Summary: Review any travel alerts and warnings, CDC travel health notices, and international customs and import restrictions; enroll in STEP; obtain any required documents and immunizations; obtain any required travel insurance.
1. Review the following websites for the country(ies) of travel:The U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning when they want you to consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Warning might include unstable government, civil war, ongoing intense crime or violence, or frequent terrorist attacks. Travel Warnings remain in place until the situation changes; some have been in effect for years.
Travel Alerts are issued for short-term events that should be considered when planning travel to a country. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Alert might include an election season that is bound to have many strikes, demonstrations, or disturbances; a health alert like an outbreak of H1N1; or evidence of an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. When these short-term events are over, the USDS cancels the Travel Alert.
Based on a host of international safety and health concerns, Oregon State University (OSU) may determine to suspend previously approved education abroad programs if the U.S. Department of State issues a travel warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a Warning Level 3 for a particular country or region within a country. Additionally, OSU may not provide credit or funding for independent abroad programs in countries with travel warnings. We strongly suggest caution if you are considering travel or programs in countries with such warnings.
No undergraduate students will be approved for participation in a suspended education abroad program. Graduate students may petition for participation in suspended programs, and their petitions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as described in the Petition Guidelines to Study Abroad at a Suspended Site.
The CDC issues travel notices to inform travelers and clinicians about current health issues related to specific destinations. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health. There are different types of notices for international travelers, laid out below, which describe both levels of risk for the traveler and recommended preventive measures to take at each level of risk.
Be sure to check the CDC Travel Health Notices page regularly for updates on local outbreaks in the country you are visiting both before and during your trip.
You can also search for your country page on the CDC Destinations site, which will provide you with information on country-specific recommended and required vaccines, and health and safety tips.It is also important to understand customs and import restrictions both in terms of what you cannot take to another country, and what you cannot bring back to the United States.
There are special rules for products made from endangered wildlife. Many wildlife and wildlife products are prohibited either by U.S. or foreign laws from import into the United States. You risk confiscation and a possible fine if you attempt to bring them into the United States when you return. These items may include:
2. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Enrollment is quick and easy. This program allows you to:
3. Obtain any required immunizations and required documents for the country of travel
As mentioned before, the CDC Destinations page for your destination country will provide you with information on recommended and required immunizations. Some vaccines or medication must be acquired a certain length of time in advance of departure for full effectiveness, so be sure to plan early and accordingly. OSU’s on-campus Student Health Services provides affordable travel consultation visits and some prescription medication and immunizations.
The U.S. Department of State Travel site has information regarding necessary visas and documentation. When leaving the U.S., you will need an unexpired passport. The average processing time for a first-time passport application is approximately six weeks, so plan accordingly.
In order to enter many countries, or stay longer than 90 days, you will need a student visa. A visa is an official authorization from the host country appended to a passport, permitting entry into and travel within a particular country for a stated period of time. The government of the foreign country to be visited issues the visa. The actual visa is usually a stamp in your passport. The application process is country-specific and may take weeks or months, so begin ahead of time – you will also need your passport before you can apply for a visa.
Visas generally last 3-6 months and often come with country-of-origin specific fees, so be sure to account for this in your financial planning. If staying in a country for longer than the original visa length – such as for a semester or year-long study abroad program – you will need to apply for an extension at the local embassy. Make sure to plan accordingly, especially if your program is in a remote area, as the paperwork and process for a visa extension may be lengthy.
3. Obtain any necessary travel insurance
Most programs through OSU GO, including the CoF Faculty-led study abroad destinations, include travel insurance and/or health insurance. Check with each individual program to verify what coverage is included under the program fees.
Travel Alerts are issued for short-term events that should be considered when planning travel to a country. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Alert might include an election season that is bound to have many strikes, demonstrations, or disturbances; a health alert like an outbreak of H1N1; or evidence of an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. When these short-term events are over, the USDS cancels the Travel Alert.
Based on a host of international safety and health concerns, Oregon State University (OSU) may determine to suspend previously approved education abroad programs if the U.S. Department of State issues a travel warning or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues a Warning Level 3 for a particular country or region within a country. Additionally, OSU may not provide credit or funding for independent abroad programs in countries with travel warnings. We strongly suggest caution if you are considering travel or programs in countries with such warnings.
No undergraduate students will be approved for participation in a suspended education abroad program. Graduate students may petition for participation in suspended programs, and their petitions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as described in the Petition Guidelines to Study Abroad at a Suspended Site.
The CDC issues travel notices to inform travelers and clinicians about current health issues related to specific destinations. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health. There are different types of notices for international travelers, laid out below, which describe both levels of risk for the traveler and recommended preventive measures to take at each level of risk.
Be sure to check the CDC Travel Health Notices page regularly for updates on local outbreaks in the country you are visiting both before and during your trip.
You can also search for your country page on the CDC Destinations site, which will provide you with information on country-specific recommended and required vaccines, and health and safety tips.It is also important to understand customs and import restrictions both in terms of what you cannot take to another country, and what you cannot bring back to the United States.
There are special rules for products made from endangered wildlife. Many wildlife and wildlife products are prohibited either by U.S. or foreign laws from import into the United States. You risk confiscation and a possible fine if you attempt to bring them into the United States when you return. These items may include:
- All products made from sea turtles,
- All ivory, both Asian and African elephant, and rhinoceros
- Furs from spotted cats
- Furs from marine mammals
- Feathers and feather products from wild birds
- Most crocodile and caiman leather
- Most coral, whether in chunks or in jewelry
2. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Enrollment is quick and easy. This program allows you to:
- Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.
- Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
- Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.
3. Obtain any required immunizations and required documents for the country of travel
As mentioned before, the CDC Destinations page for your destination country will provide you with information on recommended and required immunizations. Some vaccines or medication must be acquired a certain length of time in advance of departure for full effectiveness, so be sure to plan early and accordingly. OSU’s on-campus Student Health Services provides affordable travel consultation visits and some prescription medication and immunizations.
The U.S. Department of State Travel site has information regarding necessary visas and documentation. When leaving the U.S., you will need an unexpired passport. The average processing time for a first-time passport application is approximately six weeks, so plan accordingly.
In order to enter many countries, or stay longer than 90 days, you will need a student visa. A visa is an official authorization from the host country appended to a passport, permitting entry into and travel within a particular country for a stated period of time. The government of the foreign country to be visited issues the visa. The actual visa is usually a stamp in your passport. The application process is country-specific and may take weeks or months, so begin ahead of time – you will also need your passport before you can apply for a visa.
Visas generally last 3-6 months and often come with country-of-origin specific fees, so be sure to account for this in your financial planning. If staying in a country for longer than the original visa length – such as for a semester or year-long study abroad program – you will need to apply for an extension at the local embassy. Make sure to plan accordingly, especially if your program is in a remote area, as the paperwork and process for a visa extension may be lengthy.
3. Obtain any necessary travel insurance
Most programs through OSU GO, including the CoF Faculty-led study abroad destinations, include travel insurance and/or health insurance. Check with each individual program to verify what coverage is included under the program fees.