Map of the United States.

Module 6: Just Before Departure

This module provides you with information on practicalities and preparations important just before going to the U.S.

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Learning Goal:

  • To facilitate a stress-free and smooth departure

Check-List for Movers

Review carefully the check-list for movers in our Guide for Going to the U.S. In this check-list, we have compiled some important items to take care of when preparing your departure (e.g. important documents to bring with you, practicalities with Finnish officials, health-related preparations, academic arrangements, housing arrangements, and family-related arrangements if your family is traveling with you).

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all items that you need to take care of before your departure but you can use this as a template when you start creating your own list. Your own check-list will always depend on your grant program and individual circumstances.

Entering the United States

Please find below some resources for entering the United States that the Foundation has received from its program partners in the United States and international exchange organizations in June 2025. These resources will be updated as new information becomes available.

Before departing Finland

  • Read the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ official travel advisory to the U.S.
  • Fill in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ travel notice before leaving Finland: https://um.fi/matkustusilmoitus.
  • If you are unable to arrive on or before the start date indicated in your DS-2019/I-20 form, you must inform the Foundation, which will contact IIE/IREX to request a new DS-2019/I-20 form. If your visa is sponsored by your host university, contact them directly in addition to informing the Foundation.
  • Be prepared to keep all relevant documentation related to your entry in your carry-on luggage, such as passport copies, visa copies, DS-2019/I-20 form, I-94 entry form, and other documents that can prove the purpose (e.g. invitation/admission letter), funding, and length of your stay in the U.S. Do not pack these important documents in your luggage. You may need to present them to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection official when you enter the U.S.
  • Have with you the important phone numbers in case of any issues at the U.S. border upon arrival.
    • IIE’s Visa Sponsorship Team + 1 929 310 3046 and for non-visa emergencies + 1 202 326 7721. For teachers, IREX Emergency Phone number – calling from within the U.S.: 888-881-4739.
    • If your visa is sponsored by your host institution, find out their contact information for emergency cases before departure.
    • Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ 24/7 emergency service number +358 9 1605 5555. This number can be called in case of border apprehension, and the detainee has the right to do so. You can call this number in emergency situations at the U.S. border. (Ulkoministeriöltä saatu ohje: “Kannustaisin tallentamaan puhelimeen UM:n päivystyskeskuksen numeron 09-16055555, numeroon voi soittaa, mikäli joutuu pidätetyksi rajalla ja pidätetyllä on siihen myös oikeus. Tiedossani ei ole, että suomalaisia olisi pidätetty, enkä ole kuullut, että suomalaisilla olisi ollut Yhdysvaltojen rajalla erityisiä ongelmia. Jos ongelmia tulee, on hyvä tiedostaa, että päätösvalta maahanpääsystä on yksiselitteisesti kohdemaan rajaviranomaisilla. Julkisuudessa on ollut tietoja eurooppalaistenkin matkustajien tiukoista tarkastuksista ja myös maastapoistoista.”)
  • Read your host university’s website on their guidance for international students and scholars on entering the United States (e.g. University of Minnesota).
  • Digital security: U.S border authorities can inspect electronic devices.
    • Back Up Before You Go: Save important files securely in the cloud or an external drive before traveling. Keep backups separate from your laptop. (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
    • Minimize Stored Data: Carry less data across the border.  Consider traveling with a laptop free of sensitive data or apps that collect and store sensitive data. Securely delete files instead of just moving them to the trash. Think about leaving your usual phone at home and buying a temporary phone, then transferring your SIM card or getting a new number at your destination. (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
    • You may be asked to share your electronic devices and their passwords. Visa holders and tourists from visa waiver countries run the risk of being denied entry if they refuse to provide a password, and they should consider that risk before deciding how to proceed. (ACLU)

At the border

None of our grantees have had issues so far. However, here is some advice to keep in mind as recommended by international exchange organizations and/or the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

  • Be prepared for checks, especially if you have international work experience and visa stamps from restricted or banned areas.
  • Answer questions clearly, concisely, and honestly. Avoid unnecessary explanations.
  • If you are referred for a secondary check, remain calm and cooperative.
  • If you are refused entry, ask for a written explanation of why and do not sign documents you do not understand. Contact the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s 24/7 emergency service number (+358 9 1605 5555) and the visa sponsor immediately.

Further resources:

Please note that these pages are for the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees only and not to be shared publicly.