Here are some important things to keep in mind:
Book your Flight Tickets!
Most direct flights are heavy in the pocket and usually difficult to find. That’s one reason you need to start in advance. In case you end up booking a last minute flight be ready to pay almost double than the early birds and also prepare yourself to have a layover. A lay over flight may force you to take an obligatory transit visa and running from one terminal to the other hoisting your luggage can be quite a pain.
Secure an Accommodation!
Leasing an accommodation once you land may seem like the most convenient option but it is hardly so. Hunting for a suitable apartment may take you roughly 3–4 days and an additional 4–5 days to go through with the lease process & signing leaving you without a place to crash for a week or more.
There are chances the landlord decides to decline your application, which just increases the pressure and leaves you stressed even without your classes starting. Also be prepared to pay a hefty price for a bad apartment due to the high demand for student housing.
Not only will you book a subpar apartment in the hurry to move in but also end up paying more than the market price for a speedy progress. It is a high possibility that your housing preferences will be washed down the drain in the rush to have a permanent place to crash in.
Don’t Underestimate the Paperwork!
It starts right after you land in the foreign country. Immigration officers will ask you for your visa, proof of lease(if you’re living off campus) and you college admit letter, offer letter or I20 depending on the country that you are travelling to.
It’s rather smart to always have a copy of your important documents back at home, and one in your international accommodation. And to be on the safest side have it scanned and saved on your phone so you always have it on your person, in the case of emergencies.