Pre-Arrival Guide - Arrival in United States
Preparing for Arrival Inspection
Form I-94, also known as the Arrival/Departure Record, is a long white card issued to passengers before the plane arrives at the point of entry. Students complete the top and bottom sections of the form and a separate customs declaration form. If you are bringing $10,000 USD or the foreign equivalent into or out of the US, you are required to declare the amount on the customs form.
Upon arrival in the US, each person will pass through passport control (immigration inspection), and then customs inspection. US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers take their duties very seriously and we recommend that you remain patient and polite during this time. Making jokes while going through this process is strongly discouraged.
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During the passport control phase of inspection, every student entering the US is required to present:
· A passport valid at least six months into the future, with
· A valid visa stamp (only Canadians citizens will not need a visa stamp)
· Form I-20 or DS-2019
· Completed Form I-94 and
· You may also be asked to present Stony Brook's admission letter and proof of financial support.
A Border Patrol Officer may ask some questions about your purposes for traveling to the US . Some examples include, but are not limited to: “What is your final destination?”, “Where will you be studying?”, or “How long do you plan to be in the United States ?”
At passport control, students will give the Form I-94 to a CBP Officer. The officer will make necessary notations and return a portion of the form, the I-94 card, often stapling it to the passport.
The I-94 card records the date of admission into the US , and the assigned immigration status. Form I-94 is the document that specifically assigns J-1 or F-1 immigration status while students are in the US . The length of stay for F-1 and J-1 students should be recorded as “D/S”, which means, “duration of status”. Any J-1 or F-1 student who receives a date-specific expiration date on the I-94 card should contact International Services as soon as possible after arriving on campus.
Keep your I-94 card safe while you are in the US , as it is a very important document. The I-94 card will be collected by a CBP Officer upon departure from the US , except under specific circumstances when traveling to Canada , Mexico and contiguous territories of the US .
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Once you are granted admission into the US , you need to pick up your checked luggage at baggage claim. Even if your final destination requires travel to another airport, you must claim you luggage so that US Customs inspectors can examine all bags for compliance. Often, working dogs sniff the baggage claim area to help find illegal imports.
You will bring your baggage to the designated area and present the customs form that was distributed by the airline during the flight. The inspector may look through your luggage, asking questions about whether or not you've brought any prohibited items or have large amounts of currency ($10,000 USD or more) to declare.
Prohibited items include plants, fruits, meats, other fresh or cured food products, drugs and items for resale. For a more complete listing of prohibited items and further information about Customs inspection, ask for a booklet regarding customs regulations at the US embassy or consulate when you get your visa, or consult the CBP website at http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
Once a CBP Officer collects your customs form, you may re-check your bags if proceeding to a connecting flight, or exit the airport.
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University Airport Pick-Up Service
Stony Brook University provides new students a limited schedule of bus transportation – FOR THE FALL ORIENTATION ONLY – from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to the University. There is no charge for this service. For details, please see the separate enclosed information or the International Services website. Generally, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of the scheduled airport pick-up after you contact Stony Brook about your arrival plans.
University volunteers, dressed in Stony Brook shirts, will circulate near the exit from the Customs area. Do not go with any other bus/limo/drivers/claiming to representatives of Stony Brook University ,. Always ask to see a Stony Brook ID from anyone meeting your flight. University buses are identifiable by the prominent Stony Brook logo.
We cannot meet every flight, so students who cannot take advantage of Stony Brook's airport pick-up, or those who miss their scheduled pick-up will need to make their own travel arrangements to the University. If you miss your scheduled university bus for any reason, proceed to one of the ground transportation alternatives listed below.
We recommend that you report your anticipated arrival information to International Services even if your itinerary does not appear to coordinate with the scheduled pick-up times. Sometimes we can add additional buses if we discover that several students are arriving at the same time.
Limousine Transportation
“Limousine” or group van service is available from all New York airports to Stony Brook. The prices for shared rides vary, but are currently approximately $54 per person (not including recommended 15% gratuity, or “tip”); students should verify charges when reserving a ride.
Once your arrival time is known, it is advisable to reserve a ride to campus by phone or online at least 24 hours in advance. See the “Quick Reference section (p.25) for some limousine service phone numbers. Ask the driver to take you directly to your campus residence. A copy of the campus map will help the driver find your building on campus. A campus map is available at http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/map/
Courtesy telephones are available to contact ground transportation services. There may be a long wait for a shared-ride van service if a reservation was not made in advance. If you reserve transportation before you leave home, factor in time for customs and immigration inspections before you can leave the airport.
Seek advice on ground transportation only from uniformed personnel at the airport's Ground Transportation desk outside of the restricted customs area. Do not go with unknown people who may be offering transportation outside of the customs area. Do not leave your luggage unattended.
Individual taxis to campus are very expensive and are not recommended .
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Railroad Transportation
From JFK airport, take the AIRTRAIN link from any terminal to Jamaica station for the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). The $5 trip to Jamaica station lasts approximately 20 minutes.
