum)
• Photos - generally not required Experience letters, joining & relieving letters - MUST
• Pay slips - it's better if you have a scanned pay slip of each year you worked in each company (read the line again) in email/Google Drive
• Laptop  - If you have, bring. If you don't do not buy.
• Camera - Even if you have an SLR, give it to someone there !! You will end up buying better ones here for sure :)
• Other Stationary - Your choice. Not a must though.
• Camera enabled basic smart phone - Comes handy in initial days as you will have to scan passport, SSNs (as per law, they can't be printed in US stores). If you do not have one, do not buy right before travel - you can get electronics at cheaper prices here.
• International Drivers License - Before you apply for one in India, check out the rules for the state you are visiting - as each state has different rules about International License

• No liquids/toothpastes in cabin baggage
• No cooked food like noodles/fried rice etc.

For every item you carry, be prepared to provide an explanation when asked.

Short term visitor :

       Based on who pays for your travel, you will have to decide among the items above. If company were to pay your hotel accommodation etc and you were to stay a month or more - kitchen items are the main deciding factors. 

      If you are fan of American Fast Food, you can ignore much of the above items. If you dislike western food, plan for eateries and basic cookware (if your hotel provides a kitchen). Point worth mentioning is - many hotels have microwave and refrigerators. 

     If you are looking for short term stay and looking for accommodation, you can Google for Sulekha website where many classifieds are posted for vacant/shared spaces. A word of caution is to verify before you pay any advance.

Note: Government always updates with list of banned items at this site:
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/prohibited-and-restricted-items

           Also, check with airlines site on list of prohibited items.

For more detailed list of items, you may refer:
http://www.msinus.com/content/what-carry-while-travelling-usa-626/#.VW-U0EY3nVI

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