Coming to us for summit, need some help?

[firstvis 0]

I am coming to USA first time and have few questions in mind:

1) What to enter in declaration form in india. I have a High end mobile tablet, good camera, do i need to enter the details in the form or is it fine, since when i come back i don't want things to get difficult?

2) I have to change flights at NEWARK LIBERTY airport for SFO. Now will my port of entry be newark or sfo? How to go about changing? Is it like just go for domestic change or what? Can anyone explain?

3) Also how many hours before, for each departure from india and departure from usa, should i arrive at the airport so i dont have to hassle?

4) I have exchanged currency, but they were only having 100$ bills. So can i know what's the best way to get change, that is in smaller denominations like 1$, 2$ etc. Can we change at airport with/without expenses or buy something and get the change?

5) The exchanger has put some sort of small stamp at back of the 100$ bill, is it normal and fine?

6) For i94 form: What to enter here? 10. Mark an X in the Yes or No box. Are you traveling on a business (work-related) trip?

I am on b1/b2 visa but i am not for exact business. I have been chosen to attend a summit and i am a student. After that i will roam around for 2 days. So what to enter there?

7) Also i would get only 1:30hrs in between my flight for SFO, will i be able to clear everything in that time or anything else that i need to know?

8)If that time is small, and if i miss the connecting flight, how to overcome that situation? Who will arrange my next flight?

9)Also while exiting US, i have the reverse pattern from SFO-NEWARK-INDIA in that case what will be my exit point and where i have to submit the i-94 form, sfo or newark. And at sfo, do i need to go for domestic departure or international?

Airlines : United Airlines

Any other experiences, advises are welcome.

Cheers!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

International connections it is recommended that you allow 2 hours between flight to clear immigration and customs. So that should be both your legs in and out of Newark. Incoming you will need to collect your luggage and then go through immigration and then customs and then recheck . If you arrive at a slow time an hour mught do but on busy times 2 hours isn't enough.

Technically you are not supposed to "deface" US currency but many times they put small marks on them . It is obscures the validation points badly then you might get a hassle. Some places don't like bill over 20's so just buy something and change them to smaller ones. Once you arrive the hotel may do this for free.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

1. Not sure about Indian declarations forms. For the US, those items are for your personal use and do not ned to be declared.

2. Your POE will be Newark and you will do immigration and customs there. Then you will board a domestic flight for SFO. There will be signs to help navigate you. You don't need to know if it is domestic or whatever, just follow the signs and go to your assigned gate.

3. 2 - 3 hours.

4. I wouldn't carry around a few hundred in $1 bills.. lol. Just spend your hundred normally. You will get change. There is technically a $2 bill but it is rare and you won't see it. You will see $1, $5, $10, and $20. Probably not a good idea to buy something for $1 and use a $100 though.

5. Not sure, what sort of stamp? Why would they do that? Sounds weird.

6. You know if your visit is more business or pleasure.

7. Might be a little fast, but you will probably make it. If not they will reschedule for you for free.

8. You will go to the customer service counter. Ask for directions or help from an employee of your airline.

9. I-94s are electronic now so you won't actually get it unless you print it out from online. Usually the airline has all of its flights in the same terminal, domestic and international so it won't matter.

[firstvis 0]

While going back from US TO INDIA, i have a time window of only 1hr at NEWARK airport to change flights. Is there anything to deal there with customs etc. Since i would be flying inetrnationally now and where to go?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The US does not have passport control or customs upon exit. You will already be checked into the flight and will just need to go to your gate. They will check that you have the proper documents to enter India at SFO.

This is assuming that you booked this whole trip through United. If you have separately booked trips then it is a different story. But you said all United so I am assuming they booked it all as one journey.

[firstvis 0]

One more question is:

I am going to take hair oil, but i am having only carry on bag for me. Now the thing is i have a plastic bag as listed in tsa website but can i take small sachet pr puch of hair oil or it is compulsary to take them in the 100ml bottle?

Any other tips, should i show that bag separately ?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can't take any one thing that is larger than 3 ounces (not sure what that is in mL) in a carry-on. You have to either check your bag or put a smaller amount in a smaller bottle.

[firstvis 0]

hey all,

thanks all, i made it easily and enjoying myself. now the only question i have left is..

how to go about returning from sfo to new delhi. at sfo airport do i need to take international or domestic rrival since it is sfo-ewr-delhi, and what to go at ewr.

from departing from delhi i got the boarding pass for both flights, will it be the same case from sfo? what things do i have to clear here and go abut. can someone tell me step by step. where to get baggage etc and do i need to reclaim the baggage and go through security lines at ewr again?

thanks a lot.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You will get the boarding pass for both flights in SFO. No need to pick up your luggage again at EWR. Not many airports have separate terminals for domestic/international for the same airline. Usually the terminals are allocated by airline. Just go to your airline to check in and they will tell you where to go (should be near where you check in - it's all designed like that).

You made it, and that was the hard part. Have fun!