From Jamaica station, take the LIRR (Port Jefferson line, eastbound) to the Stony Brook station, about a 1.5 hour ride. One-way fares range from $7.25 to $10.50, depending on the time of day. Purchase your LIRR ticket from one of the ticket machines before boarding the train, as you may pay an additional $5 fee when buying a ticket from the conductor onboard the train; the ticket machines only accept US currency in small denominations. More information on AIRTRAIN and the LIRR is available at: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/airtrain.htm
From New York City (Penn Station, 34 th Street and 7 th Avenue ), take LIRR's Port Jefferson line to the Stony Brook station. One-way fares range from $9.75 to $13.50, depending on the time of day. Passengers may have to change trains at a station along the line; this is indicated in the schedule pamphlet and announced on the train. When your ticket is being collected or purchased, ask the conductor for information about whether and where you may have to change trains.
If you arrive at the Stony Brook railroad station on the Saturday or Sunday before check-in day, or in the evening during orientation week, you may use a pay phone to call the University Police (632-3333) for assistance in getting to your campus residence.
Pay phones are coin-operated, using quarter coins. If you are using your cell phone, you will need to dial any required long-distance code (such as 1+) and the Suffolk County area code (631) before the numbers listed above.
If you arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday of orientation week, call International Services (623-4685). When you are using a campus telephone, dial 2-4685 for assistance from International Services.
Automobile
Take the Long Island Expressway (I-495, also called the “L-I-E”), east. Continue on the LIE to Exit 62N, Nicolls Road (County Route 97). Drive nine miles north on Nicolls Road , directly to the main entrance of the Stony Brook campus, on the left. You will see signs to direct you. A campus map is available at: http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/map/
Luggage and Baggage
Do not send baggage in advance of your arrival to the University. Stony Brook does not have storage facilities for luggage, trunks or packages. Most students bring necessary items as personal baggage on the plane; check with a travel agent or airline for specific size and weight limitations. Excess baggage can cost less than air freight charges for similarly-sized parcels.
Air freight shipments can be very difficult to get through customs, and may require the services of an agent for clearance and forwarding to campus. These services can result in significant delays and extra fees.
After arrival, friends and family may mail small packages to you by surface mail or airmail. A package marked, “gift,” with contents valued under $100 USD may enter duty-free (without tax). Any duty charge on mail packages is collected at the US Post Office in Stony Brook village.
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On-Campus Housing
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING SHOULD BE ARRANGED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WELL IN ADVANCE OF YOUR ARRIVAL.
Planning ahead and making arrangements for housing is extremely important. Residence Hall rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. On-campus housing is not guaranteed. Students desiring to reside on campus should complete and return their housing application and deposit fee to the Division of Campus Residences before the deadline noted on the application.
Dormitory rooms will not be available before check-in day unless prior arrangements have been made and confirmed with the Campus Residences office. Students planning to arrive early and stay in a dormitory room must notify Campus Residences in advance and pay additional rent.
Accompanying dependents (spouses and children) cannot be accommodated without advanced approval from Campus Residences.
If you arrive on campus without a confirmed housing assignment, you will need to stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Expect to pay over $100 each night, plus the cost of local transportation until you are either assigned on-campus housing or find off-campus housing. Either is likely to take several weeks, even months, adding thousands of dollars to your expenses.
Address all housing inquiries and make all housing arrangements directly with the Campus Residences office. They may be reached by phone at (631) 632-6750 or by e-mail at adevries@notes.cc.sunysb.edu . You can also visit their website: http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/res/
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Off-Campus Housing
It may take several weeks to find suitable accommodations off-campus. Housing may be far from the campus, which may force you to rely on often-inconvenient public transportation services or purchase an automobile. Both methods of transportation require budgeting additional time and money.
Local apartment rentals usually require the equivalent of two months' rent in advance; one month would be applied as a security deposit, refundable if no damage occurs to the facility. Students using services of a rental agent pay the equivalent of one month's rent as a fee, in addition to the security deposit and one month's rent in advance. A lease may be signed that obligates the tenant for a specific number of months, typically one year.
Off-campus rental rates vary, but students should expect to pay a minimum of $500 per month for a room in a shared house, and a minimum of $1,000 for a small studio apartment. Utility charges (gas, oil, electricity, water, and telephone) are often paid in addition to the basic rent.
Questions regarding off-campus housing may be directed to the University Off-Campus Housing Service, located in Room 104, Administration Building . They may be reached by telephone at (631) 632-6770. Useful information regarding off-campus housing may be found on their website: http://och.fsa.sunysb.edu/
Home Stay Opportunity
Students may participate in a brief home stay with an American family before the beginning of the term. This program allows students to learn a bit about US life and culture, and can help ease transition into American society. Requests should be made at least two months in advance. Contact:
Servas US, Inc.
11 John Street , Room 406
New York , NY 10038
Telephone (212) 267-0252
e-mail: usservas@igc.apc.org
website: http://www.usservas.org/
Temporary Housing
Students arriving on the designated arrival date who have been assigned on-campus housing may move into the residence hall on that date. Arrangements made for early arrival must be made in advance with Campus Residences.
Students planning to reside off campus cannot stay in temporary on-campus housing, nor can the University rent private accommodations on behalf of students.
Meals and Food Services
A wide variety of dining options are available on campus, from cafeterias and cafes to Jasmine, the new Asian food court located in the Wang Center . Campus dining accommodates special diets including halal, kosher and vegetarian foods. Further information about dining options and meal plans is available at http://www.campusdining.org/index2.php
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