How to Prepare Before You Fly: A Stress-Free Arrival Guide for International Students
Starting your new life in the U.S. is exciting—but let’s be honest, those first few days can be overwhelming. Between jet lag, figuring out where the grocery store is, and learning how to get around campus, you don’t want “sleeping on the floor” to be part of your adventure.
This post will cover what you can do before you even get on the plane to make your landing stress-free.
1. Sign Up for 6 months of FREE Prime
We partner with Amazon to make your transition seamless. A Student Prime Membership will be your best friend for free, fast shipping and student discounts. You’ll need things quickly, and Prime delivery is typically between 2 hours (in big cities) – 3 days.
Amazon is a good way to order essentials before you leave home and have them shipped to your dorm, apartment, or your school’s international student office—but double-check first where they can receive packages for you.
If you’re arriving before your housing is ready, consider using an Amazon pickup locker near campus.
2. Arrange Cell Phone Service
Having a working phone the moment you land makes navigating, calling rideshares, and contacting friends or your school much easier. We’ve reviewed some great options that won’t make getting a cell phone challenging as a new international student without an SSN.
-
Option 1: Order a U.S. SIM card in advance (such as CampusSIMS) and have it shipped to your home country or your U.S. address so it’s ready when you arrive.
-
Option 2: Use an eSIM to set up your phone instantly.
-
From outside the U.S. CampusSIMS is a great option because no U.S. bank account or local address is needed.
-
If you wait until you’re in the U.S. – consider Visible by Verizon, which offers unlimited service, a watch line included and phone upgrades and no SSN is required.
-
Or check out the Homebase Marketplace for more options.
3. Ship Essentials Ahead
Rule #1: Do not land without a plan for where you’ll sleep on the first night. If you’re getting in late at night, you may want to consider staying in a hotel. Many students arrive late at night after long flights only to discover that their room has no furniture or bedding.
Avoid this by:
- Pre-ordering a Twin XL Bed Set so it’s there when you check in.
- Most dorm rooms in the U.S. require Twin XL sheets, be sure to check with your apartment/dorm about your bed size prior to arrival
- Adding a pillow to your order.
- Having a towel set ready for that first shower.
- Ordering a bathroom essentials kit so you’ll have all of the basics covered for the first few days. We recommend the Men’s Essentials or Women’s Essentials kits.
Note for off-campus housing: If you’re renting an apartment, be sure to check what furniture is provided. If nothing is provided, consider renting from a furniture lease company like CORT.
Don’t try to “shop later” after landing—stores might be closed, and you’ll be too tired. Check back again tomorrow for tips on packing your carry-on bag!
