Settling in
Sorry for the delayed feedback, was just trying to get my bearings. I got here last Thursday and the main focus has been trying to get my daughter in school. Hopefully she should get in 2moro, then I'll have time to go on the job hunt.
But for those just preparing to travel, here is my experience, hopefully you find it helpful.
Have your passport (obviously) and sealed package from the embassy in your hand luggage, because they will be required at the airport on arrival. The x-ray and copy of your immunizations can be in your checked luggage, since they are not required at the airport. You'll only have access to your checked bags after clearing immigration.
For those with a connecting flight after your initial flight into the US, please make sure that you have at least 3 or 4 hours connection time. As you've seen from others that came before and missed their connection, the immigration process is lengthy, because of the large number of people. So be careful when booking your ticket. The default is the first available connection is taken, but ask your ticketing agent to book a connection that is a minimum of 3hrs after you arrive, but I'd even recommend 4hrs, depending on how busy the airport you are using is. I arrived at Washington DC's IAD, then traveled by road, but it took me just under 3 hours, from landing to exiting the airport.
Anyway, when you arrive, you join the normal visitors line. Arriving passengers are divided between US citizens and permanent residents on one side, and visitors on the other. At this point, even though you are traveling on an immigrant visa, you are not yet resident, so you join the visitors line. After you are done with the immigration office in this line, you'll then be directed to another officer specifically handling new immigrants. And then when you are done with him, you can pick up you checked bags, proceed to the customs check point, where your bags will be scanned and then you can exit the airport or go on to your connecting flight.
Please, do not carry any fruits, meat, fish, plants, seeds etc. I know we all love our African food, but don't carry any of that, it may be taken away and destroyed and will only serve to delay you even further, and you'd have just carried "dead weight", which could have been used for other things in your suitcases. A lady from Kenya ahead of me in the line was held up because she had carried Milo. I left her there trying to explain that it was similar to Cadbury's drinking chocolate. I left her there opening up her cases to show them what it is. I think they eventually let her in with it, but if you are rushing to catch a connecting flight, you don't want unnecessary delays. You can always get some of these things on future trips.
One last point, for those of you that are already driving, I recommend getting an International Driving Permit from your national Automobile Association. This will allow you to start driving as soon as you arrive, until you are able to get a US driving permit. My hosts use the train to go to work, so I have access to the car, which has been a great help in running around to get all the requirements for my daughter to join school, but I wouldn't be able to use the car without the permit. And you don't need someone to take you around, all you need is the GPS device to guide you to your destination. Your hosts will be busy, so you want to be as independent as possible, so being able to drive yourself is handy, especially if you are moving to a town or city with limited public transportation.
