Before You Travel - At the Airport - Arriving in the United States

The US Embassy (or other diplomatic mission) working with you will supply you with your airline tickets, visa, and other required documentation to enter the United States. If you have any doubt about these documents or have concerns about your tickets, please contact them immediately.

Many participants will arrive at the Philadelphia International Airport directly from overseas; others will first arrive elsewhere in the United States before continuing to Philadelphia. You will process through customs and immigration inspection at whatever airport you first arrive into the United States. This process is carried out by U. S. Customs and Boarder Protection. Before you depart, you should refer to the Institute's page on http://international.udel.edu/MEPI/2004/customs.html.

If you are not arriving directly into Philadelphia, it is extremely important that you deplane quickly, then proceed directly to claim your baggage, and proceed directly through inspection as these matters may take some time. After being admitted into the United States, go directly to your connecting gate - so as not to miss your flight. Once there, you may have time to get some food or make a phone call.

If you are arriving directly into Philadelphia from overseas, you will be met by someone from the Institute's staff directly outside the customs hall. Likewise, if you first arrive in the United States at another airport, you will be met directly outside the security check point closest to your arrival gate in Philadelphia. In either case, the person meeting you will have a sign which reads "University of Delaware."