Pluralism Institute

You will be arriving at the Philadelphia International Airport; the RPA staff will meet you there with clearly marked signs. If you arrive on a later flight than scheduled, you should first look for RPA staff and then, if necessary, call Julia Sheetz-Willard at 610-529-9436 or Per Faaland at 267-579-6773 (note: you will need at least 50 cents to make the call and any airport official can assist you as well).

You should pack at least one outfit and a few toiletries in your carry-on luggage, as checked baggage sometimes gets delayed on international flights and you may have to wait a day or two for your things to arrive. Also, expect long delays (up to three hours) when you arrive in Philadelphia, due to increased security measures. Be sure to carry with you the letter you received from the State Department confirming your participation in the Study of the U.S. Institute on Religious Pluralism, which you should use (along with this letter) in the event that immigration or customs officials seek additional documentation about your stay in the United States. If there are any complications that arise with your arrival at the airport, please call Dr. Julia Sheetz-Willard at 610-529-9436 or Dr. Barbara Zasloff at 484-431-3350.

On Thursday, February 9, you will leave Temple University and begin your Study Tour, which will begin with four days in Florida and conclude in Washington, D.C. Your flight home is from Washington DC on Friday, February 17. We will bring you to the airport on your day of departure. Please note that all participants are required to return home on the flight organized for you by the American Embassy. You cannot extend your visit in the US or exchange your airline ticket for another flight.

With the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), entry to and travel within the United States is a focus of heightened government concern. We strongly encourage you to visit and revisit the following pages in order to keep up to date on the latest rules & regulations regarding travel and luggage restrictions.

Please note:

Items (including medications) confiscated by officials of the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection or the TSA will not be returned--so please make sure you that have followed the rules and that you have sufficient documentation with you when you travel.
Foreign visitors traveling to the US have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to match and authenticate their travel documents at the port of entry.