Travel Tips For Students

Passports are required to enter and/or depart most countries around the world. It is your responsibility to check the entry requirements for any country that you visit.

Students planning on leaving the country should be aware that the government can move slowly issuing passports, so apply early for your passport and if necessary any required visas. Some countries also require U.S. citizens to obtain visas before entering. Most countries require visitors who are planning to study or work abroad to obtain visas before entering. Check with the embassy of the foreign country that you are planning to visit for up-to-date visa and other entry requirements. Don’t get caught overstaying your visa. Check the renewal requirements prior to departure and periodically for any changes.

Do your homework before you depart. Learn about the countries that you plan to visit. With the advent of the Internet, this is extremely easy. Just do search and go to legitimate pages for straight information. Before departing, take the time to do some research about the people and their culture, and any problems that the country is experiencing that may affect your travel plans. The Department of State publishes Background Notes on about 170 countries. These brief, factual pamphlets contain information on each country's culture, history, geography, economy, government, and current political situation.

Watch the news and check online for any updates. Ensure that your check for Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings recommend U.S. citizens defer travel to a country because of dangerous conditions. Public Announcements provide fast-breaking information about relatively short-term conditions that may pose risks to the security of travelers. The State Department tends to err on the side of caution. Remember, too, that just because there are problems in one part of a country doesn’t mean that the entire country has problems.