I. Passport
II. Visa
III. Additional Documentation
IV. International Students Abroad
Certain documents are vital for international travel, whatever your purpose may be.
A. Passport
A passport is the document by which governments officially identify their own citizens.
For most international destinations (except, e.g., Canada), you will not be permitted to
board an international flight without a valid passport, nor will you be allowed to enter most
foreign countries without a valid passport. To complete routine or bureaucratic or financial
transactions while you are abroad you may be required to present your passport.
Just about certainly, your passport is the most important document that you will take with you. When you are carrying it, make sure it is in a real safe place, such as, a money belt worn under your outer clothes, or a pocket in a garment worn under your outer clothes. If and when your passport is not with you, make sure it is stowed in a secure place, such as, program office or hotel or hostel safe. If your passport is lost or stolen, you must replace it immediately, which can only be done at an American embassy or consulate (or embassy or consulate of the country of which you are a citizen). This will be aggravating. The aggravation will be diminished if you can clearly identify yourself when you come to the embassy or consulate seeking a replacement passport. The best identification will be a copy of the front page of your passport, the page with your picture and all the writing on it. Before you leave, make a few copies of this page, take two or three with you and keep them separate from your passport, and leave at least one at home with someone whom you can reliably reach at any time and who will fax it to you if and when you need it. It will also be helpful, in this unfortunate eventuality, to have photo ID, copy of birth certificate, and voter registration card.
B. Visa
A visa is the document by which governments permit foreign nationals to enter their countries.
A visa also often stipulates the purposes for which its bearer may be in the issuing country,
and maximum duration of stay. A number of the countries in which Swarthmore students do foreign
study require visas for entry. Your program normally will tell you if you are going to need a
visa, and may instruct you as to how to go about obtaining one. The Office for Foreign Study
has visa requirement information for every country in the world, and can advise you on how
to get one if you need one. Please N.B.: a) It may take two or three weeks, or longer, to
get a visa; b) you will need to submit your passport as a part of the visa application process
(and the visa when issued will be affixed to your passport); so, c) since it normally takes
a few weeks to get a passport, make sure that you give yourself adequate time for all of this,
don't put it off until late in the semester. Also, if you are studying in a country that
requires a visa for entry, make sure while you are there that you scrupulously conform to
any conditions stipulated by the visa.
C. Additional Documentation
Depending on your destination, you may need additional documentation, e.g., proof of insurance,
letter from your program stating enrollment status, medical documents, and - sometimes - proof
of financial responsibility. Normally, your program will inform you fully about this and questions
about this are best directed to your program. It is your responsibility to be informed about this,
and to make provision for any required documentation.
And it's a good idea to carry with you a copy of your letter of acceptance from your program. Authorities at the airport in your host country may ask you for documentation in support of your stated plans for being in country.
D. International Students Abroad
Swarthmore's international students, depending upon their nationalities and the conditions
under which they are in the United States, may be subject to travel document requirements - for
leaving the US, entering their destination countries, and re-entering the US - other than those
to which American citizens are subject. International students planning study abroad should
consult Gloria Evans, the Foreign Student Adviser,
about this. And, normally, programs are glad to advise international students about this as well.
The procedures that non-American citizens may be required to follow in this regard may
take some time. So please be sure to get going on this early.