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Airports and Flying
You are responsible for purchasing
your own air ticket to Bozeman. You will also
be traveling together with the other participants in
the workshop group. Here are some helpful
tips about what to expect:
- Keep all paperwork in one convenient and accessible
space, preferably in your carry-on bag. Your paperwork
should include your airline ticket, passport, the
welcome letter from MSU, and your DS-2019. Make sure you also have
copies of these documents in a separate suitcase in
case your carry-on bag is lost or misplaced.
- Your flights will be long but you will be fed on
the plane. In other words, you do not need to bring
food onto the flights, although you may do so if you
wish.
- You will not travel directly to Bozeman. You
will process through customs and immigration inspection
at whatever airport you first arrive into the United
States. This process is carried out by U. S. Customs
and Boarder Protection and takes a fair bit of time,
especially when travelling with a group.
- When you first arrive in the United States, it is
extremely important that you deplane quickly, claim
your baggage, then proceed directly through customs
and inspection. After landing, Homeland Security may
take your fingerprints and do an iris scan. This is
a standard procedure, so you should not feel as though
you are being singled out or accused of anything.
After being fingerprinted, you may be interviewed. If you are, a Homeland Security official will ask you general
questions about the purpose of your visit, the purpose
of the institute, and the length of your stay. There
is no need to feel nervous or disoriented while answering
these questions; this is the normal procedure. During the customs and inspection process, a small federal form called a I-94 will be stapled into your passport next to your U.S. visa. It is very important that you do not lose the I-94 during while in the United States; you will need to have it with you at the airport before departing back to home following completion of the workshop.
- After being admitted into the United States, wait for the others in your travel group. Once everyone is together, go
directly to your connecting gate so you do not miss
your flight. This may mean going from the international to the domestic terminal. Once at your gate, you may have time to get
some food or make a phone call.
- When you arrive in Bozeman, MSU staff
will be waiting for you with a sign reading "Thailand 2008."
They will then escort you to the hotel where you will be staying.
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