A word before starting the actual content, it's all written keeping the candidates coming to US from Hyderabad. If u don't fit into this category, please try to narrate the scenario for urself!

The first thing is, IT clearance, which u need to get from India, before u get into flight. Usually, concern people in the International (Mumbai/Delhi/Chennai) airport will be asking u for this, just before u leave the country. U can get this from local IT office (I believe it’s near the Secretariat circle, where we’ve submitted application for our IT PAN), just by spending around Rs.400 to 500/- (unofficially).

The second thing is, about the foreign currency. If u take US$100 and above, depending on ur situation and agreement with ur consultant, from some registered people like Thomas Cook or some nationalized bank, that’s fine. They put a stamp in the last pages of ur passport. Otherwise, in Mumbai/Delhi airport, just before u get into international flight, u better take at least $5 to $10 from their (Thomas Cook or some big bank) counters in the airport. If not, as soon as u land here and if u start spending dollars in the airport, somebody "may" ask u their source (I mean, from where did u get them?)...huh, though I never faced it!

The third thing is, get rid of all medical problems there itself, especially dental. Though most of us were under the impression that, we’ll be getting insurance coverage here, it’s only partially true. U need to bear some initial expenses (of at least $100) and after that the insurance company comes into picture. There r 101 twists in the policies, like this.

The most important thing is, don’t forget to get at least one $5 or $10 note, which is compulsory for u to pull out the cart in the airport here. U can find lot of change machines in the airport, so, don't worry about the change. You can get only quarters (1/4th of a dollar) from the change machines. FYI, 1 dollar=100cents, 1 quarter=25 cents, 1 dime=10 cents and 1 nickel=5 cents.

Things to bring from INDIA:

PS: I’m writing this mail for guys and girls can think over the things meant for them.

• Daily use (includes 1 bath soap, couple of tooth pastes & brushes, shaving kit, etc)
• 1 small detergent soap (in case it's required)
• Towels 2, underwears & banians (1 dozen each)
• 1 or 2 handkercheifs
• Gum, stapler, nail cutter, 1 good folder for ur certs, etc.
• 1 or 2 leather belts
• 1 leather waist pouch
• An alarm time piece WITHOUT batteries
• Casual wears like night dress (3 or 4). Shorts and lungis may not be preferrable since they can’t protect u from cold, if u're going to be in East coast. Otherwise, they're ok. These night dresses are cheap here too. Remember that, it’s winter here from October to March or April and be prepared for that. FYI, 0^o Celcius is very common here, which is the temp for us today!
• Talcum powder 2, cold cream 2, Vaseline 2. Shaving kit is a bit costly here. So, shaving kit, with after shave lotions 2. What I can say about these above items is, it depends on how much u use them in ur day to day life.
• Some buttons for your shirts and trousers. Needless to say a needle and matching thread.
• Medicines. Medicines for all common diseases like temperature, allergy.
• Clothes. Get at least 4 to 6 good pairs, like Arrow shirts, Raymond trousers, etc. My main concern about the quality is, they're preferred to be "wrinkle free" of any brand.

  WRINKLE-FREE Shirts. Wrinkle-free nature of the shirts help u avoiding pressing of ur clothes, which may be at extra charge for u at some apartments (here our "flats" are called as "apartments"). 6 to 7 shirts is comfortably ok. Have atleast 1 or 2 pure white shirts. These are the executive shirts and mostly everyone wears it. The others can be of light colors but should be plain or with some light colored stripes. Try to buy 100% cotton shirts. You get these at Arrow, Van Hausuen etc. Try to buy the white shirts from John miller. These are cheap as well as very pure white. Take the shirts which have the collar buttons, and see that the once the neck button is put, there is not much gap between the neck and the neck button, or else it looks very ugly when put with a tie. Shirts from Van Heusen are available from the factory outlet in Dilsukh Nagar (where u get 25% discount on shirts). When u’re going towards DSNR, it comes on the right side, just before DSNR and after crossing the traffic lights (in the same building, NIIT is there).

  Trousers. Have atleast 4 to 6 trousers. Try to get the woolen blended pants. You can go for raymonds for a good quality (u can find one factory outlet in the ground floor of Surya Towers, where u get upto 30% discount). U might become a bit more fat with the nutritious food here, take care!

