Travel Guidelines

There are many steps that students and faculty must take in order to be prepared to travel abroad. A passport is required, and some countries have additional visa and/or entry requirements. These vary greatly, depending on your location, the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay.

All participants are advised to monitor and follow all US State Department announcements and travel advisories. Students should inform program directors of the details of their independent travel, heed US State Department announcements and travel advisories, and take relevant US Embassy/Consulate contact information with them.

Passports

Many countries require that a passport be valid for at least six-to-nine months after your date of return to the United States. If your current passport will expire within six months of your return to the U.S., you must renew it before your program begins. Apply for your U.S. passport now! It can take eight-to-twelve weeks to process and even longer if you must send away for your birth certificate. To obtain passport information and download forms, go to the US State Department website.

US State Department Services

The US State Department provides a number of very useful services which you are encouraged to review and utilize. Its website includes information for student travelers, consular information about every country, long-term travel warnings and short-term travel alerts for countries with conditions that may pose a threat or danger to visitors. You may also join a mailing list to receive notices of changes directly. The State Department maintains a current list of US Embassies and Consulates. We strongly advise international travelers to carry with them contact details for the countries they will be visiting.

Entry Requirements

Our International Program Director will assist you with entry requirement information. However, if you are traveling independently to other countries, you may find additional information on entry requirements for them on the State Department website. You are also advised to contact the foreign consulate/embassy directly to ensure that the information is current.

Travel Visas

Currently student visas are required for U.S. citizens in Australia, China, Italy, Republic of Panama, Spain, and Russia, but requirements are subject to change. Faculty will also need visas. Participants are responsible for completing the necessary steps to obtain a visa in a timely manner and may be responsible for associated costs.

The International Program Director will be available to assist students and staff requiring visas. Participants who do not have a current passport must contact the appropriate consulate for the steps to obtain necessary visas. Visit the State Department website for specific visa requirements by country.

The visa application processes and requirements are always changing and vary greatly from location to location. Failure to complete the visa application process within the stated timeline will possibly result in late arrivals or inability to participate in the program. Any financial penalties associated with delayed arrivals or cancellations will be the responsibility of the student. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance when they purchase their flights.

Students may be required to make a personal appearance at the appropriate consulate to obtain a visa. If you plan additional travel before or after the program dates, you are responsible for making your own entry arrangements. Peninsula College cannot guarantee receipt of an entry visa.

Register Your Travel

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to register their travel with the US State Department prior to their departure so the local US Embassy or Consulate are better equipped to provide assistance in case of emergency.