Passport with your US visa (or ESTA approval)

Form I-20 or DS-2019, signed, and your SEVIS fee receipt

Your I-797 approval notice and job offer letter

Marriage and birth certificates, with certified English translations

The sealed immigrant visa packet, if you were given one (do not open it)

Return ticket, invitation letter and US address of your host

Photos of every document saved in a secure place, and a paper copy in another bag

Vaccination records, school transcripts and degrees

Medicines in original packages with prescriptions, in your carry-on bag

A short letter from your doctor about your conditions, in English

Visitor health insurance that starts the day you land

Spare glasses or contact lenses and their prescription

Some US dollars for the first days (over $10,000 in total must be declared)

A card that works abroad; tell your bank you are traveling

An eSIM or a plan that works in the US on arrival

A plug adapter for US Type A/B sockets (120 volts)

Bank and email two-step codes moved to an app, not your old SIM

The full address where you will stay the first nights

A plan from the airport: who picks you up, or the ride you will take

Know which foods you must declare (all food: say yes on the form)

Your driver's license, and an International Driving Permit if you can get one