International Trip

Rahul takes his first international trip abroad, going through immigration, exchanging currency, and clearing customs at the airport.

Meanings in Rahul, Immigration officer, Customs officer, Currency exchange staff

Key words and phrases

immigrationthe checkpoint where officials verify travellers entering or leaving a countryThe immigration queue was longer than expected.

customsthe checkpoint where officials inspect goods brought into a countryHe declared his laptop at customs.

currency exchangeconverting money from one country's currency to another'sWe did the currency exchange at the airport counter.

boarding passa document allowing a passenger to board a flightPlease keep your boarding pass ready at the gate.

layovera stop between flights during a journeyWe had a three-hour layover in Dubai.

duty-freegoods sold at the airport without import taxShe bought perfume from the duty-free shop.

roamingusing a mobile network in a foreign countryHe activated international roaming before the trip.

travel insuranceinsurance that covers risks during travel abroadTravel insurance is compulsory for this visa.

declaration forma form listing items or amounts being brought into a countryFill out the declaration form before landing.

jet lagtiredness caused by travelling across different time zonesIt took him two days to recover from jet lag.

visaan official permission to enter a foreign countryHe applied for a tourist visa two months before the trip.

exchange ratethe value of one currency compared to anotherThe exchange rate was better at the bank than the airport.

SIM carda small card in a phone that connects it to a mobile networkHe bought a local SIM card at the airport.

embassyan office representing one country's government in another countryHe collected his visa from the embassy.

entry stampan official mark in a passport showing entry into a countryThe officer gave him an entry stamp on his passport.

arrival carda form filled out by travellers upon arriving in a countryFill the arrival card before reaching immigration.

foreign currencymoney used in a country other than one's ownHe carried some foreign currency for emergencies.

transitthe act of passing through a place on the way to a final destinationHe stayed in the transit area during the layover.

baggage claimthe airport area where passengers collect their luggageThey waited at baggage claim for their suitcases.

tourista person travelling for pleasure or sightseeingHe was excited to visit as a tourist for the first time.

Useful sentences

Ask Have you gone through immigration yet?
Answer Yes, it took almost thirty minutes.
Ask Do you have anything to declare at customs?
Answer No, just personal items in my bag.
Ask Where can I do currency exchange here?
Answer There's a counter right after the exit gate.
Ask How long is our layover in Dubai?
Answer About three hours before the connecting flight.
Ask Did you activate international roaming?
Answer Yes, it's active for the whole trip.
Ask Where did you get your visa done?
Answer I got it from the embassy last month.
Ask What's today's exchange rate for dollars?
Answer It's around eighty-three rupees per dollar.
Ask Did you buy a local SIM card yet?
Answer Not yet, I'll get one at the airport counter.
Ask Have you filled out the arrival card?
Answer Yes, I filled it in on the flight.
Ask Where do we collect our bags?
Answer At the baggage claim, right past immigration.

Dialogue

Immigration OfficerPassport and boarding pass, please.

RahulHere you go. This is my first international trip.

Immigration OfficerWelcome. What is the purpose of your visit?

RahulI'm here on holiday for one week.

Customs OfficerDo you have anything to declare, sir?

RahulNo, just my personal belongings.

Customs OfficerVery well. Did you also collect your baggage?

RahulYes, I got it from baggage claim already.

Customs OfficerGood. Here is your entry stamp. Enjoy your stay.

RahulThank you. One last thing, where can I buy a local SIM card, and is there a currency exchange counter nearby?

Common mistakes

Saying "custom" instead of "customs" when referring to the airport checkpoint — "customs" is always plural.
Saying "change my money" instead of "exchange my currency" in a formal travel context.
Saying "I have jet lag since two days" instead of "I've had jet lag for two days."
Saying "I take visa" instead of "I applied for a visa" or "I got a visa."
Saying "what is exchange rate today" instead of "what is today's exchange rate" or "what is the exchange rate today."
Saying "give me sim" instead of "I'd like to buy a SIM card, please."

Quick quiz

1. What is a "layover"?

2. Tiredness caused by travelling across time zones is called ___.

3. Complete: "She bought perfume from the ___ shop."

4. What is a "visa"?

5. The value of one currency compared to another is called the ___.

6. Where do passengers collect their luggage after landing?

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