Initial House Setup Checklist

In a new house in US, you need to setup things from the scratch. Here's my checklist!

Kitchen Setup:

• tava

• kadai

• tea pot

• stirrer

• mandir  cloth

• matchbox

• oil  dispenser

• tea  strainer

• Kitchen tissues

• oven  trays

• aluminum  foil

• spoons

• forks

• kitchen tablecover

• kitchen  floor carpet

• mixie

• dustbin

• dustbin  bag

• Water can

• dirty jobs Cleaner

• dishwasher hand liquid

• dishwasher  liquid

• dishwasher  soap

• dishwashing  liquid container

• kitchen  utensils keeper

• scotch brite

Kitchen Eatables:

• Toor daal

• Moong daal

• peanuts

• Channa

• rajma

• soya chunks

• tamarind

• Salt

• sugar

• mirchi powder

• haldi

• dhaniya powder

• Jeera powder

• aamchur

• garam  masala

• hing

• rasam powder

• sambhar powder

• chat  masala

• channa  masala

• biryani mix

• dalchini

• cardomom

• tea

• coffee

• pepper

Bath Setup:

• soap

• shampoo

• toilet tissues

• toilet  cleaner

• toilet  cleaner brush

• toilet  cleaner mop

• shower  cleaner brush

• shower  curtain

• bathroom  dustbin

• listerine

• air  freshener 2

• Febreeze

• brush  stands

General:

• car  tissues

• Carpet cleaner

Bedroom Setup

• Comforter

•  pillow

•  tide

• Dryer sheets

Regular Groceries:

some of the below have already been covered earlier:

• Ginger

• Onion

• Potato

• tomato

• Milk

• Roti

• Green peas

• Water

• Apples, Fruits

• Curd

• Snacks

• Mirchi

• Eggs

• Juice

• Veggies - gobi, Capiscum

• paneer

• garlic

• lemon

• bread

• Corn flakes

• Honey

• paper towels

• rice

• soanf

• sugar

• salt

• oil spray

• haldi

• jeera

• rai

• tea

• chicken 

• Fish

• Black pepper

• coconut

India to US - Things to do!

List of Items to carry

This is my list so please change them according to your convenience but most of them

are important so carry them along!

1. Important Docs:

Important Docs to  be carried while travelling to US.

• Passport
• Tickets
• Visa Docs
• Graduation Certificates
• Offer Letter (US Invitation)
• Accommodation details
• Friends in US - Contact address & Phone Numbers
• Office ID Cards
• PAN Card
• Car Driving License
• International Credit & Debit cards
• Business Cards

2. Electronics:

• Mobile Phone + charger
• Laptop + Charger
• US Plug convertor (2 Nos)
• Pen drive
• External Harddisk
• Headphones with Mic
• Watches
• Webcam
• Camera + charger
• MP3 Player + charger

3. Body Care:

• Toothbrush , tongue cleaners, Toothpaste.
• Soaps (2 nos)
• Shampoo sachets
• Deodorants (2 nos)
• Cold Cream/Moisturizer
• Lip guard
• Hair Cream (non smelly!)
• Shaving Kit - Razors, extra pair of blades, Cream, brush
• Nail cutter

4. Medical:

• Vicks
• Vicks inhaler
• Crocin - Fever
• Crocin - Pain & Relief
• Crocin - Cold & Flu
• Dolapar - headace
• Pudin Hara
• Volini (Pain relief spray)
• Iodex
• Avil (allergy relief)
• Eldoper

5. Dressing:

• Formal Shirts
• Formal Pants
• T-shirts
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Party Wear
• Kurta's
• Night dress
• Sweaters/Winter clothes
• Winter Jacket
• Rain Jacket
• Umbrella (small size)
• Kerchiefs
• Socks
• Belts
• Towels
• Formal Shoes
• Sports Shoes
• Floaters
• Hawai chappals (inhouse)

6. Kitchen:

• Knife (2 nos)
• Cooker Set (stopper, gasket (2nos))
• Non Stick tava
• Small Tea Pot
• Plate
• Spoons
• Water Glass
• Tupperware Lunch Boxes (Microwave safe)

7. Food:

Have powders in small plastic bottles. No seeds/dals , fruits or non veg at any cost!

• Maggi Noodles
• Ready to Eat
• Haldiram Snacks
• Pickles with double packing
• Kandi podi (something to eat with rice)
• Mirchi Powder
• Garam Masala

8. Misc:

• Novels
• Pens & pencils
• Calendar
• Sunglasses
• Diary
• Screwdriver set

9. Travel Recommendations:

• Have a copy of the ticket, home & destination address with phone number inside each luggage.
• No metal, sharp objects , liquids, cream in hand luggage
• No food items in Hand Luggage
• Carry some small amounts of dollars bills ($1,5,10,20) for easy transactions
• Do not keep all clothes in one luggage, split to another luggage (in case one of them is lost)
• Have a rough checklist of things you are carrying to claim damage if luggage is lost.

10. Hand Luggage:

The following things should be carried in hand luggage.

• Ticket copy
• Passport Copy
• Visa Documents - Petition, LCA, I-129
• Important Certificates - Graduation.
• Accommodation confirmation & details
• Friends in US - Contact address & Phone Numbers
• Important medicines in small quantities
• Complete pair of clothes for 1 day emergency

11. Things to do in India before Travel:

Flight Details:

• Check for lay over time for taking the connecting flight. Should be greater than 2 hours
• Verify the dates to details the exact times, specially  the 1am time zones.
• Check the Baggage limitations.

In case you are vacating your apartment, change address for

• Bank
• Credit Card
• Phone
• Insurance
• Company documentations
• Any Subscriptions - magazines etc

Pay pending Bills or make arrangements to pay Bills in months you will be in US

• House Rent
• Electricity bills
• Internet & Cable
• Paper & Milk
• Credit cards
• Phone
• Loans

Update phone number in case you are carrying your cell phone along with you.

• Enable International Roaming.
• Bank - ICICI Bank sends OTP to your mobile number only!  So change it to dad/mom's number
• Credit Cards
• Office communications
• Imp Friends & Family

Maintenance

• Home - Maintenance of House while you are away. - payment of rent , repairs.
• Vehicle - Have someone take care of your vehicle while you are away. Or Transport to Parents

Data Backup

• Take data backup of laptop and have a copy in HDD

Applying for SSN

Applying for SSN

• Download and Fill SS-5 Form http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

• Take your Passport & Other VISA docs - http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

• For Dependents - you need to take Marriage Certificate along!

Immigration Forms - i94 & Custom Forms

The below link has a sample i94 forms which will be given to all passengers who are coming to US.

Sample i94

They also need to fill up a custom's declaration form 
Customs Declaration