Pre-departure Checklist

Documents to carry (in your hand luggage)

• Passport with visa, and photocopies kept separately plus scans in cloud storage.
• Admission letter, I-20 / CAS / CoE / Letter of Acceptance.
• Scholarship or assistantship letter, and financial documents.
• All original academic transcripts and certificates, with attested translations.
• Test score reports (IELTS/TOEFL/GRE).
• Medical records, vaccination certificate and prescriptions with generic drug names.
• Accommodation confirmation and the address you will give at immigration.
• Passport-size photographs (10–15) in the sizes your destination uses.
• International driving permit, if you plan to drive.

Before you fly

1. 1

   Accommodation

   Book at least the first month. University halls are the safest first choice; sign a private lease only after seeing the place or verifying the landlord.

2. 2

   Money

   Open an international card, carry some local currency for the first days, and check your bank's daily transfer limits and endorsement rules.

3. 3

   Insurance

   Health insurance is compulsory in most countries and often must start on the day you arrive.

4. 4

   Phone and SIM

   Unlock your phone, keep your Bangladeshi number active for bank OTPs, and plan a local SIM on arrival.

5. 5

   Flights

   Book with a student baggage allowance where offered. Fly to arrive on a weekday during office hours if you need to collect keys.

6. 6

   Tell the university

   Complete the pre-arrival and immigration check-in forms; many universities offer airport pickup for new international students.

What to pack (and what not to)

• Weather-appropriate clothing for your first two months only — buying locally is cheaper than excess baggage.
• Prescription medicine for 3–6 months with a doctor's letter; generic names, not brand names.
• A power adapter for your destination's plug type, and a spare laptop charger.
• Spices, but sealed, labelled and within customs rules — meat and many plant products are banned.
• Formal outfit for conferences, interviews and university events.
• Leave behind: heavy textbooks, bulky kitchenware, more than a year of toiletries.

Your first two weeks

• Report to the international office and complete immigration registration (city registration in Germany, BRP/eVisa in the UK, and so on).
• Open a bank account and get a local SIM.
• Activate health insurance and register with a doctor.
• Collect your student ID and transport card.
• Attend orientation — this is where you meet the people who make the year survivable.
• Find the Bangladeshi students' association and the nearest halal or South Asian grocery.
• Tell your family your address, and agree a regular call time across the time difference.