Your guide to life in America.
Practical steps for Pakistani students arriving, settling in, finding housing, managing money, building a career, and taking care of health.
Arriving in the US
Airport to Campus
Before you land, save your campus address, dorm check-in address, and international office phone number. At the airport, connect to Wi-Fi, open Uber or Lyft, enter the exact dorm/building address, and confirm the license plate before getting in.
Your First 48 Hours
Check into housing, tell family you arrived, buy basic groceries, then visit your international student office, complete arrival check-in, get your student ID, activate your .edu email, and confirm your SEVIS/I-20 record is active.
Phone, SIM, and Internet
A U.S. phone number makes banking, rideshare, apartment applications, and two-factor login easier. Start with prepaid if you do not have a Social Security number yet.
Documents to Keep Handy
Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa, I-20, admission letter, housing address, emergency contacts, immunization record, and insurance card.
Banking & Money
Opening a U.S. Bank Account
Most banks ask for passport, visa, I-20, student ID or admission letter, U.S. address, phone number, and sometimes proof of enrollment. If a large bank is difficult, try a local credit union near campus.
Building Credit Safely
Debit cards do not build credit. Ask about a student or secured credit card, use it for small purchases, and pay the full balance every month.
Budgeting Your First Semester
Plan for bedding, winter clothes, utensils, textbooks, transportation, security deposit, and health fees. Track rent, groceries, phone, subscriptions, and rideshares.
Scholarships and Emergency Funds
Search your department, graduate college, international office, and Dean of Students pages. Many universities have emergency grants for rent, food, medical bills, or urgent travel.
Housing
On-Campus vs Off-Campus
On-campus housing is easier for first-semester students. Off-campus can be cheaper, but check commute time, safety, lease length, utilities, laundry, and whether the apartment is furnished.
Finding Roommates
Use official university boards first, then chapter WhatsApp groups, Pakistani student groups, and trusted alumni referrals. Ask about guests, rent split, cleaning, parking, and lease responsibility.
Before You Sign a Lease
Read rent amount, deposit, move-in fee, utilities, sublease rules, early termination fee, and maintenance process. Take photos/video on move-in day.
Furniture and Setup
Start with Facebook Marketplace, university free-and-sale groups, Goodwill, IKEA basics, and graduating-student sales. Avoid buying too much before seeing the room.
Career & Jobs
OPT, CPT, and Your DSO
Your Designated School Official is the first stop for work authorization questions. Do not begin paid work until authorization is approved and dates match the job.
U.S. Resume Format
Use one page if early-career. No photo, date of birth, marital status, religion, CNIC, or full address. Use action verbs, numbers, and impact.
Networking Without Feeling Awkward
Ask for 15 minutes, not a job. Message alumni with one clear reason and one specific question. Follow up once, politely, after a week.
Internships and Sponsorship
Start early. Use your career center, Handshake, LinkedIn alumni search, and UPSA chapter networks to identify realistic sponsor-friendly employers.
Culture & Community
Finding Community Fast
Join your PSA/MSA/UPSA chapter, one academic club, and one hobby club. Community is often built by showing up repeatedly.
Halal Food and Groceries
Search halal restaurants, South Asian grocery stores, and mosque community boards near campus. Ask older students where they buy meat, spices, rice, and frozen meals.
Eid, Ramadan, and Classes
Email professors early for Eid or Ramadan accommodations. Many universities have religious accommodation policies.
Staying Connected Without Burning Out
Set predictable call windows with family and build a local support circle. Homesickness is normal; isolation makes it worse.
Health & Insurance
Understanding Student Insurance
Learn your insurance card, deductible, copay, urgent care, emergency room, and in-network provider rules. The wrong clinic can cost much more.
Campus Health Center
Start with campus health for routine illness, vaccines, prescriptions, and referrals. Save the after-hours nurse line if your university has one.
Mental Health Support
Every university has a counseling center or mental health services office. You can ask for help with anxiety, homesickness, grief, academic pressure, or panic.
Prescriptions from Pakistan
Bring a list of medicines with generic names, dosage, and doctor notes. U.S. pharmacies may not recognize Pakistani brand names.
Important Hotlines & Safety Resources
Police, fire, ambulance — call immediately for any life-threatening emergency.
Free, confidential crisis support 24/7. Call or text 988.
Free 24/7 crisis counseling via text message.
Confidential support for domestic violence situations.
Free, confidential treatment referrals for mental health and substance use.
Emergency housing and shelter resources for those in need.