| Pre Departure Checklist: |
Before you are ready to depart for Australia, make yourself comfortable by planning your initial days in Australia. USS Australia assists its students make this important transition by giving them a free airport pickup and arranging for temporary accommodation. But before you leave, get to know Australia through the eyes of a student by seeking answers to the queries and situations you might face. Given below is a general checklist of items you should make yourself aware of. KINDLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE A COPY OF YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY TO OUR OFFICE OR EMAIL IT TO melbourne@uniservices.com.au and vasan@uniservices.com.au
Important documents (originals in your carry-on luggage and photocopies in your check-in luggage) • Your valid passport with a valid Australian student visa; • Your letter of offer from the Australian institution, your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), confirmation of your airport pickup by the institution and your accommodation details; • Receipts of any related payments you have made including tuition fees, health cover etc. • Attested mark sheets and certificates and work experience letters; • Your birth certificate, credit card, ten passport size photographs, an international driver’s license; • Important telephone numbers and addresses in India and Australia; and • Prescriptions to support your use of any required medications. • Health insurance details Check in Luggage • When packing your luggage, make sure you keep the items you might need to declare at customs easily accessible. Keep in mind that the check- in weight for economy class is usually 20 kg and hand luggage 7 kg (check baggage allowance with your airline). Remember to keep some identification on your luggage so that you can pick them up easily from the arrival carousel. • It is advisable to lock your luggage, however if a search of your luggage is necessary due to security issues the lock may be broken. Never agree to bring a bag or other items to Australia for someone else as it may contain something illegal and you will be held accountable for it. • Keep your passport and the Notice of Arrival
or Confirmation of Enrolment from your institution with you at all times,
along with your contact details of USS Australia. There will be an USS
Australia’s representative to welcome and pick you up. Certain things which you can and should keep in your luggage are: • Required clothing and footwear. • Backpack, stationery, blanket, bedsheets, pillow cases, towels, alarm clock etc • Electrical appliances like music system, computer etc can be carried but carry valid bills along. Australian voltage is 240Volts which is same as India but you will require a different electrical plug or socket. How much cash should you take? • Students should not carry large amounts of cash with them. For your initial days in Australia, AUD 1,000 in cash and travellers’ cheques is usually sufficient. Arriving in Australia • Before arrival in Australia, you will be issued a Customs Declaration form on the aeroplane. This form requires you to declare any food items or other items prohibited from entry into Australia. If you are carrying any of the items listed on the Customs Declaration Form, you will be required to declare them and pass through the Red Channel where an Australian Customs Officer will ask to inspect your goods that you have declared. If there is nothing to declare you can pass through the green channel. You can import goods worth AUD 400 if you have owned and used them for less than 12 months. Anything above amount that is taxable. Please note that all luggage is x-rayed upon its arrival in Australia so make sure that you declare any items listed on the Customs Declaration Form. • USS Australia’s representative will assist in calling your family who will be eagerly waiting to hear from you. • For ISD and STD calls you should use phone cards which are widely available from most shops in Australia. Local telephone calls are charged AUD 0.25. USS Australia would have purchased a pre paid SIM Card for you. • USS Australia’s representative will take you to your institute for enrolment. • When you arrive at your institute, please collect your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) receipt. This is required to collect your card from the local health cover office. Confirm your OSHC at the nearest Medibank Office or its customer service centre. You are covered by the health insurance from the moment you arrive in Australia. • Once enrolment is over, you will be assisted to open up a bank account, so that you can bank in your traveler’s cheques. Important contact information: USS Australia – Melbourne: Office Hours: + 61 3 9671 4442 (from Melbourne
Airport just dial 9671 4442) |