• Bedsheets (2 or 3). Don't bring the pillow. Dark colored bedsheets are preferrable.
• Suites (1 is enough). Only the double breasted one.
• 1 Blazer is preferrable. (These can be of Raymonds or park avenue made. Select one suite which is dark. Dark blue is preferrable and it should be plain with no designs).
• 4 or 5 ties. No Stripes please! Take the ones which have flowers or other designs on them. You can have 2 fancy ties also, with all the drawings. These are a fashion in parties. Make sure you buy ties(which you will use for interviews match with the contrast of the shirts and trousers you buy). Go for broad ties, and not narrow ones. These will cost you around Rs.250 - 700. Have atleast one tie of Rs.600 - 700 range. The others can be of 250 - 400.
• 1 or 2 pairs good quality shoes. May be Woodland or Lotus Bawa. Go only for shoes which have PVC soles. Any other sole wears out in snow. In fact lotus bawa has a shoe which looks very simple and elegant. The shoe cost you around Rs.1,050/-. Don't buy sports shoes. These are cheap and of good quality here. Have at least one executive shoe. Black or Brown shoes will do. A little design at the toe is also agreeable. U can get Woodland shoes from the factory outlet, just beside Pullareddy Sweets, Abids, where u get upto 40% discount.
• WOOLEN socks (4 to 6 pairs) (Dark colors preferred), WOOLEN gloves(1 pair), 1 Muffler, 1 ear band (that covers only ears), 1 Monkey cap, Thermal wear (2 pairs) Though thermal wear is a bit costly (above Rs.1,100/- per pair), don’t ignore to get them, from Bulchand, Abids. They’re very much required here. Just u cannot live here without woolen gloves, unless u’ve a car and a license to drive here, ready to drive away from the airport!
• Shoe polish and brush
• 1 bathroom slippers.
• 2 good sweaters.
• Bring a few good T-shirts. The high neck is a fashion here. Bring the ones with less or no patterns.
• Utensils
• A 3 ltr Prestige cooker (4Ltrs one is also ok). Bring an extra gasket and the weight.
• 2-3 vessels, for milk and curry.
• A non-stick pan (or 2)
• A Kadai If u take a non-stick fry pan, then it should serve the purpose of kadai also, I believe. Just think over it!
• 3-4 tumblers (glasses).
• 2-3 plastic plates to have food.
• A couple of spoons and forks.
• Travel stuff
• 1 cabin bag. Always buy the bags which have wheels under it (preferrably 3 wheels. I could get it at Rs.800/- from Rayman’s Luggage, Ameerpet). There will be many times when you will have to carry it with you. Some times even in the airport you may have to change flights and you will have a tough time without wheels. Remember not to stuff it too much, especially in the side pockets (what we usually do). Though there is no predefined weight for this (as far as I know, its weight should not exceed 20kgs or so and usually u cannot put that much stuff in that!), in some airports (like LA, where I got down) they will allow it into the flight only if they can pass it thru a small opening available there.
• 2 suitcases. You can buy one VIP make which is of moulded type. In this, u can have things like ur steel vessels, pickels, etc. The other one can be of flexible type (comes for around Rs.1,000/- to Rs.1,200/-). This will allow you to have more items in it as well as it is flexible. Remember, these must have wheels (of course, u better mention the fellow in the shop that these are for ur air journey). The max weight allowed in these 2 suitcases is, 32Kg per suitcase. Though they may accept slightly above that (at the most 1 or 2kgs), don’t do that. Otherwise, u may end up in a fix and u prefer to throw the some luggage out of it, rather than paying the luggage fare! For u to weigh the suitcases, u can find one small weighing tool that looks like a small vertical strip of around 6 inches long and can weigh upto 100kgs or so (with a tolerance of roughly 1kg).
• Jackets. Get atleast one leather jacket. Black is preferrable. This may cost around Rs.2000/- (I took it from those shops exactly opp to SBI or SBH in Gunfoundry). Get the 4 pocket one, and also look for pockets which are inside and with zip. This will help you to carry the passport and other important documents required. Don’t forget to check for inner pockets and preferrably not with fur inside. Try to wear it in the flight, otherwise, it adds a lot of weight to ur overall luggage.
• One formal leather bag to carry docs sort of things to office, regularly (what we’ve been doing in Hyderabad for all these years!)
• When you pack the pickles, and other food items see that you pack it airtight. I suggest u to take 1Kg plastic bottles from Priya pickles which r air tightly packed. But, again u need to pack them in ur polyethene bags and then in some clothes. Otherwise, they're gonna break, when the suitcases are handled in the flight.
• Some general tips:
  • Always keep the passport, certificates and other important documents in the cabin baggage. You don't need to be surprised if you find your suitcase missing(Ofcourse they will be reimbursed, but if you lose the ceritificates, nobody can save you).
  • Never show your passport to anyone, unless he identifies himself. You can ask anybody to show the identification.
  • In the airport never leave your baggage out of sight.
    There are cases of people who have lost their bags when people just land in New York, and go for a few moments to make a phone call.
  • I advice you not to bring food items like rice, dal. When the person sitting after the baggage claim counter ask u whether there is any food items, u’ve to say 'No', firmly. Even if u say that, if at all the dogs there can sniff thru that, they’ll open ur suitcases and throw out ALL the eatables. Yes, you may bring some pickles, kariapatha, coconut powder & garam masala. These small stuff don't take space or weight. When you get the pickles and other items, get them in perlpet jars. These jars can later be used to store other items.
  • Always keep the passport, certificates, H1 papers and a pen handy in the airbag, so that they can be pulled out easily. Also the tickets should be in your pockets.