Travel in the United States
The staff at VCU looks forward to your arrival in Richmond and your participation in our program. This page provides information that will help you with your stay in the United States. During the initial days of the program, an extensive orientation will also be conducted. We will all work with you throughout the trip to ensure that your experience in the U.S. is as productive and comfortable as possible.
Arrival
If prior to your departure from your country, you are informed of changes to your flight schedule, please e-mail or phone Amanda Davis, at davisak6@vcu.edu, or 804-334-7812, with your new itinerary as soon as possible.
As with all flying, we strongly suggest that when you pack for your trip, you also pack a small bag (to be carried on the plane) with essential items such as toiletries and medicine and one or two days change of clothing in the unlikely event that your checked luggage is delayed in transit.
You will be arriving in Washington D.C., and the Academy for Educational Development is arranging for your airport pickup to transport you to a hotel in D.C.
When traveling, we will provide you with a letter from either the University or from the Department of State detailing your participation in this program. Be sure to travel with this letter for use during customs inspection. Due to additional security measures, you may be also requested to fill out additional forms, be asked additional questions, and, potentially, be asked to participate in an exit interview upon your return to your home country.
Expect long delays (up to three hours) at your initial port of entry into the United States due to increased security measures.
Other Considerations
U.S. airlines have begun to charge fees for checking in bags for flights. Each airline has different fees and different requirements. We will try to let you know ahead of time of any special fees or charges for checked luggage. You may want to keep this in mind for your return flight since many program participants purchase books and other gifts for their return flight and therefore may face additional baggage fees.
AIRLINE TRAVEL ADVICE SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Here is some important advice when traveling in the United States, especially since 9/11.
1. Do NOT make jokes or comments about hijacking or carrying a bomb or gun. It will be taken seriously and will result in your delay, or worse.
2. Do NOT carry wrapped gifts with you on the plane.
3. The following items MUST BE STORED IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE, because they will not be allowed on the plane: knives of any kind, shape or size; scissors, corkscrews, box cutters, tweezers, screwdrivers, cigar cutters, butane lighters, metal fingernail files, metal forks, nail clippers, multi-use utility tools, mace and pepper spray.
4. IF YOU BRING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WITH YOU IN YOUR CARRY ON please be sure to have a copy of your doctor’s prescription written in English to avoid having the drugs confiscated at an airport security checkpoint. United States Customs forbids the importation of unsealed foods and agricultural products. Participants are fully responsible for their luggage and other property at all times. The Civic Initiative and its staff are not liable for theft or loss of participant property.
5. If carrying liquids and toiletries in your carry on bag, they must be packed in specific ways and with specific limits on quantities. First, no single bottle or tube can be more than 3 oz. Second, all liquids and other toiletries must fit in a quart sized “zip-lock” bag. You can pack as many toiletry items as necessary in your CHECKED luggage. These limits ONLY apply to your carry-on bags.
Please note: items (including medications) confiscated by officials of the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection or the TSA will not be returned– so please make sure that you have followed the rules and that you have sufficient documentation with you when you travel.
This link will take you to the Transportation Security Administration where they provide guidelines in terms of security requirements and packing limitations during your travel in the United States.