Important Info: Check Everything Over and Over Again

Well, in one week from today I'll be headed to the United States, so this week is the time I have to check everything multiple times: 

-Passport;

-Army Card - card which I don't know how to say that in English;

-Visa;

-DS-2019;

-Money (remember that Brazilian can only travel with a specific amount of money in cash without declaring at Federal Police, which is 10.000,00 (ten thousand) reais in national OR international currency)

-Documents from the university;

-Road trip tickets proof (you HAVE to buy road trip even if you think of staying any longer, otherwise you may not be allowed to enter the country;

-RG and CPF (Brazilian IDs);

-Voting Card (I don't know how to say that in English either. But, it's the card you use for voting for someone who's running for Brazilian government positions);

International immunization records;

-Bank Cards and Statements;

-Receipts that you bought your laptop, ipad, etc in Brazil and not in the USA, because when you come back you may have to pay 1/2 of the amount of money that exceeded 500 dollars of purchases while you were in the USA at the Custom house/ Pay Duties. You should check more about this info on http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br/aduana/viajantes/viajantechegbrasilsaber.htm );

In short, check everything!!! One tip I can give you is to go in each room of your house looking for something you can't forget. BE SURE you have everything with you, once you're away from your town it's hard to go back to get things you forgot. Another tip is getting a folder where you can put all the documents

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING: scan your documents and send them to your email (and some relatives' also). In case of losing anything it's gonna be much better for you to have copies of them. Take some copies with you, so then you won't need to take all the original documents with you all the time. Take a look at this email I recieved from my adviser with some newsworthy info about my trip:

"In a very short time, you will begin your journey to the US and to the St. Ambrose campus!  Before you go, I wanted to give you a short overview of what will happen when you enter the US for the first time as a student visa holder!!

The immigration officials at the airport will want to see your Passport with the VISA, and your Form I-20(F visa) or DS-2019 (J visa).  Remember to keep these original documents in a safe place and easily accessible.  DO NOT keep these papers in your checked baggage.

Overview of Immigration Processing at the Airport

• A Customs and Border Protections (CBP) Officer will look at all of your documents and supporting materials, and ask you basic questions about your plans.
• If there are any questions about your record, you may be asked to go to secondary inspection so that the officers can complete a more thorough inspection of your documents and record.   DO NOT be alarmed if they ask you to go to secondary inspection, it is quite common to be asked to do this.
• The CBP officer will stamp your passport to indicate duration of status ("D/S"), your nonimmigrant status (F-1 or J-1) and your arrival date.
• CBP will issue an electronic I-94 number, which you can print for yourself atwww.cbp.gov/I94.

It is also a good idea to make at least two sets of copies of these documents: one copy to leave with your family before you depart and one copy to give to your school officials. Here is a list of the important immigration documents:

• Passport
• Visa
• Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status” or DS-2019 “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status”

After checking everything and being sure you have everything that you need, just enjoy your trip!

See you all!