14 Tips for Parents Travelling to the U.S (+5 for Your Children)

Staying away from your parents in a foreign country can be a painful experience. Loneliness can take a toll on your mental health. Homesickness too is a common phenomenon. An effective way to overcome this stressful experience is to have your parents come over for a visit. Having said that, long-distance travel can often be a tiring experience – especially if your parents are aged. You need to plan things carefully to prevent inconvenience and troubles as much as possible.

If your parents have decided to pay you a visit in the United States, then it’s your responsibility to make sure that they have a pleasant experience. Looking for some expert guidance in this regard?

We have compiled a checklist for your parents to have a convenient and safe journey to the USA. Let’s find out 14 practical tips for parents travelling to the US from India.

Tips for Parents Travelling to the USA from India

Prepare for the Journey

A well-planned travel itinerary can take care of half of the potential troubles. That’s why it is important to plan ahead. You can beat last-minute surge in airfare by booking the tickets well in advance. If possible, try to book a non-stop flight. That would reduce the travel time without any unnecessary delays in transit.

It is important to be informed about the consequences of jet-lag if you are first-time travellers on a long distance flight. It is highly recommended to keep your body hydrated. Further, improve your body circulation by taking frequent walks through the aisle.

Bring Your Passports

Passport is the most important document when you are travelling abroad. It would have your US visa stamped. Keep the passport in an easily accessible place as you would need to show it multiple times to the authorities.

Know These Other Important Documents

Besides a passport, there are other essential travel documents that you must carry. It is recommended to keep your airline tickets, boarding passes, travel insurance papers and an endorsement letter from your child handy. It’s better to have a separate pouch to keep all the travel-related documents neatly organized.

Mail These Items Ahead of Time

Just as a precautionary measure in case you lose the papers, make sure to mail scanned copies of the documents to your child in the United States. If the worst happens and you misplace those documents, you can quickly notify the officials and arrange for the duplicate copies from your son/daughter.

Get Travel/Health Insurance

Travel insurance can come handy in the event of any damage to your belongings or loss of luggage. Moreover, you won’t get healthcare benefits in the USA on a tourist visa and the cost of quality healthcare in the USA is quite high. That’s why it can be a wise decision to get general health insurance in advance.

Note Prohibited Items

Are you aware of the things you are not allowed to carry to the United States? It’s a good idea to take a look at the US Customs and Border Protection website to make a note of prohibited items.

Then there are items like scissors and blades which are banned by the airlines on check-in/hand baggage. Make sure you are not carrying something that would arouse suspicion. You don’t want to carry something which may get confiscated or land you in trouble with the US Customs or the airport authorities.

Bring Enough Money

You may not be able to exchange Indian currency everywhere, so carry sufficient hard cash in US dollars to cover miscellaneous expenses during the trip. It would help you to deal with unexpected delays in transit, missed connecting flights and other unforeseen events.

Bring Appropriate Clothing

The weather in the United States will be completely different from what you are used to back home in India. Check the usual temperature at your destination city and clad yourself appropriately to prevent getting sick.

Get a Power Adapter

Your mobiles and other electronic gadgets may not be compatible with US voltage requirements. So bring your own power adapter to be on the safer side.

Know Your Luggage Allowance

Overweight luggage can badly bleed your wallet on an international flight. So check the luggage allowance offered by the specific airline and do make sure to stick to the prescribed limit.

List Important Addresses and Phone Numbers

It’s a good idea to keep a list of the contact details of your dear ones residing in the USA. You never know what’s there in store for you in the future. In addition to the address and phone number of your child, you should also have the contact number of the Indian Embassy. If your child is studying in a University, note down their address and phone number. If he/she is employed, then make a note of the workplace address and contact number. Store all the contact details on your mobile and also have a hard-copy in the form of a notebook.

Prepare for Immigration Questions

Before setting your first step on the United States soil, you need to clear the immigration interview at the destination airport. Don’t be scared, the authorities won’t send you back if your things are in order and you are not violating any law.

Be calm and composed while explaining your reasons for visiting America. Initially, it could turn out to be a little difficult to understand the American accent. So listen carefully to avoid any miscommunication. You will also be asked to fill out the immigration form and sign it.

Ready Yourself for Culture Shock

Cultural orientation is one of the biggest challenges that travellers to the USA have to cope up with. Bear in mind the major cultural differences between the US and the Indian lifestyle. It can often be an uncomfortable shock – especially for the older generation.

You may find it difficult to adjust to the US way of living, but to have a pleasant staying experience, it is important that you adapt quickly. It is advisable to prepare yourself in advance on what to expect and how to react to the cultural differences.

Enjoy Yourself

Visiting the United States can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of us. So quit worrying and make the most of it. Spend quality time with your child and visit as many places as you would like to see. Make sure that when you return home, you have a bunch of wonderful memories to cherish for a long time.

Tips for the Children of Parents Travelling to the USA from India

Book Special Assistance

The majority of international airlines have provision for special assistance at extra charges. By spending a little extra, you can have an airport staff take care of your parents from check-in to boarding the flight. They will offer wheelchair service, if needed, to take them to the right terminal, plane, and seat.

Same things apply for the destination airport as well. Airport staff will help them deplane, collect their luggage and deposit them to your safe hands. If your parents are quite aged, then special assistance can give you complete peace of mind.

Make Sure Your Parents Have Travel Insurance

Don’t make the mistake of not buying travel insurance. It’s okay to take the risk when you are travelling alone. But when it comes to the parents, travel insurance is a necessity to cover unforeseen events like damaged articles, lost baggage and canceled flights.

Book Flights with As Few Stops as Possible

Direct non-stop flights are the best for your parents. If there’s no non-stop service, then look for the one that has the fewest stops. Avoid change of flight as much as possible.

Remind Them of Any Medications They Should Have

If your parents are on prescribed medication, then remind them to carry the medicines along with the doctor’s prescription in the hand baggage. Don’t carry medicines in bulk if it is available in the USA. That would prevent unnecessary suspicion from the immigration officers.

Communicate Important Information Beforehand

It’s important that your parents are well aware of the US immigration rules and regulations. Talk to them in detail about the immigration requirements and provide all the information needed to fill in the immigration form. Don’t rush them with a pile of eleventh-hour information. That would puzzle them instead of helping.

Conclusion

Bringing your parents to the US is not a daunting task if you plan things meticulously. This article is aimed at simplifying the process and help you plan a well-thought-out itinerary for your parents’ US visit. So enjoy their company to the fullest possible extent till the fun lasts!

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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