BEFORE DEPARTURE FROM HOME COUNTRY
Chennai is a metropolitan city in southern India . The weather throughout the year will be warm to hot during April-June. Though everything that you might need is available in India , try to get all that you would require during the initial few days. This would not only save you the trouble of going to the market, but would also be easy on your finances.
Please ensure that you obtain visa from Indian Embassy of your country. Please also ensure that you meet Medical fitness standard before you leave your country. Entry of HIV + ve persons or persons of notified diseases is restricted.
Carry all your money in form of Travellers Cheques. These can be redeemed at the airport, all five star hotels, and a number of foreign exchange offices and banks.
Don't forget to carry the originals, copies of your certificates/degrees and two passport size photographs. You will require them at the time of final admission. Also ensure that letter of admission issued by University is brought.
Carry a couple of passport size photographs, which might be required at the institute for Identity card, library card etc.
Keep all the valuables, important documents (Passport, Visa papers) in the Cabin baggage, to avoid the possibility of their getting misplaced during transit.
Keep all the contact phone numbers handy, specially the phone number of your institute & the place you are going to stay.
Know the exact address of the University and get the printout of maps, directions to reach those places from airport. You can also get them from the Internet. The University office has already sent you this.
Ensure that you have taken all the required vaccinations, to avoid medical complications while you are in India .
Send an email to Admission Officer, about your travel program, before embarking. The email should be sent at admission@vel-tech.org
ON ARRIVAL
Landing on a different soil, miles away from your home and family can be very discomforting. Nothing can help you better than being prepared for this change. Knowing a little about the city you are going to land in, its customs, people and rules and regulations always helps.
Here is a list of things that you should keep in mind, after landing in India .
Customs Formalities:
This is the first thing you'll need to take care of. Students are generally required to make an oral baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession as soon as they land in India. They are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight.
There are two channels for clearance:
Green Channel: For passengers not in possession of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.
Red Channel: For passengers in possession of dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles. High value articles are to be entered on the tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.
If you have emailed your arrival plan and received a reply, then the University Students Relations Officer will receive you at the airport. Otherwise, arrange for someone to pick you up from the airport. Lot of hotels also arrange for an airport pickup.
If you are on your own, then always go for a pre-paid cab. They are more reliable than the ones you would get outside the airport.
Exchange your foreign currency for some Indian rupees. It's better to make all payments in the local currency.
Carry handy change. A phone call from a public booth costs Rs.2. (This requires you to carry the coins.)
It's a good idea to purchase a city map right away, so that you don't loose your sense of direction in a new city. Maps are available at every bookshop at the airport.
