Travel Information

We are excited that you will be participating in the NWCCI program! Below is information about traveling to the United States. Please print this document and bring it with you to as you .

Make sure you have all of your immigration documents (your , visa and DS-2019) with you in your carryon bag so that you have easy access to them while you travel.

You will have long flights with several and we want you to be as comfortable as possible. We recommend bringing something for entertainment as you travel – a book, a game, a newspaper, etc.

Because you will be on the flight for a long period of time, make sure to stretch your legs. You can do this by walking around the plane every few hours and changing positions in your seat. Also, drink lots of fluids and wear loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict blood flow and make it easier to move around.

If you have any questions about your flight before you travel, please contact Amanda Fletcher at [email protected]. If you have questions while you travel look for employees in uniforms and ask them questions. Do not worry about asking for help, traveling can be a confusing process and they are there to assist travelers.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Before you Travel

Check your airline’s website for their luggage restrictions. Each airline will determine how many bags you can bring and how much they can weigh. It is important to follow these restrictions, because the you are responsible for the fees for having extra and they can be expensive.

Also review the restrictions for what can be carried onto the plane and what needs to be packed in your checked luggage. You will not have access to luggage that you check until you arrive in Seattle. Occasionally checked bags are misplaced and do not arrive for several days. Make sure you carry anything you need on the plane or soon after arriving in your carryon bag on the plane. This includes your travel documents, money, medication, contact lens or eye glasses. It is also a good idea to bring a change of clothing in your carryon bag.

At the

Please arrive at the airport in your departure city at least 3 hours prior to the time on your ticket. You will need time to check-in, go through security and find your . When you arrive at the airport the first thing you should do is check-in. The check-in is normally handled by the airline itself or a handling agent working on behalf of an airline. Look at your itinerary for the name of the airline you are traveling on and go to that counter. At check-in you will give the airline any baggage that you are checking and you will not see it again until you arrive in Seattle. At check-in you will receive a that you need to go through security and to board the .

Airport Security

The next step after getting your boarding pass will be to proceed through . Follow the signs to your gate, as there may be a security checkpoint at the entrance to several groups of gates.

To avoid any delays, here is what you should be prepared for when entering the airport security checkpoint:

Keep your passport and boarding pass available to show to the security screeners. Make sure that you have reviewed the restrictions for what can be carried onto the plane. Any sharp objects, files, scissors or other restricted items should be in your checked bags. Make sure you know what the current regulations are and follow them! Be prepared to remove your shoes, belt, watch, and anything that has metal content. If you are traveling with electronic items (like a laptop or music player) you will be asked to remove it from its case or bag and place it in a separate bin.

Find Your Boarding Gate

Once past the airport’s security checkpoint, proceed to your gate’s boarding area. Look for the boarding gate listed on your boarding pass. Also check on departure monitors as you proceed to check on the latest status and gate (they can change) of your flight.

Boarding typically begins about 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, so be sure to arrive there in time. You risk losing your assigned seat or flight if you show up too late.

Boarding

Check your boarding pass for your seat number and your zone or row. Most board by zones or rows. Listen to the announcements regarding boarding, and proceed when your row section or zone is called. You will pass an airline gate agent, who will take your boarding pass and may ask for your passport. Embark the plane, find your seat, and place your carryon bag in either the bin above your head or under the seat in front of you. The flight attendants will do a demonstration explaining the safety features of the aircraft prior to takeoff.

Connecting Flights

A connecting flight is a circumstance when you are traveling by plane to a destination and you are required to stop and change planes between the city you leave from and the city you are traveling to. This is also called a “.”

NWCCI students come from all over the world and everyone will have at least one layover as they travel to the United States. Your plane ticket will state how many layovers are included on your itinerary. Normally you do not have to check-in again for connecting flights, but you may have to go through additional security checkpoints, depending on the airport’s procedures. . When you check in for the first flight you will receive boarding passes for all of your connecting flights. It is important not to lose these, as they are your tickets to get on each flight.

