{"id":1381,"date":"2024-04-06T01:14:55","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T22:14:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lnshah.com\/purdue\/?p=1381"},"modified":"2024-06-04T00:46:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T21:46:41","slug":"to-do-lists-on-arrival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lnshah.com\/purdue\/2024\/04\/06\/to-do-lists-on-arrival\/","title":{"rendered":"To-do List on Arrival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After arriving in West Lafayette, these are the things you need to get done quickly<\/p>\n\n\n

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Activate your US SIM card for your child (and yourself)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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If you had pre-ordered, you could pick the sim cards up from your hotel front desk (or wherever you asked for them to be delivered) on arrival. if you have not already ordered, see my post US Sim cards, Phones & Computers<\/a> on how to go about it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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Attend a PUSH appointment for Immunization\/ vaccinations<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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If you have not already done so, book it and then attend your appointment. You should not take the vaccine if you are moderately sick. Arrive 15 mins earlier than your appointment so they can check you in. It’s\u00a0 basically the 1st or 2nd building to the right of the famous\u00a0Purdue\u00a0Arch. The address is 601 Stadium Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907. However, note that this is pedestrian only street. So if you are driving here, you should come from the back i.e. University Avenue. Consult Google maps for the orientation\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0centre. Free parking is available outside the clinic for the duration of the appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will ask you for all your vaccinations taken in the last month or so (if any), so keep dates and type\/ brands<\/strong> ready. They have all the student insurance info with them. they just confirm with you that you have paid. hence don’t worry too much if you haven’t been able to download your Insurance ID..as they never asked for ours. You need to wait for 15 mins after the vaccination as a precaution. Then you are allowed to proceed for TB test. All told, you need an hour if there is no queue for the whole PUSH process. Maybe up to 2 hrs if they busy. If you find PUSH busy and no appointments available, you can taken it at the Pharmacy next door to PUSH. Don\u2019t need an appointment for it, walk in worked for other students from our batch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have taken your first vaccine, put a reminder on your phone <\/strong>for the second dose (1 month or 6 months depending on the type you took).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you are at it, I recommend you also put a reminder for a flu-shot<\/strong>. PUSH offers them for free before winter- typically in October- check their website around that time and take it! It will keep you protected from the most common strains of flu.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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Complete ISS Virtual Mandatory International Student Check-in (vMISCi)<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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Students who are beginning a new program at Purdue from inside the United States in August, must complete vMISCi. <\/strong>Completing a vMISCi session at Purdue is required by federal law for international students. The US Department of Homeland Security requires you to check-in with ISS as you obtain your immigration documents and upon arrival to campus. Your check-in is completed through myISS and will consist of pre-arrival, arrival, immigration video and immigration quiz e-forms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need the following documents with you: Passport, Entry Visa (Not applicable to Canadian citizens), COE: I-20 or DS-2019, and your I-94 arrival record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

***Failure to comply with vMISCi may jeopardize your valid F1 lawful status***<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I start vMISCi?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Log into myISS at connect.iss.purdue.edu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Go to the Requests section of the Home Page<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Click on the vMISCi (PWL) e-form<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Continue through all the e-forms within the group.

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    Open your Rakuten account <\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    as outlined in my post Final Pre-Arrival Steps<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Place your online orders<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    If you have put your items ready in your cart at Amazon\/Walmart or others, as outlined in my post Things to Pack & Buy!<\/a> , go ahead and order your stuff. With Prime, you can get it within a day or two. Make sure to take advantage of the Rakuten cashback wherever you can. You can decide whether to order them to your hotel or to the dorm front desk.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Book your Chase Bank Appointment & queue up at PFCU<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    open Bank accounts – see my post Bank Accounts & Budgeting<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Register Your Laptop<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    Registering your laptop is a smart move as laptops are one of the most commonly stolen items on campus. Register it with the Purdue police department to assist in the return of your laptop in the event that it is stolen and later found. Do it here<\/a>. You will need your local US number at the time of registering<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Collect your optional physical ID card<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    If you had decided to pay for an optional physical ID card, as outlined in Complete Pre-Orientation<\/a> – Step 8, visit the ID office at Stewart Center RM 194 and request one by paying $35<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Finalise your Transfer credit from exams<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    If you have been waiting for your final exam results (refer Transfer credit discussion on the Your 1st Semester Course Schedule.<\/a> post and ), submit any pending Academic transcripts with the Admissions office in order to get the transfer credits reflected into your Purdue academic record.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Consider joining PASE<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    The Purdue Alumni Student Experience (PASE) is the student organization of the Purdue for Life Foundation- the alumni network for Purdue. It is the largest student organization on campus with over 7,000 members. Their mission is to prepare students for a lifelong connection to Purdue and its alumni. While they offer opportunities for all students to engage with them, they have a membership program that offers extra benefits. The fee to join is $125 <\/strong>and lasts a student\u2019s entire undergraduate career (in effect around $30 a year).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The cost of the membership is offset by the freebies they give, plus the opportunity to network with alumni:<\/p>\n\n\n\n