What to Carry with You as You Travel to the United States
Copies of your immigration documents: Carry these items separate from your passport and original immigration documents (Passport, I-20/DS-2019, Visa).
Letter of acceptance from Tulane: Keep it accessible in your carry-on in case the United States Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) request to view it at your port of entry into the United States.
Money: Bring enough accessible money(approximately U.S.$900)in cash, debit cards,or travelers checks for initial living expenses such as food, household items,and transportation. Please note that while traveler’s checks are a safer way to bring in money, they are hard to cash in shops and may need to be done in a bank.Textbooks are quite expensive in the U.S. Budget for U.S. $300 to $600 for books per semester after the initial semester.It is NOT recommended that you bring large sums of money with you in cash and you are not legally allowed to enter the U.S.with more than $10,000 in cash. If you do bring substantial amounts of money with you, we strongly recommend that you open a bank account as soon as possible for safe-keeping.
Your driver's license/international driver's license: These can be used as alternative forms of ID.(Once you are settled in the U.S. and if you’re not planning on getting a local driver’s license, we do suggest you acquire and use a State ID so that you can keep your other personal documents somewhere safe)
What to Pack
Photographs, souvenirs, music, crafts, videos, picture books, recipes and clothing from your home country: You can use these items to share your culture with your friends and during campus festivals. They might also come in handy to help you share your culture at the International Food and Music Festival.
Things to Consider
While packing, it is important to consider a few things regarding the climate and space in your room.
New Orleans weather is hot and humid and usually does not really cool down until the beginning of December. You may want to leave your winter clothing at home until Thanksgiving break.
Suggestions for Living On-Campus, in a Dorm Room
Your room is equipped to house two students and their belongings. Bring only the necessities at first. You will want to work with your roommate(s) on getting organized before packing a lot of extras!
Coordinate with your new roommate(s). ou will only need only one of many items (TV, MicroFridge, rug, etc.), and you don't want to deal with shipping things home while you are adjusting to college life.
We have compiled a list of items that you may wish to bring and other items that you will need to leave at home.
Items to Bring Must-haves for Tulane and New Orleans:
- Protective mattress cover (REQUIRED)
- Bed linen
- Bedspread/comforter
- Laundry basket and supplies
- Pillows
- Towels and toiletries
- Alarm clock Clothes
- hangers
- Umbrella and rain boots
- Household cleaning supplies
- Wastebasket
- School supplies
- Planner or appointment book
- First aid kit and personal medications
Extras Not required, but nice to have:
- Desk lamp
- Iron or steamer
- Personal computer or laptop
- Surge protector
- Posters or art
- Area rug
- Coffeemaker
Things to Leave at Home Items that are prohibited in Tulane's residence halls:
- Halogen lamps
- Candles or oil lamps
- Incense
- Extension cords or outlet expanders (surge protectors are okay)
- Pets (except aquarium fish)
- Knives or other weapons
- Illicit drugs and other illegal substances
- Space heaters
- Explosives and fireworks
- Combustible materials
- Open coil appliances or cooking appliances including: hot plates, electric skillets, toasters and toaster ovens
- Hover-board or similar equipment