During your flight, check the magazine in the seat pocket. Usually it will have a map of the that the airline services. Use those maps to determine where your arriving and departing gates are located and the path you should take to get from one to another. Listen to the announcements on the plane during landing. If there have been gate changes for your connecting flight the will announce them. If you do not hear your next flight mentioned, look for your flight number on the departure monitors once you are off the plane. The monitor will tell you which gate your next flight leaves from. If you are still not sure which gate to go to or how to get there you can always ask a gate agent to look up your flight. Often they are standing just inside the airport after you depart the plane.

Time Zones and Travelling

Please note that you will travel through several time zones as you travel to the United States. Washington State is on Pacific Standard Time (PST). Do not rely on a watch to determine the time as you travel from airport to airport as time zones change as you travel from east to west. Ask the flight attendant what time it is when you land so that you can determine how much time you have to make it to your next flight.

Immigration Procedures

During your flight, the flight attendants will pass out forms for you to fill out to give to immigration and customs officials. You will go through immigration at the port of entry, the first airport you arrive at in the United States. In general, the admitting U.S. immigration officer will ask you questions and go through the following procedures:

. Review your visa and financial documentation for authenticity and validity – these need to be the same documents as those given to the visa officer at the Embassy . Scan your SEVIS Form DS-2019 to log your initial arrival into the U.S. and return the original to you . Issue an Admissions Number on your I-94 card . Approve your entry into the U.S. for “Duration of Status” (D/S will be put on your card) . The Customs officer will also scan an electronic fingerprint of both of your index fingers and take a digital photo for the new U.S. Visit System. . Additional security checks (if applicable)

Please note that not all airports are equipped for SEVIS inspection at the Primary Inspection desk and you may be sent to the Secondary Inspection line. Should this happen, please do not be alarmed. This is not an indication of problems with your visa, but rather is part of the Immigration entry processes at some airports.

Once you clear immigration, you will collect your checked baggage and proceed through customs. Please review the list of prohibited items that you may not bring into the United States (for example, unlicensed software or music).

For more information on what to expect when going through customs as well as what documents you need to have with you for entering the country, please see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “Arrival Fact Sheet” online at: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_stdnt_fs.htm.

Who should I call if I have problems at the Port of Entry?

You should call Amanda Fletcher at (425) 640-1916 if you have any problems upon arrival at the Port of Entry. The office staff is available during regular business hours of 9am-5pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday. When your adviser contacts you via email she will also share another contact number you may use in case of emergency.

Will I be met at the airport?

You will be met at baggage claim at the Seattle Airport (sometimes called “Sea-Tac”). Once you have disembarked from your plane at SeaTac Airport, follow the signs to Baggage Claim. Once you arrive there, check the monitors to find the carousel that corresponds to your flight number. Look for your bags on the carousel and remove them.

A college staff member will be standing in the baggage claim area with a sign with the name of your college on it. Please find your bags and stay in the baggage claim area until someone finds you. Do not leave the baggage claim area.

SeaTac airport is very large. If you get lost, ask someone where the baggage claim is for your flight. Show them your ticket and they will direct you. You can also find a security officer at the airport and ask him or her to page the Edmonds, Pierce or Whatcom College Representative. Airport Security will then make an announcement to the airport. Do this only if you are lost. Show them this email and they will know what to do.

What if my flight is delayed – will I still be met at the airport?

If you arrive to your connecting city late, or your connecting flight was canceled here is what you should do. As soon as you learn that your connecting flight was missed or cancelled, you should seek out the airline’s customer service counter, or the gate agent at the gate where your departure was scheduled for. Explain what happened and ask to have your flight rescheduled.

We will take every precaution to check the status of your flight. However, if your flight is delayed or rescheduled, please call Amanda Fletcher (see numbers above) to alert us to your new arrival time and flight information.

What will I be expected to do on arrival day?

We will not have any planned activities for you on arrival day other than to get settled into your room, meet your roommates and rest. Orientation will begin the next morning. There will be an information packet in your room that will tell you when and where to meet for the Orientation program.

Orientation

In Orientation, we will introduce you to life at the community college and in the local community. We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you during Orientation.