ARRIVAL INFORMATION FOR INCOMING STUDENTS
Preparing to come to US
MANDATORY CHECK-IN & ORIENTATION: Please note that the Office of International Programs and Studies requires you to report to our office immediately after arrival in the United States for a check-in and orientation session. Plan to arrive early to attend these sessions, register for classes, and take care of other important business prior to the start of school; check for arrival dates in your welcome letter.
MANDATORY CHECK-IN & ORIENTATION: Please note that the Office of International Programs and Studies requires you to report to our office immediately after arrival in the United States for a check-in and orientation session. Plan to arrive early to attend these sessions, register for classes, and take care of other important business prior to the start of school; check for arrival dates in your welcome letter.
Weather & What To Bring
At an altitude of 1,500 meters, Albuquerque receives over 300 days of sunshine per year and has a dry climate. The average annual rainfall is 20cm. The average summer daytime temperatures can range from 28°C to 35°C. The evening temperature drops down to between 14°C and 18°C. During the winter the coldest daytime temperatures can range from 11°C to 5°C, with evenings down to minus 5°C. Come prepared for both hot and cold weather. Clothes should be chosen for comfort and quality/durability. Dress on campus is often informal. We hope that you will bring any national or traditional costumes you may have for our annual International Festival and other special occasions. In addition to clothes, books, and other essentials, consider bringing the following items for your stay in the US: extra eye glasses or contact lenses, medications (in clearly labeled containers with prescription information), photos, addresses of friends & family, phone numbers of US contacts, and compact items that will help your apartment or house feel like home. Check with the airline that you are using regarding luggage weight restrictions and security measures. You should also purchase temporary travel insurance to cover medical emergencies before your US policy begins.
Money
You should arrive with $2000 to $3000 in US currency to cover initial costs. These funds will be used for your arrival expenses such as taxi, meals, books, supplies, apartment deposits, and other personal needs. For your protection, it is best to carry any large sums of money in the form of traveler's checks (NOT IN CASH); be sure to sign your name to each one. You should also carry a small amount of money in US dollars.If you bring a bank draft or a foreign check to open an account, you usually cannot draw upon it for 2 to 3 weeks (this is an estimated delay time); so do not rely upon these funds for immediate cash. After you have established an account, you may wire money directly from your home bank to your Albuquerque bank. Since wiring fees are expensive, consider wiring only large sums. Wiring money usually takes three to five business days. In addition, exchanging foreign currency is difficult and can be expensive and time consuming, so you should not plan to bring foreign currency with you for use in the US.
Sending Packages Before Arrival in Albuquerque
If you plan to live in UNM student housing and you would like to send packages there before your arrival, you may have your letters and packages sent to (do not send mail to this address if you will NOT live on campus!):
You must attempt to have your package arrive shortly before you arrive in Albuquerque because the mailroom has little storage space. If you will be arriving later than expected, please call the mailroom and inform them that your package should not be returned. Their telephone number is: (505) 277-9206. Please pick up your mail as soon as possible after arriving on campus. To do this, you can go to the front desk in the Student Residence Center and pick up your package if it has arrived. If you are a graduate student and you will not be living in on-campus housing, you may try to contact your department by phone or email and ask if they will allow you to send packages to their office.
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