Pakistan Students Association welcomes all new Pakistani students to Iowa State University. Its our primary goal to help new Pakistani Students with Arrival Assistance and accommodation. When you get the ticket confirmed please contact the following PSA officer and provide him your exact Arrival Time and Date.

Before you arrive 

Late Check-In Sessions

Please contact the International Students and Scholars Office upon arrival to find out when the next available late check-in session is scheduled. Please come to 3248 Memorial Union, or by phone: (515) 294-1120.

 
Documents Required for Orientation, Early Check-In, and Late Check-In Sessions

Admission Letter with ISU ID number
Iowa State University I-20 (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students).
I-20 or DS-2019 forms from other U.S. institutions where you studied (if applicable)
Passport
Admission Letter (with Student ID Number on it)
The passports and I-20/DS-2019 forms for all members of your family who come to the U.S. with you.
Address in Ames (this can be a temporary address, such as a hotel or the home of a friend or acquaintance with whom you are staying).
Name, phone number, e-mail and mailing address for a person we can contact if you have a personal emergency.  Generally this would be a parent, husband or wife, brother or sister, or other family member.  If you have family in the U.S. who we could contact, please bring their name, phone number, e-mail and mailing address, too.
Letter of Intent (for graduate students with assistantship)
Financial guarantee (if your educational expenses are to be paid by a government, agency or institution instead of by you or your family)

 
Instructions on Immigration Processing at the U.S. Border
Arrival Date and U.S. School

Immigration regulations state that you cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date on item #5 of your Form I-20 or item #3 of your DS-2019. For initial admission, you MUST attend the school specified on your visa.

Arrival Documents

Be sure you have a passport valid at least six months into the future, a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport, and an I-20 form or DS-2019 form before you leave for the U.S.  It is important to keep your documents with you in a safe place and easily accessible to present to the immigration official at the port of entry in the U.S.

Overview of Immigration Processing at the Airport:

A Customs and Border Protections (CBP) office 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. 

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 at www.cbp.gov/I94.

Entering the U.S. at a land Border

If entering the U.S. by land rather than sea or air, you will be issued a paper copy of Form I-94. This form, once stamped and annotated by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, is proof that you entered the U.S. legally. Please keep the I-94 card in a safe place with your permanent records. You must surrender the card when you leave the country.

Important Thing to Keep in mind before booking the ticket:

Make sure with you travel agent that the next flight (connection) after your arrival at the US port of entry is at least after 4-5 hours. Immigration paper work and security clearance easily takes this much time at the port of entry. Many international students who are not aware of this, miss their flight(s).

FAQ:-

CAUTION: Keep in mind you have to CARRY all these things. So DO NOT exceed your limit of Airline requirements and dont try to bring things for 2 years.

What should I bring with me?

Jeans and shirts/high necks
Shoes/sandals
Shoes/sandals
Jacket
Muffler
Gloves
Socks
Vests and underwear
Trimmer/shaving kit
Comb/ Brush
Alarm clock
Clothes hangers
Pens/pencils
Stapler and Punching Machine
Bed sheets, pillow and pillow cover
Towels
Praying mat
Nail Cutter
Some common medicines (like panadol, cough etc.) for back up before your health insurance
Extension cable
Blanket
LAN Cable
Lota

Airport Transportation

The closest International Airport to Iowa State University (ISU) is roughly 30 miles away in Des Moines, Iowa.  If you arrive to the Des Moines International Airport, you will still need to find transportation from Des Moines to ISU in Ames, Iowa.

Contact the following for assistance

The PSA Board at pakexec@iastate.edu