Pre-departure Requirements

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Passport

A passport is an official government document. It is a person's identity and serves as proof of citizenship. It is required for any travel outside the United States or its territories. Outbound students will need it both to enter and to leave the host country. If a student has a valid passport but will expire within six months of scheduled return from abroad, many countries will decline the student from entering the country. A passport is good for ten years. If a passport is near expiration it is highly recommended to renew it before departure.

Students who do not have a passport must complete the passport application and make an appointment with the local post office. Student must submit a completed application form and two passport size photos. Passport sized photos can be obtained at any Longs Drugs store or Wal-Mart. The normal passport process takes 6 to 8 weeks. Rushing the passport process costs an additional fee of $60 and overnight delivery charges.

Student Visa

A visa is an official authorization affixed in a passport that allows a visitor to enter and travel within a country for a designated time period. The purpose of your visit determines the kind of visa you are issued ( for example, tourist, student, work or business). Almost all countries require students to have a visa if they wish to work or study for a period longer than three months. Some countries require students to obtain an exit visa.

It is the student's responsibility to obtain his/her visa. You will need your passport before you apply for your visa, which may take up to 8 weeks to receive. Contact the embassy or nearest consulate of the country you will be visiting for visa information. Website information for embassies and consulates may be found in the general listing of embassies on the US Department of State site or the electronic embassy website.

IS 390

Mandatory Participation in IS 390 Pre-departure Orientation (1) class (1 credit). Also referred to as pre-departure orientation. Students are required to pass this course prior to departure. Class assignments are submitted via laulima. Students will take the course as a cohort with other students who are going abroad.

Students will need to purchase book for the class.

Pre-departure Forms

All students are required to read, sign and submit the following documents prior to departure.

1. Acknowledgement of Risks & Release of Responsibility
2. Consent to disclose education records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
3. Release of Medical Information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
4. Medical Insurance Certification
5. Permission to Use Photographic Images