You can reach the US one month before the date given on your I-20 that is the latest you're required to show up. Ideally, you should reach here 3-4 days before your first orientation. LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) is the closest international airport to Riverside, where flights from India land. Riverside is about 60-70 miles from there. The best way to reach Riverside from LAX is by shuttle. The most reliable (but might not be the cheapest) shuttle service is Super Shuttle. You can look up other services on Google. Normal rates from LAX to Riverside are $50-75. You'd need an address to reach to while registering the shuttle (you can also get one from outside the airport even if you haven't preregistered). Because of the larger presence of the Indian community at University Hills Apartments and Highlander Park Apartments, chances are that you're most likely to be put up at either of the two for temporary accomodation. The addresses for those places are 160 W Big Springs Rd, Riverside, CA 92507 and 3131 Watkins Dr, Riverside, CA 92507 respectively.UCR requires incoming students from India to only take the Tuberculosis test. MMR is strictly optional, unless you're under 18. You can either take the test in India itself, or after coming here (costs a miserly amount); it doesn't really matter. Make sure whichever is the case you do submit your medical forms before the deadline specified by the Campus Health Center, or there might be unnecessary hassle while registering for classes.Most people who get into UCR get fellowships, which would mean that health insurance would be covered by the university (unless it is not specified). However, this insurance starts only once you register for classes. If you plan on reaching Riverside a few weeks before classes start, you're better off getting a travel/health plan from India valid for 1-2 months.California laws allow us to drive around in a rental car, if we have an Indian driver's license or an international driving permit. However, insurance in this case is an issue. Most students can get a California driver's license within a matter of months anyways from the DMV, if they are able to get a social security number (you can get one if you're working on campus - includes TA/GSR).As mentioned before, most incoming students at UCR get a fellowship, especially if coming for a PhD. Fellowships usually constitute a stipend, fee waiver, TA and/or GSR. Stipends are non-taxable for Indian students. TA and GSR however, are taxable. You're likely to pay 10-15% of your salary as taxes.There are lots of apartments around campus where you could live at. The most famous among the Indian community, however, are: University Hills Apartments (Ph: 951-683-3650), University Village Apartments (Ph: 951-684-6828), Highlander Park Apartments (Ph: 951-683-1422) and Windwood Apartments (Ph: 951-787-6263). On-campus apartments (Bannockburn Village & Plaza, Stonehaven and Family Housing) are also preferred by many. You can look up other apartments in the area by searching "92507" as the ZIP code, on any apartment rentals website (like http://www.forrent.com, which has an excellent listing for the UCR surronding area ZIP 92507). The rent for a 1BHK (bedroom-hall-kitchen) apartment is usually between $800-1000, while that for a 2BHK apartment is between $1000-1300. There are two Indian stores (cum food joint) located within a 15-30 minutes walking distance of any of the apartments mentioned above. It is best, however, to not decide anything advance, and select an apartment only after you get here.The important thing to realize is that you're coming to another city in the world. You're not going to an alien planet. Whatever supplies you bring should be in a quantity that would help you only for the start-up. Everything is available here. And if you've a fellowship, UCR pays enough money for you to afford them.

• Copies of all important documents (passport, visa, I-20), along with the originals obviously.
• Driving license from home state or international permit, if you plan to drive rental cars within a few months of arriving. $500-1000 in cash, $2000-3000 as TCs (in case you're not funded, you might have to bring a lot more).
• Books (contact the appropriate representative from the list at the bottom of this page; if one is not available for you major, try contacting a professor in your department).
• Stationery (pens, notebooks etc.) enough to last for about a month.
• Creams (moisturizer especially - it's dry here, sunscreen etc.), toothpaste, toothbrush etc. (all your beauty and health care supplies) enough to last for about a month.
• Basic medicines like Crocin, Erithromycin, Multivitamins and Aspirin, balms and any special eye or dental care supply you know you'd need, with prescription.
• Plates, bowls, spoons, forks, knives, pressure cooker (one or two depending on what and how much you're planning to cook) etc.
• Masalas, pickles etc. that you might want for your food, enough to last for a couple of months or so (yes, everything is available here :)).
• Summer clothes, a couple of jackets or sweaters for winter, a couple of formal suits, few Indian clothes (to wear at those ISA parties to impress the opposite sex :D), sunglasses (it's sunny here), footwear, undergarments (number depending on how often you're planning to wash them :D), socks etc.

• Open a bank account (Bank of America, Credit Union etc.).
• Finalize apartment, pay deposit and first month's rent.
• Take care of all the apartment utilities (especially electricity).
• Buy furniture, other room supplies.
• Apply for a social security number (SSN) (if you're going to be working on-campus as TA/GSR).
• Apply for a credit card (once you get the SSN).
• Apply for a state ID/driving license.